Nikon D5000

[disneyboy2003]

Went to Costco (both weren't working there) and Best Buy yesterday to see both. I have to say I kept going back to the canon but am not sure exactly why. I liked some things about the nikon but had trouble figuring out all the menus. With the canon, I was able to figure it out fairly easily. I'm not the most technological person so figure that accounts for it. I do think the nikon has a faster turn around on picture speed and the tilt screen is kind of appealing. I just can't figure out why the canon seems to hold my attention more. I have been "price shopping" both all day and have found a good deal on the canon which puts it with the 18-55 and 55-250 lens at about $730 after tax and approx. $150 less than the nikon. I just want to make sure I'm making the wisest decision since for me, this is a lot of money.

I think that an intuitive menu is pretty important. When you're "out on the field" using your camera, you're not going to have your User Manual out there with you, so you *need* to be able to easily find the menu option you need.

I'm not quite sure about the "faster turn around on picture speed", or how much "faster" one camera is to the other. dSLR cameras are generally very fast to begin with, so will a slightly faster camera make a BIG difference in your photography? If you're a sports photographer, it might. If you're doing portraits, it probably doesn't make a difference.

I looked at the specs for both cameras. The Nikon D5000 has a shot-to-shot time of 0.49 seconds (link). The Canon T1i has a shot-to-shot time of 0.40 seconds (link). While these numbers are different from what you experienced at Costco, it seems that there is a 0.09 second difference between the 2 cameras. Will you notice a 0.09 second difference?

If you're into sports photography, then you'll need to set these cameras on their "continuous mode." In this mode, the Nikon D500 can take photos at 4 frames per second (0.25 seconds per shot). In this mode, the Canon T1i takes photos at 3.4 frames per second (0.30 seconds per shot). Again, is this 0.05 second difference relevant to your photography?

The tilt screen feature sounds pretty nice, but as a dSLR shooter, you really should be using this feature pretty sparingly. I would only use it for rare photos where you have to contort to weird positions to get the shot, like raising the camera up high above a crowd or having the camera at ground level.

Do a quick Google search for "Canon T1i vs Nikon D5000" and you'll find *dozens* Web pages dedicated to this very question, such as:

• http://gizmodo.com/5234607/canon-rebel-t1i-vs-nikon-d5000-entry+level-dslr-battlemodo - picked the Canon "by a nose"
• http://www.digitalreview.ca/content/Nikon-D5000-D90-Compared-to-Canon-Rebel-T1i-500D.shtml - gives you a HUGE list of each camera's advantages
• http://www.neutralday.com/nikon-d5000-vs-canon-eos-rebel-t1i-500d-best-of-the-entry-level-dslrs/ - says it's a toss-up

Again, both are very capable cameras, and you really *can't* go wrong with either of them. Around the world, there are very happy owners of both cameras.

Plus, Costco has a very liberal return policy, doesn't it?

 

[bob100]

Can you tell me which is better and why? I want to be able to take good quality pictures, low light pics (such as concerts, sports events, etc.), and quick shots which little lag time in between. Which do you find to be the most user friendly? My DH has some old lenses that would work on the canon but they're all manual lenses and I am just learning so am not sure if that should sway me or not. I also want a lens that can do normal length shots and one that can zoom.....what is a good everyday lens that can do that?

here is one comparison between the Canon 500D and Nikon D5000
http://www.popphoto.com/Reviews/Cameras/DSLR-Test-Canon-EOS-Rebel-T1i
http://www.popphoto.com/Features/Canon-EOS-Rebel-T1i-vs.-Nikon-D5000

but I would shell out a few more bucks for the newer Canon T2i (550D) !

http://www.popphoto.com/reviews/cameras/2010/05/camera-test-canon-eos-rebel-t2i

 

[zackiedawg]

Don't worry about which is better - they're both fine cameras that can do more than you probably know what to do with them...just worry about a few key things: ergonomics (how to they feel to you, to handle and shoot with, and manipulate the controls and menus), price (good deal on one? Can you save money with any current lenses that will work with that camera?), and features (are there any specific features you really feel you need or want?).

