Nikon D90 - siutable for beginner?

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trebor1892

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Rob
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Hi,

I'm new to DSLR and have spent a few months looking at what I want and what I want to do with it.

Have been between the Canon 550d and the Nion D90 for some time and think I've finally decided on the D90.

Is this going to be suitable for an amateur who will mostly be shooting action and sports?
I've got a budget around the £700/£800 mark.
 
Compared to the entry level D60 the D90 has a few more functions available. It may be overwhelming for some beginners but I'd recommend you go for it. It is a much better camera and you will not be tempted to upgrade for some years to come. It does produce great results.
 
If you get the bug you will ALWAYS want to upgrade ;)

+1 for the awesome D90, consider 2nd hand though you can get some really good deals on them nowadays.

The 550d has better video I believe if that is a consideration.
 
Yep go for it.
 
Go for it. D90, great camera and I find it easier to use that my D40, due to the fact that I can access the options I need to at the touch of a button(s), rather than having to delve into menu settings.

Also remember to think long and hard about the glass you will match it up with.
 
i also agree the d90 is a great little camera,when i bought mine i found that it felt alot better than the 550d,i think the canon at the closest level is the 50d.
i found the controls alot to take in at first but very quickly found my way around everything,including the menus.
as for upgrading if you find the need and have the cash you will.
 
never seen a D90 manual book
but the D40 and the D5000 leave a lot to the imagination

recommend Amazon and "David Busch D90"
 
I recently upgraded to a D90 from a Sony A200 and was quite overwhelmed by it, I'm still getting use to all the controls and features. I found the manual to be ok but I would definitely recommend the D90 guide by Thom Hogan
 
dummies guide to D90 is an easy read and makes everything make sense... great camera with good results on auto and better on manual. get the 18-105 kit, not the 18-55 kit. the ''105 is a good lens while you are learning your way around the camera and has a good range of uses.
 
I too spent ages um-ing and r-ing over this then they released the D5000

its maybe not in the same boat but was cheaper (allowed me to also get a 18-200vr lens) and i find it a dead easy camera to use

both camera's have good reviews on ken rockwells site just google it ti might help you make up your mind

luke
 
D90 is the one to go for... I got mine 2nd hand with a 18-105VR for £640 and never looked back. very easy to use with the 2 thumb wheels. Buy one......
(you don't want to go for the 2nd best... Buy a Nikon)
 
I just bought a D90 yesterday - so another yes vote. It offers plenty of features and ability to grow into, but yet still has an "idiot" setting for erm, idiots like me that still can't use all the features properly :cool:
 
Rob,

I picked up my D90 last weekend, before which I had been using a Fuji bridge camera for about 2 years. The bridge certainly helped me understand aperture, shutter speed etc. and once I took it seriously it was never on Auto and had plenty of fun. If I didn't use the bridge then the controls on the D90 would have been a lot to take in from a point and click camera. However............

I'm finding the manual is useful with simple quick to use guides and then in depth explanations of all the features. I also liked the Ken Rockwell tutorial on the D90 which helped me grasp the many functions and set ups the D90 has which help the user.

I wont be using it, but the camera still has an Auto function, so it's not like you have to take everything in at once!

I'm not sure of your experience with cameras, but if you have the money and you want to get into it, I'd say the D90 is perfect as it will be a long time before you out grow it.

If I started over again; I'd test the hobby with a second hand entry level DSLR which you could buy extra lenses and other kit for with the saved money and as your skills develop. The extra kit, depending on what you upgrade to, could be used when you upgrade.
 
trebor1892 said:
Hi,

I'm new to DSLR and have spent a few months looking at what I want and what I want to do with it.

Have been between the Canon 550d and the Nion D90 for some time and think I've finally decided on the D90.

Is this going to be suitable for an amateur who will mostly be shooting action and sports?
I've got a budget around the £700/£800 mark.
Click to expand...

This is a great camera to start with in my opinion. I even got a friend who's a wedding photographer and he still use this body as his second camera.
 
Yes - I got a D90 in Nov as a first DSLR after looking at different cameras for a few months. Great camera, love it. :D
 
Completely agree with the above, have owned mine for just under a year and I've still got a lot to learn about it, and have no desire to upgrade to the D7000 yet. Well, maybe some desire ;)

I've not tried the 18-105mm lens (tho I would like to) but I do have the 18-55mm and 16-85mm lens, both are great. I'd say the 16-85mm suits the D90 better, but some may see it as overkill for a camera of this level. I bought a D40 initially and feel I outgrew it fairly quickly as it's much more basic features-wise than the D90.

There's a comparison of the EOS500D and D90 here as they were touted as rivals at the time of release, but as someone has already commented the 550D is probably the most direct rival these days.

4.5fps should be plenty for sports to start with, I've never had a problem photographing fast things :)
 
Not to disagree with looking through manuals but I found a good book like 'Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson a much better way to start, how to use the camera to take photographs and then looking at the manual to find those functions related to really taking photos (if you know what I mean ;) )
 
Its a great camera, I moved up from a d50.

However, I would really advise reading some books as recommended above adn checking out Ken Rockwell's site. There is a wealth of Nikon specific information on there
 
Great camera

I wasted money on my first dslr by getting the D60 first. Wish i had gone for the d90 from the offer.
You no you wanna.

I got mine from digital depot at a good price & great service
 
To quote Thom Hogan It's all the camera you need.

Great camera and really you dont need anything better for almost any type of photography.
 
Well after much deliberation and the 45 minutes playing with various I'm now the owner of a D90.
Feel like a child in a toyshop with all these buttons and options.

For once in my life I'm off to read the manual!
 
hi rob,i got a d90 a few months ago,i am like you a total beginner,you will not regret buying it it is fantastic, i would recommend the book, The d90 companion by ben long, really easy to follow,it helped me a lot,also loads of tutorials on here,have fun!
 
Good choice - I've had mine for just over two years and love it.

Get yourself a cheap prime - 50mm or 35mm f/1.8 - to go with it and you're all set.
 
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