Holla sifu! Im planning to upgrade my d60 body to either secondhand d90 or brand new d5100. Which is better? I want to upgrade due to high noise when using iso400 n above in my d60 and need more focus point for creativity and learning as d60 got only 3focus point. I might also need good lcd to view back the image that i've taken as d60 have really small lcd to view. I also want to upgrade so that i can learn more If you guys got money,which body will u guys upgrade. P/s: not d7000 as i got no budget

Thankssssss

A new D7000 body is only around RM2-2.5k last I checked Quite worth it if you already have a lens

Otherwise, definitely go for the D5100 or D3200. The D90 was my first DSLR, and it is a pretty good camera, but it is kind of old and outdated already in terms of hardware and noise performance.

Thanks for your reply mate! Yeah at the moment i got 35mm f1.8G Dx and kit lens. I got budget around 2k and yes i can afford d7000. But i also planned to get fixed aperture zoom lens together with upgrade body, which i aim for secondhand tamron 17-50mm f2.8 non vc. If i get d7000, i might have no money for the lens howw, they said getting a good glass better than getting a good body thats why i narrowed down my choice to d90 or d5100. Any opinion?? Thanks

Yes, a good glass is better than a good body. Lens prices don't fluctuate that much too
I guess it really depends on what you want, if you really want to try the Tamron, then get the D5100 or D3200
If you want to shoot prime, then the D7000 is okay too. You can consider upgrading lens later

This post has been edited by [PF] T.J.: Jun 23 2014, 03:59 PM

If you compare the 2, technically wise D5100 is a tad better than D90. Newer sensors, better dynamic range, better ISO, etc..
But the D90 is more of a "photographer" camera. In the sense that you can easily change A, S, ISO, compensation, AF, etcc... And you can do all that without your eye leaving the viewfinder(with practise of coz!). The handling is better.
Don't be afraid of the quality, look at my D90 flickr. It is more than capable of taking good pictures

I got a spare unit of d90 letting go cheap. let me know if you're interested..

Somehow im quite in dilemma right now. Actually getting d7000 and shooting with prime first kinda good also, at least i can use the body for the next few years without upgrading. As for the lens maybe can upgrade later,lol. Haih i hope money jatuh from langit tonight so that i can buy what i want haha. I admired your macro work, very nice!

Yeah that 'photographer' feel actually a bonus. Sometimes it took time for me to dive into the menu in my d60 to change the setting, but its not a big deal as im not rushing into any moment like wedding or sports. But somehow im more towards the practically of d90/d7k as its easier for me to play with the settings lol im not worried with IQ of d90, i know what d90 capable of i just worried that d90 might be outdated that i might upgrade to other body less than few years. And since there is no new set for d90, im worried that i got a 'bad' secondhand unit one ad its already on market since 2008. If you were i, which will u buy? Or just take d7k and shoot with prime first, or just buy 5100 and good lens. Haha thanks man

Hi there! Hey thanks, yeah i'll pm you when i've decided to buy

For me, handling is more important. So i would say d7k > d90> d5100. Provided u can get a good unit

Since you don't really mind about the controls, then get the d5100.

The controls are the only good points for picking d90 over d5100. Else d5100 is better in everything else I think, swivel screen, better sensor, low light performance, dynamic range...... and others =.='' haha

Not to mock d90, any camera is good in capable hands.

your kit lens, is it 18-55 or 18-105 VR?

in any case, I'll go for a D90 upgrade first before changing lens.

The D60, I used it for only 10 seconds and I really disliked it because only 3 AF points. D90 is good stuff, aged stuff but good nevertheless.

You don't need constant aperture lens to do amazing work. In my professional career, I only have 1 constant aperture lens and I rarely use it. My main workhorse lenses are the ones without constant aperture nor wide aperture.

thanks for your opinion man i'll consider d7k if i've decided not to buy the fixed aperture zoom lens

hehe yeah actually better handling/controls would be a bonus for me, as i'm still learning photography, quick acccess to setting might help me a lot but yeah 5100 will be better in the sensor and performance isnt it

my kit lens is 18-55mm only Exactly! the 3 AF point restricted my creativity and learning point. As i need to recompose a lot to get the framing that i want, and the chances of getting blur image is high when i recompose with my shaky hand,hahaha.

I just considered the fixed aperture zoom lens from recommendation and research that i did from internet, thats why i still not sure which one should i put priority to buy for me to learn more, either lens or new body, lol. Since i got about 2k in budget, should i considered buying 2nd hand d7000? whats your opinion sir? brand new 5100 with fixed aperture lens plus few accesories OR secondhand D7000 OR secondhand d90 with 18-105mm VR? Should i worried of getting "bad" unit if i buy secondhand body? Thanks sifu!

the question is - what do you photograph often?

if it's portraiture then you wouldn't need a constant wide aperture lens.

Im always shooting people, group of people, cats, random stuff at the streets, cousins' wedding, sometimes landscape. Im not into macro yet. I though fixed/wide aperture lens good for potraits? In the sense that it produce good bokeh and sharpness, right? Since im always shooting people, i though that wide n constant aperture will be fit me well,no? Hehe i guess i'll spend my money to d7k, a lots of good review on it lol!

typically portraiture uses f/5.6 - f/11 range for best details.

it's usually the newbie photographer that uses wide aperture all the way "for bokeh".

look, you shoot portrait - the focus is on the subject, not the bokeh.

nevertheless the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 is a nice lens, the wide aperture will come in handy when you need it.