Is my Nikon D5000 a great camera?

[JW73]

How I convinced myself if the camera I bought is great....I do a google search on that camera and see how others with the same cam and lens have great results (photos). If I cannot get those standard, then I will tell myself "better go out and shoot more and improve my skill" ..pondering and thinking what camera to buy next won't improve my photos

 

[ikilledversace]

just a gentle reminder how fast your cam can focus also depends on lighting condition and contrast, not just body and lenses. When your cam is having difficulty focusing try to take note if you are focusing at a good spot? i.e lines, colour contrast, etc.

 

[ortega]

i have actually put it on ad here before in thought of switching to Canon 50D or replacing it with a D300 at the Buy and Sell.

but my wife and sister in law unanimously objected with my decision. they both said that its painful to sell away your first ever dslr because it has become part of your life.

somehow, i heed their advice and made second thoughts. when i try to review the photos of my D5000, im somehow pleased with it and they are indeed good.

my only trouble with my unit is its AF speed. i really find it slow. im using a 18-55mm VR lens anyway.

i would like to ask your professional opinion:

1. what is the best way to remedy the slow AF speed of the Nikon D5000?
2. can you share me how to maximize to its optimum performance of my Nikon D5000?
2. should i buy a new lens or should i consider buying from my choices of bodies above?


PLEASE HELP...THANK YOU!

what wife and sister in law is saying is the sentimental value of your first dslr
they are saying don't sell away, just buy another new one

btw a nice new pro level AF-S lens will focus faster
but a nice new pro level AF-S lens on a nice new pro level camera body would be drool worthy

 

[prehistorik]

thanks guys....i will try to look unto your advices.....

i was eyeing for the D300 because of its faster FPS....maybe i will have one in 2 years time...i was actually considering D90 but i just find out that it is just the big brother of my D5000 though i like its grip in my hands and its user buttons....

 

[ziploc]

If you ask me, I'll go straight for the D700 if money is not an issue. ;p

 

[Blur Shadow]

Well, you've not mentioned your budget so far. Do you have an upper limit?

 

[wildcat]

TS's need for "Instance" AF from Canon is more for personal "pleasure" i believe, because it happen to me when I 1st bought my dslr. D90 for every other thing good or Canon for AF instant response.. but i chose D90.. n never look back. Note to TS, if you badly wish for this AF response, don't look into Nikon unless you have money for Nikon pro lenses. Because almost all AF in consumer range lenses (AFs) from nikon are not instant.

Wow, is it really true Canon can instant focus even on their entry level cameras and kit lens? I haven't really tried... now that you mention it, I must try! Not that I think I will switch either :bsmilie:

 

[mondocheesemonster]

Makes more difference if you get good AF-S lenses. AF speed differs from lens to lens, despite them being classified under "AF-S".

Why don't you nab a 70-200 VR II f2.8 AF-S?

Edit: Yes, the D5000 is a great camera.

 

[brapodam]

Wow, is it really true Canon can instant focus even on their entry level cameras and kit lens? I haven't really tried... now that you mention it, I must try! Not that I think I will switch either :bsmilie:

Not instant, but very, very fast.

But D5000 is still a very good camera. Personally, I think upgrading bodies from DX to DX only allows you to change settings faster and stuff (with top LCD and two dials). And of course, from D5000 to D90/D300 will get you Nikon CLS, but you can still use wireless triggers for flashes if you really need to.

Hey, even Ken Rockwell says the D5000 is the best serious camera out there! But of course, he tends to say a lot of BS in his posts, and I don't entirely believe that the D5000 is all you need, depending on what you shoot.

 

[Ghaz1]

Just asking the TS. How are you shooting? Are you using the LCD screen to AF coz i find my kit lens on the older D60 to be plenty fast to me. Just wondering coz when i upgraded to my D90 and use the LCD, it is rather slow so are you focussing in this way? If so, use the eye viewer. :dunno:

 

[prehistorik]

Just asking the TS. How are you shooting? Are you using the LCD screen to AF coz i find my kit lens on the older D60 to be plenty fast to me. Just wondering coz when i upgraded to my D90 and use the LCD, it is rather slow so are you focussing in this way? If so, use the eye viewer. :dunno:

im using the the VF most of the time coz i dont want to kill my battery slowly....i somehow got some ideas from websites on how to speed up its AF system...they generally said to tweak the FOCUS MODE and the AF AREA MODE to single Auto Focus....

 

[wildcat]

Not instant, but very, very fast.

But D5000 is still a very good camera. Personally, I think upgrading bodies from DX to DX only allows you to change settings faster and stuff (with top LCD and two dials). And of course, from D5000 to D90/D300 will get you Nikon CLS, but you can still use wireless triggers for flashes if you really need to.

Hey, even Ken Rockwell says the D5000 is the best serious camera out there! But of course, he tends to say a lot of BS in his posts, and I don't entirely believe that the D5000 is all you need, depending on what you shoot.

I bought my D5000 on recommendation from Ken Rockwell leh. :lovegrin:
I also managed to skip my camera manual by just reading KR's posts. Okay lah, there's a lot of BS but I find KR's site very easy to read, understand and useful most of the time as long as you keep in mind that he could also be bullshitting you.

 

[brapodam]

I bought my D5000 on recommendation from Ken Rockwell leh. :lovegrin:
I also managed to skip my camera manual by just reading KR's posts. Okay lah, there's a lot of BS but I find KR's site very easy to read, understand and useful most of the time as long as you keep in mind that he could also be bullshitting you.