My suggestion would be not to limit yourself to only two brands...there are 5 large and experienced companies making competitive DSLRs today, and even a few smaller players with some interesting alternatives...by starting out only looking at Canon and Nikon, you're just limiting yourself in the possibility of finding the right camera for you. What if one of those other brands has every feature you want, at the perfect price, and fits your hand like a glove? Might as well check them all and be sure! Maybe the Canon or Nikon will end up the winner...or maybe one of the others. Sony, Pentax, and Olympus all make fine DSLR cameras. And Panasonic has interesting smaller interchangeable lens cameras along with Olympus and Sony, all of which might be worth a look for you too.

All DSLR cameras are capable of delivering mediocre, average photos...or excellent, gorgeous professional-looking photos. It's up to the photographer to get the most from the camera.

I recommend you look into a few key features that may or may not be important to you - get to know what they are, how they work, and whether or not it sounds like something you want or need:

High ISO ability, Live View, continuous shooting speed, image stabilization, metering options, focus modes.

That might help you figure out that a certain camera, though just as excellent as all the others, has a particular feature, performance spec, or special ability that you really want or need, and might help narrow the field. Better to narrow the field because of what you need or don't need, rather than just starting off with 2 brands out of 5, and never considering the other 3. And really think about your skill level, how much you want to learn, how much you want to spend on lenses, how serious you are at understanding all the photography terms being thrown around here...and what camera you really need or like the best.

 

[ukcatfan]

Either ukcatfan is slipping, or he's busy today but you should probably check out the Pentax K-x before you make your final decision. I don't know too much about it, but apparently you get a lot of bang for your buck with it. I think your husband would be able to use his lenses with it as well, but not absolutely sure.

Not slipping, just working. My company monitors ALL web traffic and the DIS is not exactly approved About the only non-work stuff we can get away with is news websites.

I have already mentioned the merits of the K-x on both of MichelleB's other threads, so I do not believe that she is interested in anything non-Canon/Nikon. I cannot convince everyone on how good of a deal it is.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

The Live View feature can be used whenever you want. The tilt screen is nice if you are trying to shoot over people's heads hand held or on the ground but other than that, I've only used it when it was sitting in my lap and I was trying to be inconspicuous. Would I want to ever loose the tilt? Absolutely not! Would I miss it if I never had it? No.

Live view is a nice thing to have but honestly, the viewfinder gets used on my camera 99% of the time. When using Live View the bursts aren't as fast and it seems to take longer to auto focus. Plus, with the viewfinder you can use your face to help steady the camera and get less camera shake. Live View for me is really nice when manually focusing from a fixed location like a tripod or set on something like a wall. When you are using the LCD screen to focus, you can digitally zoom in to a particular spot and focus in on that.

I have the D5000 and love everything about it. The menu's were intimidating at first but the feel of it was what drew me into it. I do remember a month after I got it, I wanted to take it back because of the dedicated button's on the Cannon but I'm very glad I stuck it out and learned the camera I have. Whenever I pull it out of the bag, it sits perfectly in my hands like it was made for me and me alone. The Cannon was nice but it just didn't feel "right" for me.



Edit: I did think of two more things the tilt screen is good for. I have a 72" tripod I used at Disney for the fireworks which was fully extended to get over the guys head in front of me. I tilted the screen so I could check my practice shots and maybe one or two during Wishes to make sure I was close to where I wanted to be.
The other time it cam in handy was when I was on a train and wanted a picture of the train in focus and the trees moving. I wasn't about to stick my head out the window to take a shot that wasn't all that important to me.

 

[theSweetness182]

I'd always say Nikon over Canon, just personal preference.
Definitely close comparisons.
I'm currently rocking the Nikon D5000 and took it to Disneyland Paris with me at the beginning of the year.
You can check out my photos here to get a look at what I did with it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thesweetness182/

 

[photo_chick]

Can you tell me which is better and why? I want to be able to take good quality pictures, low light pics (such as concerts, sports events, etc.), and quick shots which little lag time in between. Which do you find to be the most user friendly? My DH has some old lenses that would work on the canon but they're all manual lenses and I am just learning so am not sure if that should sway me or not. I also want a lens that can do normal length shots and one that can zoom.....what is a good everyday lens that can do that?

The old manual Canon lenses might not work on a Canon DSLR. Most of the EOS lenses (for Rebel, Elan, etc. bodies) had auto focus and work with Canon DSLR's, where the older FD lenses (for the A-1, AE-1) were manual and will not readily mount on a DSLR.

