Which Nikon DSLR?

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charlottemarie_15

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I've decided I'd like to upgrade from my Nikon D80. I love Nikon and have just bought two awesome lenses with Nikon fit so no other make will do.

I'm looking to go pro but I have spent a lot on kit lately so I can't go for a high end one just yet, hopefully in a year or two...

So looking at enthusiast cameras, certainly not entry level. Looked at the D90 but didn't know if there was anything better for those sort of specs?

It needs to be able to produce high res, sharp, sellable images (in terms of quality, not artistic or technical ability - I know that has to come from me!)

Any ideas? And any good offers out there at the minute? What do people think of the D90? Is it a massive upgrade from the D80?

Thanks!
 
From a D80 I'd look first at getting a S/H D300, you can normally pick them up for not much than £600.

The D90 is able to produce "high res, sharp, sellable images" but then so is the D80.
 
The D90 is probably the safest upgrade from the D80, as it will give you the newer sensor from the D300/s in essentially the same body as your current camera at a reasonable price.

The alternatives would be either the D7000, which is essentially the D90's replacement, or the "pro"-spec D300s, both of which are around the £1000 mark.

If your budget is nearer the D90 sort of money then another alternative would be a used D300 which should be available for roughly the same money as a new D90.
 
The D90 is a nice camera, and the same as your D80 but with better sensor, 12mp and decent ISO performance among other things. If its pro you are looking at, and you like landscapes (= outdoors), then I think a used D300 (around £650) is the way to go. Weather sealed and more up to taking knocks, plus it has more buttons on the outside which makes things so much easier. It is bigger, so that may be an issue, but I really like it. A very good camera.
 
Well the D300 certainly looks impressive, but I think I'd like new, to accompany all my nice new lenses! Plus sensor dirt is something I'm really worried about and I could really only guarantee that against a new camera...

Whats this HD movie making they're all coming with now? I'm sure I read that both the D90 and the D300 come with it - any good?
 
charlottemarie_15 said:
Whats this HD movie making they're all coming with now? I'm sure I read that both the D90 and the D300 come with it - any good?
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depends on your standards but no, not really. You'd want a newer camera for doing movie work.

The question is, what is it about your D80 that you feel is getting in the way of achieving your photographic goals?
 
Well I feel its a bit dated now, the sensor is dirty and although I could get it cleaned (I've tried myself many times with no luck) I just want crisper images which I don't feel I'm getting with the D80. In the beginning that was down to poor lenses but they've been replaced with some really good ones now and I'm still not convinced. Plus I haven't had a new camera for ages :P

I'm not massive on movie making so its not a deal breaker, was just interested, quite a development in modern cameras!
 
The D300 is now out of production but you may get one from abroad (which I wouldn't recommend). A good second hand one is worth it, but always ask what the shutter count is first, this can reflect on the price.

Realspeed
 
Any camera and lens is capable of taking crisp pictures in the right conditions - what sort of stuff are you shooting and what are/were the lenses? When you say "go pro" what sort of pro togging are you thinking of?

Personally I don't think the upgrade to a D90 will be worth the cash unless you do a lot of low light work.
 
Well I was using an old second hand Nikkor AF 28-70mm lens, and a Sigma 70-300mm macro, and I do shoot a lot of sunsets/sunrises, indoor macro etc. I've now got a Sigma 10-20mm f4 and a Tamron 90mm macro. Pro stuff, well ideally fine art print sales which will really be a once a year thing from what I've read! Stock photography, and commissioned work as well. If things go well maybe in a few years I could do it full time but until then its my weekend job :(

Don't say I don't need to upgrade I want a new camera! Now I'll feel guilty.... hehe
 
charlottemarie_15 said:
Plus sensor dirt is something I'm really worried about and I could really only guarantee that against a new camera...

Whats this HD movie making they're all coming with now? I'm sure I read that both the D90 and the D300 come with it - any good?
Click to expand...

charlottemarie_15 said:
Well I feel its a bit dated now, the sensor is dirty and although I could get it cleaned (I've tried myself many times with no luck)
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Sensor dirt isn't a big deal - they can be easily cleaned and if it is an issue you can normally have it done for £20 or so. I wouldn't worry about it and certainly wouldn't let it spoil the enjoyment of any camera.

I don't know about the d90 but there was no movie mode on the d300
 
Hmm, well I've tried but everwhere I found takes 2 - 4 weeks and costs like £50, which is obviously cheaper than an upgrade but didn't want to send it away for weeks, for them to tell me its scratched or something and would cost me loads. Theres no where local to me that does sensor cleaning either :(

It was my mum who suggested a new camera, I was gonna live with it and post process them out but now I want a new one lol...
 
Wanting a new camera and needing one is an entirely different thing - I suspect nearly everyone here has bought a new lens/camera just 'cos they wanted to. I know I have! :D

To be fair, the old 28-70 is a great little lens for general shooting :)
 
charlottemarie_15 said:
Hmm, well I've tried but everwhere I found takes 2 - 4 weeks and costs like £50, which is obviously cheaper than an upgrade but didn't want to send it away for weeks, for them to tell me its scratched or something and would cost me loads. Theres no where local to me that does sensor cleaning either :(

It was my mum who suggested a new camera, I was gonna live with it and post process them out but now I want a new one lol...
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where are you based?
 
Blackpool. The nearest one to me is Preston; Wilkinsons. But they charge a lot and it has to be sent away for ages. Plus the hours I work means its hard to get to. I dont mind sending it off if it can be done quicker and cheaper, or ideally an in store service...

But I want a new one now lol....
 
charlottemarie_15 said:
Blackpool. The nearest one to me is Preston; Wilkinsons. But they charge a lot and it has to be sent away for ages. Plus the hours I work means its hard to get to. I dont mind sending it off if it can be done quicker and cheaper, or ideally an in store service...

But I want a new one now lol....
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sounds like a new one is the way forward then ;)

but it would be good to invest in atleast a rocket blower so you can keep ,the worst of the dirt of the new one
 
Yeah I have a rocket blower, and yeah the Nikon D90 has a vibration cleaning mode. Wish I could go for a new D300 but the D90 will make an awesome alternative for a few years :D

Well after all the persuasion to get a new one from you guys it seems I have no choice! :P
 
I really would recommend a D300 used ahead of a new D90. Dont underestimate the weather sealing as you are outside!
 
My D300 has been a wonderful camera...I upgraded almost three years ago from a D80. The transition was not hard. But if I were buying a DX camera today, it would be the D7000 with more pixels and better noise reduction at higher ISO. The D90 just isn't in the same class.
 
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