Nikon D5100 or keep D80?

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Jimbob89

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Hi all,

I have owned a D80 for a few months now and i love it, its my baby! I have however recently been given the opportunity to get a D5100 for a very (Very) good price. Its likely to hold its value quite well in the used market so i think its a worthwhile upgrade.

The only problem i see is that the Macro lens i want is AF and not AF-S (Tamron 90mm), is this likely to cause a huge problem? (Autofocus does have its merits after all)

The lack of top screen for settings will also bug me slightly, as will it being smaller. Lastly, having not handled one, i can only judge that compared to my D80 (Which feels like a mid range DSLR) i will feel i am going back to basics at least on the feel of it.

What should i do!!!! :)
 
Buy it, get used to it and find an alternative lens.
 
The newer 90mm Tamron will AF on the d5100.

The only reason i would upgrade is if you want more high iso performance, if you don't then don't bother upgrading. The d5100 is likely to annoy you after using a d80.
 
Jimbob89 said:
Hi all,

I have owned a D80 for a few months now and i love it, its my baby! I have however recently been given the opportunity to get a D5100 for a very (Very) good price. Its likely to hold its value quite well in the used market so i think its a worthwhile upgrade.

The only problem i see is that the Macro lens i want is AF and not AF-S (Tamron 90mm), is this likely to cause a huge problem? (Autofocus does have its merits after all)

The lack of top screen for settings will also bug me slightly, as will it being smaller. Lastly, having not handled one, i can only judge that compared to my D80 (Which feels like a mid range DSLR) i will feel i am going back to basics at least on the feel of it.

What should i do!!!! :)
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From a handling perspective, no doubt that d5100 feels smaller and cheaper and I would stick with d80.
Then again, I guess you need to weigh up the new features on d5100 and how much of that would be of use in your day to day shooting.
Probably not a practical suggestion, but still. If the price is that good, why don't you buy it, try for a few days and then sell on if you don't like it?
 
If its likely to annoy me then maybe its not for me, i have big hands too and the D80 feels good, any smaller than that and i think i would get pretty p'd off.

It is a good deal however and i don't think i would have any problem selling it on.

I am in the position though that this malarky is a secondary hobby to an equally expensive one so i would have to fund the purchase by selling the D80, it would be gutting if i hate the D5100 after selling my baby...

Having said all that, i think that i should probably go for it, the reason being that if i hate it, i can sell it on no problem and go for a camera that is much more of medium between the two in the D7000, unless anyone objects to this! :D
 
I think the D5100 menu system might annoy you a bit after a D80 but only you can decide that. Can you a have a try before you buy it?
 
I am a novice Stephen, i let my friend set it up and i mainly work off the top LCD, i don't spend hardly any time in the big menu so that won't be a problem getting to grips with it. I have already agreed to buy it in 2 weeks time as for a while i have had my heart set on it, a little bit more research however...

I don't like messing people around so i'd either like to say now not to get it, or go through with it.

I have no doubt image quality will be better, the screen is far superior to the D80 one and video is an added bonus.
 
Jimbob89 said:
I am a novice Stephen, i let my friend set it up and i mainly work off the top LCD, i don't spend hardly any time in the big menu so that won't be a problem getting to grips with it. I have already agreed to buy it in 2 weeks time as for a while i have had my heart set on it, a little bit more research however...

I don't like messing people around so i'd either like to say now not to get it, or go through with it.

I have no doubt image quality will be better, the screen is far superior to the D80 one and video is an added bonus.
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If you're not somebody who farts around too much with camera settings then you'll probably be okay. Only thing after that is its physical size but I tend to find I've always adapted quite quickly to whatever I'm using. Have you had a chance to physically hold it?
 
I haven't Graham, not yet.

I may pop into Jessops and have a feel of one, and the D7000 at the same time.
 
I'm sure you will enjoy it, it's always nice to have a new toy!
 
Jimbob89 said:
I haven't Graham, not yet.

I may pop into Jessops and have a feel of one, and the D7000 at the same time.
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If jessops don't have one, it's basically the same in your hand as a D3100 or D3200 if they have one of those. Very similar size though control layout on the back is quite different due to the articulated screen.
 
I managed to sell the D80 very quickly so its going ahead now. Excited but at the same time a little disappointed. To be honest though i think i will get to grips with the D5100 easier and it has a ton of features which make it a very worthwhile upgrade.

Thanks for all the advice and i'll update with my thoughts when i get it :)
 
I shelved the D5100 after more research and decided not to go for it. Would anyone here object to the D7000? Seems like the best way for me to go after using the D80. Can anyone recommend anything else if not that? My budget really is the D7000 price tag of £700 for body only.

I don't mind buying used :)
 
Jimbob89 said:
I shelved the D5100 after more research and decided not to go for it. Would anyone here object to the D7000? Seems like the best way for me to go after using the D80. Can anyone recommend anything else if not that? My budget really is the D7000 price tag of £700 for body only.

I don't mind buying used :)
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I am also looking at the D7000 (see my thread HERE) I have read many reviews which seem good but I was toying with going from my D90 to D7000. The D90 is excellent but I am tempted by the D7000 better low light performance

I have seen the D7000 for sale at £650 for the body:thumbs:
 
The 5100 is back to crappy one command dial operation, with apertures requiring you to hold a button down while you turn the dial. It's awful to use manually. If you're a snapper who shoot sin automatic modes, then fine, you'll like the 5100 but it's a pig to use manually compared to the D80. The extra 6mp would be nice, but not at the expense of handling and built quality.

I'd carry on saving and upgrade to the D7000.
 
Or hunt down a bargain on a D90. Similar to your D80 control-wise, but much better performer at higher ISO and better overall image quality too. It's almost as good as a D7000, unless you want video too? The D90 has 720p video, but it's crud. It was the guinea pig for dslr video really.
 
Cagey75 said:
Or hunt down a bargain on a D90. Similar to your D80 control-wise, but much better performer at higher ISO and better overall image quality too. It's almost as good as a D7000, unless you want video too? The D90 has 720p video, but it's crud. It was the guinea pig for dslr video really.
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Video is a bit of a bonus but not a deal breaker in the slightest.
 
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Honestly, I moved from the D90 to the D800, and I think I've used the video 3 times, just messing about. If you are into videography then the D7000 would be the better option. But you'll find a D90 much cheaper, allowing for another lens.
 
I'm not into videography really, nothing outside of normal video's for which in all honesty my phone suffices.

The D90 was originally my first upgrade choice over the D80. If the two are not THAT far apart then i would rather buy a used D90 and get the Tamron Macro lens i want.
 
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