Purchase Advice

[sidkhullar]

Hi All,

I chanced upon a 50D a short while back and loved its output. I'm with Nikon and was considering a switch to Canon.

I'm now thinking of the Nikon D90.
What do you think of the D90 versus the 50D. I've read the reviews and want to know what *you* think.

Thanks,


Sid

[KrishnenduKes]

Camera Choice Topic Moved and Approved

[hitanshu]

/popcorn in hand, front row seat taken - thread subscribed :p

This will be interesting :D

[Xavier]

/popcorn in hand, front row seat taken - thread subscribed :p

This will be interesting :D

LOL :p

@ Sid
What exactly do you mean by output? JPEG SOOC images? I've always thought that Nikon is better than Canon when it comes to that.

Secondly, what Nikon lenses do you currently own? If its only the kit lens, the switch to Canon wouldn't be very bad. However if you already have 3-4 Nikon mount lenses, it would be wiser to stay with Nikon. The D300 should be available at almost the same price as the D90 because of the launch of the D300s. You'll only miss out HD video, but thats ok since you're thinking about the 50D which doesn't have HD video recording facility anyway. And the D300 ergonomics and build are a lot better than the D90.

EDIT : Just checked your signature. You do have some Nikon stuff lined up there. It would be wise to stick with Nikon and go for the D300 like I mentioned above.

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

first why u want to switch??

second i find that the performance of even the 40D or rather 30D is brilliant.it can also be advisable to take this from a nice second hand dealer,or first if available and then invest in glass.

whats your usage??do you require HD video??just dont go on the craze wagon of HD recording..you have to decide whether YOU need it or normal 720p or 480p will do??

i personally see that IF you have prior nikon gear,change body.
if you want to switch to canon minus the HD..a 30d,40d or even the 500d with some nice lenses will do.

pentax is ofcourse another option..but as many say..gear problem.

anvancy

[sidkhullar]

Thanks all for your time.
I'd like to switch cameras because:

1. Need better noise reduction: Most of my photos are taken while reviewing food in very low light scenarios and inevitably have high ISO. Lugging around a tripod is very rarely an option.

2. Need to begin making 'how to' videos: Not high res, but videos nonetheless.

3. Need DOF preview: most of my photos are macros and a DOF preview will help.

4. Better image processing: ... to reduce post processing as much as possible.

-
Have already made the decision to stick to Nikon. Now it remains to be see if my reasons for wanting to shift are valid (in your opinion) and which camera satisfies the need. IMHO, the D90 seems to be 'The One'.

What do you feel?

Thanks,


Sid

[KrishnenduKes]

Your kind of work necessitates lugging around a tripod! I wonder how you can manage without one!!!

[sidkhullar]

I wish. Most reviews are anonymous. I can get away with an SLR, but a tripod... no way... if you know what I mean. :D

- Sid

[KrishnenduKes]

I wish. Most reviews are anonymous. I can get away with an SLR, but a tripod... no way... if you know what I mean. :D

- Sid

Oh! Actually I was wondering about that angle. In that case, yes... you are right. But have you tried getting away by using a short tripod? Just a thought.

I am not an advocate of any one particular brand over the other. I cannot say much about Nikons anyway. I think both biggies are pretty good in their own right.

Here we have pretty much mature people. Hence not much of a brand war is happening. But I would still like to have some more feedback about the advantages and shortcomings of the models that you have quoted.

[Xavier]

Here we have pretty much mature people. Hence not much of a brand war is happening. But I would still like to have some more feedback about the advantages and shortcomings of the models that you have quoted.

The 50D vs the D90?
Well, the D90 has HD video @ 720p. It also shares the same sensor as the D300 which trumps the 40/50D when it comes to high ISO performance. The 50D is no slouch though, as we've all seen from Vicky's awesome high ISO shots. Also, the 50D will record 14bit RAW files against the 12bit files of the D90. The 50D also has the high frame rate advantage of 6.2 vs 4.5fps.

Actually the 50D is placed in between the D90 and D300 both price and feature wise.

[synn]

Thanks all for your time.
I'd like to switch cameras because:

1. Need better noise reduction: Most of my photos are taken while reviewing food in very low light scenarios and inevitably have high ISO. Lugging around a tripod is very rarely an option.


