Nikon D5000

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HopefulM

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would you buy one for a first DSLR? or if you've bought one, have you had any difficulties?

it's top of my list for a DLSR (my first one) and I'd like to know of any reservations / limitations / issues you've had

thanks in advance :thumbs:
 
Hi
I thought about this camera however you need lenses with motors in them to focus and i currently have 3 nikon lenses without so i am limited to a D90 or D300 ( i wish! ) hardly limited i know but there you go!
Looks a really good camera *** all the reviews like it.
Good luck with your choice.
 
disco41 said:
Hi
I thought about this camera however you need lenses with motors in them to focus and i currently have 3 nikon lenses without so i am limited to a D90 or D300 ( i wish! ) hardly limited i know but there you go!
Looks a really good camera *** all the reviews like it.
Good luck with your choice.
Click to expand...

thanks! :thumbs:
 
I looked at one in a shop and couldn't believe it didn't have any depth of field preview button. I would have thought that would be a very basic and necessary feature for any DSLR. Discounted it immediately because of that.
 
I am leaning towards the D5000 too. I want to upgrade from a bridge (fujifilm S9600) and the D5000 sounded ideal for my needs. I'm still researching though...
 
If I was looking for a decent Nikon in the £500 price bracket I would opt for a good s/h D200 its one of the best for this kind of money and seems to hold its value very well
 
Do you have a budget? The D90 is a better camera really if you can stretch to it. The two things mentioned already DOF preview and focus motor are but two differences. D90 also has quicker access to everyday settings (so you're more likely to actually adjust them).
 
thanks - I will look into your recommendations :) (Oops, so sorry - I've just thought this isn't "my" thread - didn't mean to hijack it...)
 
I agree with cowasaki, go with the D90 if budget allows.

In the space of 6 weeks i went from a D60 to a D5000 to a D90. I never even used the D5000 because it was a recall model. Took it back and paid for the extra for the D90.

The D90 is a lot better. The benefits are, larger viewfinder, front & rear dials, top lcd, AF motor, extra buttons, higher res/bigger rear screen and probably a few more.

When i had the D5000 i was still debating whether to go for the D90 or get another non recall D5000. All those features i mentioned i didnt think would bother me. But i dont think i could live without them now, the top LCD i never thought i would use but, all my shooting settings are changed from there now. I never look at the rear display.

Unless you need a rotating screen, i wouldnt bother with the D5000.
 
TimKelly said:
I looked at one in a shop and couldn't believe it didn't have any depth of field preview button. I would have thought that would be a very basic and necessary feature for any DSLR. Discounted it immediately because of that.
Click to expand...

I would love to know how many people use the DOF button, I certainly never do.

Unless you are dead set on getting a brand new camera, what's wrong with a D50 or a D80 (come to that a D70 or D100). All depends on budget really. OK, those model are a bit 'long in the tooth' as it were but they can still produce excellent results.
 
I used to work as a still life photographer and used 5x4 and 10x8 cameras. I was constantly stopping down to check for sharpness. Used to use the preview feature on my first camera, an OM1, and all subsequent SLRs until they became autofocus and the feature was removed. I wouldn't want to use an autofocus lens for landscapes or still life, but unfortunately the smaller sized CCds of digital cameras mean that you can't use old manual focus lenses if you want a wide angle lens.

It's all a bit unnecessarily complicated for a very simple variation on aperture and shutter speed!
 
I had one for a week, but then took it back for a Canon 500D.

Didnt like the shape/bulk of the D5000, the vari angle screen is not very detailed and overall I found the 500D to be a better option all round.
 
Get a cheap D80 secondhand, or a D90.
The D5000 is good for the price, but for a little extra, you will have a more complete package.

D5000 has no auto focus motor, so if you want to auto focus, you will need AF-S lenses.
You will still be able to use non AF-S lenses, but you need to manually focus them by hand.
 