The entry level DSLR's from Pentax, Canon and Nikon are all good and can be as auto or as manual as you want. They all have pros and cons, so it's a matter of which one meets your needs and fits your hands and your budget.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I have a trip coming up in Nov and would like to take some shots at night with my laptop sitting next to me. Is there a way to link it over via USB? I'm able to do so with the A/V cable directly to my TV but that might be hard to bring a 42" to Storm Along Bay at 2am

Any ideas? The camera is a a Nikon D5000. A have a Co-axle to USB TV tuner and I could get a RCA to Co-axle converter but I'm worried about the image loosing quality or the colors not being right if I go that way.

 

[pgowder]

I have a trip coming up in Nov and would like to take some shots at night with my laptop sitting next to me. Is there a way to link it over via USB? I'm able to do so with the A/V cable directly to my TV but that might be hard to bring a 42" to Storm Along Bay at 2am

Any ideas? The camera is a a Nikon D5000. A have a Co-axle to USB TV tuner and I could get a RCA to Co-axle converter but I'm worried about the image loosing quality or the colors not being right if I go that way.

The latest version of Lightroom has a tethered shooting module. I'ved used with the D700 and a Canon 40D.

 

[disneyboy2003]

Yes, you can connect your Nikon D5000 directly to your laptop via a USB cable. This will allow for tethered shooting, which means any pictures you take with your Nikon D5000 will be directly imported onto your laptop.

There are 3 ports on the side of your camera:

The middle port is the USB port. Go to your local electronics store (Best Buy?) and look for a USB cable that connects to this port. The other end of the cable will plug into your laptop's standard USB port.

The easiest program to do tethered shooting will be Lightroom 3. Tethered shooting is a new feature in Lightroom 3 (ie. it's not available in older versions of Lightroom). It's pretty simple to use, and Lightroom makes it as easy as plug-and-play. Just plug your camera into your laptop, and any photos you take will be directly imported into your Lightroom catalog.

If you don't have Lightroom 3, then you'll have to do some research on other software for tethered shooting.

Hope that helps!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

It really does! Thanks guys! This is all a new concept for me and I really didn't think it all through. At work tonight I did a little research and realized I hadn't even though about software. I may still so this but I may just pop out the card and check out the files themselves. My main reason for this new interest was just to take pictures around the Beach Club. It doesn't seem like it would be worth it for a one time outing, especially if I don't have Lightroom.

Again, I really do appreciate the help. Thank you!

 

[Chuck65]

Hey everyone, its been a long time since I have posted anything on any of the boards. I am seriously considering a Nikon D5000 for my first DSLR. Any thoughts on this, pros/cons and what is the best place to buy one? Right now I am considering Best Buy. I'm a little leary of purchasing something like that off of ebay with my credit card. Thanks in advance!

 

[zackiedawg]

It's a fine camera indeed. I'd still recommend you try to handle one first, and look around at others as well - it never hurts to consider all options, and see which ones feel best in your hands. Noone makes a bad DSLR nowadays, and for the price you can get any of 4 or 5 great DSLRs, D5000 included. So best to see what ones you like in your hands the most. Also, keep an eye on lenses you think you'll want - Nikon has lenses that come in two focus types - in-lens motors, and body-driven motors...since the D3000 & D5000 entry-level cams don't have a focus motor in the camera body, you'd have to make sure you can find the lenses you want from the selection of lenses with focus motors. Move to the D90, and you get an in-body focus motor which solves that issue. Canon, Sony, Pentax, and Olympus don't have any compatibility differences for their DSLRs, so all of their autofocus lenses will work.

Search the online providers for pricing - sometimes there are good sales...Best Buy would be a good option - also see Adorama, B&H, and Amazon for other trustworthy options. I am not much of an eBay truster myself, so I wouldn't go that route.

Other cameras to consider might be the Canon 500D or 550D, Sony A500 or A550, or Pentax KX...all would perform very similarly in nearly all specifications, from low to high ISO and in focus speed and continuous shooting speed - only minor differences in features, controls, and design between them. And if you can find the Nikon D90 in the price range, that's also worth considering along with the D5000.

