D3100 alternatives?

I'm really leaning towards the D3100, the only thing is the D90 does have internal focusing (although I guess buying a body to suit a lens probably is the wrong way around), and without that I'd have to save up for the f/1.4 fifty prime, rather than the f/1.8.

I guess it comes down mainly to how cheap the D90 gets in the aftermath of the D7000, wouldn't want to spend too much on the same sensor as what my dad already has :D
 
I'm not sure how much use you would get from the 50mm though, when using the kit lens on the D5000, don't you find 50mm a little on the narrow side?
 
Depends what for, for object shots it's good, not quite sharp enough and not enough DOF which is why I'm looking at the 50s, plus the kit lens takes an age to focus on the d5000.
 
Depends what for, for object shots it's good, not quite sharp enough and not enough DOF which is why I'm looking at the 50s, plus the kit lens takes an age to focus on the d5000.
Oh I see, I guess that is a bit of a dilemma. If it were me, I'd go with D3100 first along with the kit lens.

Then grab the 50mm f1.4 when you've got the cash spare. At least then you'll be able to get some pics sooner rather than later. :) It may be worth checking out the 85mm also.
 
I got my D90 with a 50mm f1.8 for £500. I don't think you can get better for the money. Its a great difference to the D3000 I had before.

I haven't heard much about the D3100 sensor but I'm guessing it's better than the D5000/D90 sensor, otherwise why would Nikon bring it out? Tentative to go and make a call just on marketing jargon and mp counts though, and I haven't seen any direct comparisons so I'm not sure yet.
 
Ha! :D

At least it's got a few high ISO shots in there at around the 5 minute mark, it does seem to be a rather good camera in low light compared to my D60 which starts to get noisy at around ISO 800 and ISO 1600 starts to become horrible.

Now, am I right in assuming that this sensor which operate at a similar ISO with the same amount of light if I'm using the same lens and aperture? Or will be D3100 need slightly more light as it had more megapixels?

Is so I'm very tempted to upgrade, as doubling or halving the ISO is the same going up or down a stop isn't it? Now it looks like the 6400 looks like the bets usable setting from that video, but it's hard to tell from a video really, so would that mean that going from a D60 to a D3100 would give me around 2 extra stops before things get too noisy?

Also, there seem to be some good D3100 ISO test shots here:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/937767/0
http://www.focus-numerique.com/test-1129/reflex-nikon-d3100-bruit-electronique-12.html
 
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