Sid


D90 and the D300 are both champions in high ISO low-light performance right now. Do take a look at the DPReview tests to see the results.

Thanks all for your time.

2. Need to begin making 'how to' videos: Not high res, but videos nonetheless.


Sid

If you don't pan a lot, the Nikon camera will be fine. They suffer from the "Rolling shutter jello effect" if you pan too much. The Canons offer better output in this regard. The Panasonic GH1 is another option you can consider if video is very important; but it comes with its own Pandora's box.



3. Need DOF preview: most of my photos are macros and a DOF preview will help.


Every Nikon from the D90 up have DoF preview.


4. Better image processing: ... to reduce post processing as much as possible.


When it comes to in-camera JPEG processing, the Nikons and Pentaxs are far ahead of the rest. There are tonnes of options for tinting, saturation, sharpness etc. In addition, Nikon bodies feature automatic chromatic aberration correction for JPEGs.


Hope that helps.

[sidkhullar]

Thanks.
Going by the feedback received on this forum and advice on others, I think the D90 seems to be the body of choice, given my existing investment in lenses etc.

KD: An SLR gets people suspicious enough, what with the large bag I tote. A little tripod gets people all paranoid and tetchy.

:-)


Sid

The 50D vs the D90?
Well, the D90 has HD video @ 720p. It also shares the same sensor as the D300 which trumps the 40/50D when it comes to high ISO performance. The 50D is no slouch though, as we've all seen from Vicky's awesome high ISO shots. Also, the 50D will record 14bit RAW files against the 12bit files of the D90. The 50D also has the high frame rate advantage of 6.2 vs 4.5fps.

Actually the 50D is placed in between the D90 and D300 both price and feature wise.

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

also since u are into food...buy a raynox..it will improve your food photography not to a different level but to a different league.food photography involves close-ups..thats where the 150 and 250 will also do some nice shots.

D90 or rather the D5000 also.230k vs 920k,and 2.7" vs 3" are no stark differences.the rest mainly remain the same between the D90 and the D5000.so u can also open up on the D5000 and invest again in some glass/tripod that you may need.

synn may guide you regarding the detailed differences between the D90 and D5000...

here is the side by side..

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=nikon_d90%2Cnikon_d5000&show=all

anvancy

[sidkhullar]

thanks for the tip - will look it up. those lenses look fantastic... lemme check out the prices now. :)

the other reason i wanted the d90 was for the drive motor, as my best lens is the 50mm 1.8, which doesn;t have a motor and i end up having to get the focus and dof right, while my food goes cold. :)


sid

also since u are into food...buy a raynox..it will improve your food photography not to a different level but to a different league.food photography involves close-ups..thats where the 150 and 250 will also do some nice shots.

D90 or rather the D5000 also.230k vs 920k,and 2.7" vs 3" are no stark differences.the rest mainly remain the same between the D90 and the D5000.so u can also open up on the D5000 and invest again in some glass/tripod that you may need.

synn may guide you regarding the detailed differences between the D90 and D5000...

here is the side by side..

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=nikon_d90%2Cnikon_d5000&show=all

anvancy

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

thanks for the tip - will look it up. those lenses look fantastic... lemme check out the prices now. :)

the other reason i wanted the d90 was for the drive motor, as my best lens is the 50mm 1.8, which doesn;t have a motor and i end up having to get the focus and dof right, while my food goes cold. :)


sid


sorry..my bad..the D5000 doesnt have a motor.the D90 has..ill take back my advice.having in built motor is a better option.stick with D90.
for raynox there is a complete review here..under accessories.

anvancy

[hitanshu]

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1309

Yeh chalega boss?

[sidkhullar]

thanks, but will this hold an SLR? also, this size of tripod makes it a little difficult to achieve the height + angles required for most food shots.

i'm stuck to the d90 now. :D thanks all!

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1309

Yeh chalega boss?

[hitanshu]

oh boss, I have a similar one bought in CC for 70 bucks. Works lovely with the 50-55mm lenses, and barely holds the 55-250.

But then, you'd not have an issue with winds - though yes, donno how well it'll manage for macros!

[hitanshu]

by god - your job is painful - to click the image in those lights with the food staring down at you - NOT easy! :D

Next time, we'll take my 500D for comparison!

[Bibudesh]

If I were you I would have certainly gone ahead with D300 or D300s skipping the D90 level between D40x and D300.