I just bought my first DSLR. Originally I bought a Nikon D5000 and had it for one day before taking it back and exchanging it for the Canon D500. Here are the things that I noticed (as a beginner myself) when comparing the two cameras:

1. The Canon D500 screen is bigger and FAR higher resolution. If you like Live View as I do then it makes a big difference. The Nikon does have a tilting screen though.
2. The Nikon has a nice inbuilt help system which is quite useful if you are a beginner.
3. The Nikon has far more preset exposure modes (I can't remember specifically, but things like 'Beach', 'Sunset' etc), which you might like if you got used to that on compacts before. I decided I'd rather stick with the basic MASP modes and get to know them properly rather than complicating things.
4. The Nikon has lots of inbuilt image processing features (red eye removal etc) which the Canon lacks. Doesn't make any difference to me as I'd rather process images on my PC.
5. The Canon viewfinder is slightly better in my opinion.
6. The Nikon is bigger and heavier than the Canon.

Otherwise, there wasn't much between the two of them for me, or in the reviews I saw before I took the plunge.

HTH
 
to add to the mix how about sony?

i had a d40 as a first dslr and wanted to upgrade things, but found like the d5000 without the focus motor in the body made lens choice limiting and expensive.

so i chose a sony system becuase the focus motor is in the body. another bonus is that sony bodies you can use minolta lenses (some good ones, some cheap ones floating on here and ebay etc.). another bonus is image stabilisation in the body too. for my budget that i had then nothing touched the a300, with the above, 10 mega pixels and live view.

i'm now considering a change due to itchy feet and nothing else really, so if you would like to see sample of my sony a300, sony 18-200 lens and sony battery grip with sample pics taken from it, have a look at the for sale section ;-)

PM me if any questions
 
statonb said:
I just bought my first DSLR. Originally I bought a Nikon D5000 and had it for one day before taking it back and exchanging it for the Canon D500. Here are the things that I noticed (as a beginner myself) when comparing the two cameras:

1. The Canon D500 screen is bigger and FAR higher resolution. If you like Live View as I do then it makes a big difference. The Nikon does have a tilting screen though.
2. The Nikon has a nice inbuilt help system which is quite useful if you are a beginner.
3. The Nikon has far more preset exposure modes (I can't remember specifically, but things like 'Beach', 'Sunset' etc), which you might like if you got used to that on compacts before. I decided I'd rather stick with the basic MASP modes and get to know them properly rather than complicating things.
4. The Nikon has lots of inbuilt image processing features (red eye removal etc) which the Canon lacks. Doesn't make any difference to me as I'd rather process images on my PC.
5. The Canon viewfinder is slightly better in my opinion.
6. The Nikon is bigger and heavier than the Canon.

Otherwise, there wasn't much between the two of them for me, or in the reviews I saw before I took the plunge.

HTH
Click to expand...
If you're serious about DSLR's, don't let the fancy exposure modes lure you into buying it. When enough time comes, you'll learn to ignore those. But for a first camera, I suppose it's decent!
 
Devonbunny said:
I am leaning towards the D5000 too. I want to upgrade from a bridge (fujifilm S9600) and the D5000 sounded ideal for my needs. I'm still researching though...
Click to expand...

I was in exactly the same position (upgrading from the s9600) and I tried out both the D5000 and the 500D in the shop, taking identical photos and video.
Oh, and using only the kit lens on each as that's all I would be using for the first... god knows how long.

The Nikon felt slightly more comfortable in my hand than the Canon, but the Canon lcd is incredibly good. The adjustable screen on the Nikon is handy, if only it folded out sideways.

Anyway, onto the litmus test - checking out the snaps.
Overall, I found the Canon provided a cleaner image across the board.
It resolved detail much better than the Nikon.
It does have a slightly higher exposure than the Nikon, if that influences your choice.

If video is an issue, I felt the Canon video was also nicer.

Another deciding issue for me was that the Canon software was more mac-friendly than the Nikon bundled software.

Obviously this was my own experience, and I am no expert, but I tested the comparitive prints out on
a few photgrapher friends, and they all called the Canon one as the better.

As you can guess, I got the 500D and I think it's great. It's 50 quid more though.

Best to play with them both and go with what you feel will suit you best.
 
New..
Nikon D40 if price is the factor.
Nikon D90 if it isnt.

Second Hand..
Nikon D80 (cheaper, but still a very good body)
Nikon D200 (a step up, solid and dependable)

Buy a Nikon SB-400 Flash Unit and a Nikon 50mm f.1.8 if you have some extra cash left over....there are lots of S/H 50mm examples around...
 
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