Yeah alot of BS and alot of poison also.

 

[zhaowei]

im using the the VF most of the time coz i dont want to kill my battery slowly....i somehow got some ideas from websites on how to speed up its AF system...they generally said to tweak the FOCUS MODE and the AF AREA MODE to single Auto Focus....

Hi TS, as mentioned by the others, it's really not just your camera when it come to AF speed. Not all AFS lenses are equal. Also, the speed depends on the lighting as well -- slower when it's darker.

The lens solution:
If speed is really an issue, try lenses such as the AFS 60mm f2.8, AFS 17-55mm f2.8 or the 24-70mm f2.8. I have tried them and they are all very responsive. I own the 60 (it's very fast on my D40X and lightning fast on the F6) and have rented the other two. From what I recall, the 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 is also very fast.

There are the high IQ but slow-to-AF lenses, such as the AFS 24mm f1.4 (yep, very slow despite its very high price tag), AFS 50mm f1.4 (also quite surprisingly) and the AFS 35mm 1.8 DX. And then there are the kit lenses. If AF speed is really such a big issue, avoid these at all costs.

Lastly, most bros and sis here will tell you that lenses are a more worthwhile investment in the long run. If budget is an issue, that's something for you to keep in mind. The D5000 is a very good camera, for most casual uses. Cheers!

 

[prehistorik]

Hi TS, as mentioned by the others, it's really not just your camera when it come to AF speed. Not all AFS lenses are equal. Also, the speed depends on the lighting as well -- slower when it's darker.

The lens solution:
If speed is really an issue, try lenses such as the AFS 60mm f2.8, AFS 17-55mm f2.8 or the 24-70mm f2.8. I have tried them and they are all very responsive. I own the 60 (it's very fast on my D40X and lightning fast on the F6) and have rented the other two. From what I recall, the 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 is also very fast.

There are the high IQ but slow-to-AF lenses, such as the AFS 24mm f1.4 (yep, very slow despite its very high price tag), AFS 50mm f1.4 (also quite surprisingly) and the AFS 35mm 1.8 DX. And then there are the kit lenses. If AF speed is really such a big issue, avoid these at all costs.

Lastly, most bros and sis here will tell you that lenses are a more worthwhile investment in the long run. If budget is an issue, that's something for you to keep in mind. The D5000 is a very good camera, for most casual uses. Cheers!

thank you so much for these tips...i really appreciate these...thanks for boosting my morale about my gear...i just found out that the D5000 is one of Scott Kelby's gear in his professional photography...he doesnt even have the D90.

i just bought one book about it by Jeff Revell...man its awesome... i learned a lot specially on how to set it up for its optimum performance...

thanks to all who made their contribution in this post....

 

[ziploc]

Does that mean no more upgrade?

 

[johndoe161]

The camera is great :lovegrin: The range of Nikor lenses, primes, fast lens, even the humble 18-55 are great if used properly. The question is; are you up to par with the cam ie your photography skills. Im still learning and my tool is the D5000 and if i cant get a decent shot, i dont see the point of getting a new body (i can afford it btw) .

Check this thread out. Its an 11-year old kid with an EOS 7D. He has a blog for his photos. :sweat:

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=711895

Cheers!

 

[wildcat]

Does that mean no more upgrade?

Ahhahahahaaaaaaaa.....

*thinks a bit*


Ahhaahhahahahhahahhahahahahhhhhahahaaaaa...

(make a guess?)

 

[penglee]

I upgrade from P&S, and DSLR is a big Big improvement.
- multiple shots per second
- even photos from "Auto" settings looks better than my P&S (Canon A630)
- dim lighting shooting also not much issue
- I am capturing more candid photos of my "active" kids.

End of the day, I might not be able to see immediate difference between (D5000, Cano550 example), but DSLR is a new platform for me to start learning.

I could not justify paying a few $hundred more, to get "latest" cameras.
To me, D90 offers value for money, and price drop over the years have been most sustantial.

My DSLR selection journey, reference --> http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2010/06/nikon-d5000-or-canon-550-daddys-new.html

For now:
1. learn from the gurus in this forum.
2. lots of practice
3. avoid getting poisoned
4. how come so little children photos from D5000?

 

[prehistorik]

I upgrade from P&S, and DSLR is a big Big improvement.
- multiple shots per second
- even photos from "Auto" settings looks better than my P&S (Canon A630)
- dim lighting shooting also not much issue
- I am capturing more candid photos of my "active" kids.

End of the day, I might not be able to see immediate difference between (D5000, Cano550 example), but DSLR is a new platform for me to start learning.

I could not justify paying a few $hundred more, to get "latest" cameras.
To me, D90 offers value for money, and price drop over the years have been most sustantial.

My DSLR selection journey, reference --> http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2010/06/nikon-d5000-or-canon-550-daddys-new.html

For now:
1. learn from the gurus in this forum.
2. lots of practice
3. avoid getting poisoned
4. how come so little children photos from D5000?

my sis in law has a new D90. though i like the cam due to its high resolution lcd, hand grip is better than my unit, can AF old lenses, but i find it not worthy of an upgrade to the D5000. i do take note that these 2 Nikon DSLRs belong to the same class, the Mid-Range Level. (dont argue that D90 is a semi pro) if ever i will upgrade, it would be higher than the class of these 2; maybe D300, 300S or Canon 50D, 7D.

i also take note that D90 has the same sensor, pixel, and almost (frames per second) with my D5000. the big and noticeable difference is the price gap