If higher ISO performance is the basic concern then nothing can beat D300/D300s. With D90 the max practical ISO is 1600, with D300 its 3200.

Plus for low lights D300 is great due to its ultra-cool dynamic range performance with 14 bit raw.

I wud suggest u think again, I had almost zeroed on D90 some times back, but stopped myself and saving up for D300s as it makes more sense (though all the saving have gone till now LOL!).

With D300s/D300 u may not need to upgrade for next say 5 years min.

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

If I were you I would have certainly gone ahead with D300 or D300s skipping the D90 level between D40x and D300.

If higher ISO performance is the basic concern then nothing can beat D300/D300s. With D90 the max practical ISO is 1600, with D300 its 3200.

Plus for low lights D300 is great due to its ultra-cool dynamic range performance with 14 bit raw.

I wud suggest u think again, I had almost zeroed on D90 some times back, but stopped myself and saving up for D300s as it makes more sense (though all the saving have gone till now LOL!).

With D300s/D300 u may not need to upgrade for next say 5 years min.

so when u getting the D300??:)

anvancy

[synn]

SP has just echoed my thoughts!

[Xavier]

If I were you I would have certainly gone ahead with D300 or D300s skipping the D90 level between D40x and D300.

If higher ISO performance is the basic concern then nothing can beat D300/D300s. With D90 the max practical ISO is 1600, with D300 its 3200.

Plus for low lights D300 is great due to its ultra-cool dynamic range performance with 14 bit raw.

I wud suggest u think again, I had almost zeroed on D90 some times back, but stopped myself and saving up for D300s as it makes more sense (though all the saving have gone till now LOL!).

With D300s/D300 u may not need to upgrade for next say 5 years min.

Errm Rohit, I kinda disagree. I'm no Nikon expert, however for the Sid's specific needs, he would be much better off with a lighter camera, don't you think so?

The D300/s is definitely a better camera than the D90. However those better features are highlighted if and when you shoot something like sports or landscapes (for the DR) As far as low light performance is concerned, all comparison samples I have seen on the net show no difference. In fact the D90 produces clearer images at high ISOs. This might be the output of more aggressive in camera NR by the D90, however I didn't see any loss of detail in those samples.

BTW, both cameras have an ISO range of 200-3200. The D300 has 2 boost modes 100 and 6400, whereas the D90 only has one boost mode - 6400. Also Sid would be able to use his current SD cards on the D90, whereas the D300 uses CF cards.

All I'm trying to say that while the D300 is the camera with the higher specs amongst the two, the D90 makes more sense for Sid since he would need a light weight solution and would not really need the AF system or the faster frame burst of the D300.

[Bibudesh]

Errm Rohit, I kinda disagree. I'm no Nikon expert, however for the Sid's specific needs, he would be much better off with a lighter camera, don't you think so?

The D300/s is definitely a better camera than the D90. However those better features are highlighted if and when you shoot something like sports or landscapes (for the DR) As far as low light performance is concerned, all comparison samples I have seen on the net show no difference. In fact the D90 produces clearer images at high ISOs. This might be the output of more aggressive in camera NR by the D90, however I didn't see any loss of detail in those samples.

BTW, both cameras have an ISO range of 200-3200. The D300 has 2 boost modes 100 and 6400, whereas the D90 only has one boost mode - 6400. Also Sid would be able to use his current SD cards on the D90, whereas the D300 uses CF cards.

All I'm trying to say that while the D300 is the camera with the higher specs amongst the two, the D90 makes more sense for Sid since he would need a light weight solution and would not really need the AF system or the faster frame burst of the D300.

The image quality of D90 SOOC in one instance is more contrasty than the D300. But its just a matter of post processing, since you have more flexibility with D300 RAW images.
If budget is the major constraint then D90 is also a VFM. But D300 is more VFM though its more expensive.

@Anvancy- My D300?? My priorities are changed for a year or two. First need to resolve the third priority among roti,kapda and makaan.:D

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

@Anvancy- My D300?? My priorities are changed for a year or two. First need to resolve the third priority among roti,kapda and makaan.:D

true!!slowdown it seems!:(

anvancy

[Bibudesh]

true!!slowdown it seems!:(

anvancy

Nopes... its boom time :p ... thats why the third one from the priority list.

eet, pathharon ka ghar :-))