Nikon D90 or Nikon D5100

[ganesh_moorthy]

I have an old Nikon N70 with 28 - 80 mm lenses and would like to buy a DSLR my budget is around $600.

Should i buy the

1. Nikon D90 body only and use my existing lense is that possible ?

2. Go for the D5100 with 18-55 lense.

3. Any other better combination ?

[TCav]

The D90 will work with your current lens, but it uses a slightly smaller image sensor than standard 35mm film, so your lens will be more like a telephoto zoom than the standard zoom you're accustomed to.

If that's the only lens you've got, I would go for the D5100 with the kit lens. You can use your current lens with it when you need a slightly longer focal length, but it won't AF.

[Krichton]

Don't those old nikon lenses require a body with a af motor like the d90?

[TCav]

Only lenses with their own AF motor will AF on the D5100. For Nikon that means "AF-S" lenses. Regular "AF" lenses won't do it.

[adabelle]

Nikon D90 Key Features
12.9 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor (effective pixels: 12.3 million)
3.0-inch 920,000 pixel (VGA x 3 colors) TFT-LCD (same as D3 and D300)
Live View with contrast-detect AF, face detection
Image sensor cleaning (sensor shake)
Illuminated focus points
Movie capture at up to 1280 x 720 (720p) 24 fps with mono sound
IS0 200-3200 range (100-6400 expanded)
4.5 frames per second continuous shooting (buffer: 7 RAW, 25 JPEG fine, 100 JPEG Normal)
Expeed image processing engine
3D tracking AF (11 point)
Short startup time, viewfinder blackout and shutter lag
Slightly improved viewfinder (96% frame coverage)
Extensive in-camera retouching including raw development and straightening
Improved user interface
New optional compact GPS unit (fits on hot shoe)
Same battery and vertical grip as D80
Vignetting control in-camera
72 thumbnail and calendar view in playback

Nikon D5100 Key Features
16.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor
Side-articulated 3.0" LCD monitor (920,000 dots)
11 AF points (with 3D tracking)
IS0 100-6400 range (Up to 25,600 equivalent when expanded)
HD movies (1080p, 720p or WVGA)
4 fps continuous shooting
In-camera effects filters in both stills and video modes


You can balance the difference between them and choose a suitable one