Happy hunting!

 

[Chuck65]

Thanks very much for the info zackiedawg. Of the packages I've looked at Best Buy seems to have the best deal so far. They have a Nikon D5000DX with case and an extra 55-200mm lens for $879. It also comes with a DVD.

Later on............

Dangit, there are way too many choices. It looks like the one from Best Buy is not a VR lens. I'm guessing that I do want a VR lens? If thats the case, then it looks like Amazon is going to have the best package. They have the camera along with a 18-55 mm lens and a 55-200 mm VR lens for $869.

 

[jkluttrell]

That is the DSLR I have been looking at as well. I still can't decide between that one and the Canon Rebel TSi!

 

[ukcatfan]

That is the DSLR I have been looking at as well. I still can't decide between that one and the Canon Rebel TSi!

Since there is no TSi, I am assuming that you mean the T1i. Justin is correct that you should consider all options and try to handle them as well. He already gave you the models of the similar Sony models, so I will give you the Pentax one that you should consider. It is the K-x and is what I am currently using. Compare the specs to see what you think are the important factors. I do favor the K-x, but it is not just because it is the brand I have been using for a few years. I still believe it is the best bang for the buck in the entry level DSLR market.

If you are talking about the XSi, then all of the other options mentioned are at least a generation better than that model. It is still a good camera, but getting a little dated when there are so many newer options that are at similar prices.

 

[tinkabella627]

Thanks very much for the info zackiedawg. Of the packages I've looked at Best Buy seems to have the best deal so far. They have a Nikon D5000DX with case and an extra 55-200mm lens for $879. It also comes with a DVD.

Later on............

Dangit, there are way too many choices. It looks like the one from Best Buy is not a VR lens. I'm guessing that I do want a VR lens? If thats the case, then it looks like Amazon is going to have the best package. They have the camera along with a 18-55 mm lens and a 55-200 mm VR lens for $869.

This happened to me when I got my camera (I got the d3000). It came with the 55-200 and a bag but the 55-200 wasnt a VR. A week later they changed the package to include the VR for the same price so I went in and they exchanged it for me. They are really good about that if it is within the time frame they allow for price matching. Also, at our store when I was looking at all the packages I noticed that if you take the price tag out of the slip cover it is in, there were more tags in there with other packages that go with the camera. For ex,for just the d3000 there was my package, another with the kit and 55-200 (no bag) and another with the kit and 55-200VR (no bag) and I believe there was even one more like mine just with a different bag. So that might be an option too where you could get the VR lens and just have to get the bag separate.

 

[Chuck65]

Well..............I did it. I pulled the trigger on a Nikon D5000 from Best Buy. I mainly went there to ask some questions and make sure thats the one I wanted. After talking to the salesman, I found the package I wanted for about $20 dollars more than what was being offered on Amazon. Plus............Best Buy has a deal if you get a credit card from them, they offer no interest for 18 months. Too good to pass up!

 

[tinkabella627]

Well..............I did it. I pulled the trigger on a Nikon D5000 from Best Buy. I mainly went there to ask some questions and make sure thats the one I wanted. After talking to the salesman, I found the package I wanted for about $20 dollars more than what was being offered on Amazon. Plus............Best Buy has a deal if you get a credit card from them, they offer no interest for 18 months. Too good to pass up!

This is why I go to best buy... the no interest on the credit card plus the reward zone points is perfect! Keep on the lookout to see if your package price drops in the next 2 weeks (I think it is) because they will price match it for you.

 

[TheGoofster]

Well..............I did it. I pulled the trigger on a Nikon D5000 from Best Buy. I mainly went there to ask some questions and make sure thats the one I wanted. After talking to the salesman, I found the package I wanted for about $20 dollars more than what was being offered on Amazon. Plus............Best Buy has a deal if you get a credit card from them, they offer no interest for 18 months. Too good to pass up!

Cograts Chuck, welcome to the D5000 Club!!!!!

Now, the only thing left for you to do is to use your camera. I don't mean to just use your camera, but instead USE your camera. Go crazy with it. Shoot everything. Try it out in all different kinds of situations. Drive your family crazy with all the shots you take. Or in other words - have fun with it!!!!!

Looking forward to seeing some of your shots here on the DIS.