What camera and lens for a beginner?

MeEsH BaKkA · 17 Dec 2013 at 08:04

I had a second hand D90 this time last year which broke and I sold on to a friend with the kit 18-55 lens on, I'm looking to buy another camera and want to stay with Nikon as I have access to some lens through said friend. I'm not sure if I should get another D90 or get a newer camera with better ISO ability as I will be taking photos in fairly poor light most of the time (night sky, and lots of underground stuff).

I have around £300 to spend on a body any suggestions, stick with a D90?

3dcandy · 17 Dec 2013 at 08:27

Newer if you can, D90 is good but a bit old (in camera sense!)

MeEsH BaKkA · 17 Dec 2013 at 09:37

The next closest (new) camera to my budget seems to be the D3200, any good? It looses some functions and internal focus motor but I assume it will still take better photos than I'm capable of. Second hand D5100 also seem around that price range, what's better?

Hyburnate · 17 Dec 2013 at 09:40

http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D3200-vs-Nikon-D5100/specs

Take a look at that.

Columbo · 17 Dec 2013 at 13:08

A second hand D7000 would be my choice but they go for around £400.

Personally I think because you owned a D90, moving to a D5100 or D3200 will 'feel' like a step back. I couldn't live without dual dials, 1/8000th and the higher FSS that are all missing from the D**** range.

D.P. · 17 Dec 2013 at 15:15

D7000 and if you can't afford that the D90. Any of the 5 or 3 series will be a downgrade in features and ergonomics, fen if they are an ipgrade in image quality.
Put it this way, th D90 still has a sensor that is better than any in the canon crop line up really, so don't think that it is that ancient.

MeEsH BaKkA · 17 Dec 2013 at 18:57

The D7000 is just out of my price range , The D90 I had before was nice until it broke but it was my first and only Dslr so I don't have anything else to judge others by. What did you mean about the image quality?

D.P. · 17 Dec 2013 at 19:48

MeEsH BaKkA said:
The D7000 is just out of my price range , The D90 I had before was nice until it broke but it was my first and only Dslr so I don't have anything else to judge others by. What did you mean about the image quality?

Things like noise, dynamic range, colour depth, and the prevalence of shadow patterns, colour blotches, hue shifts etc.

What I mean is the image quality of the D90 is just as good as any modern Canon crop DSLR, so don't think that it is an outdated sensor. It holds its own fine, and 12MP on crop is good for most uses. If you can't afford a D7000 then buy a D90.