FotoFan

Hello Everyone,
Thinking about selling my D60 and getting a newer model under $800.Has anyone had any experiences/knowledge with the Nikon D3200 or D5100? Also, if you know about the D60, could you tell me how I am improving my photos by changing to the newer models? :?:

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

My 2 cents: I know nothing about your D60, but let me throw in the D3100 as another contender. I just got one and my fairly uneducated logic was like this; the 3100 and 3200 appear to be the same body except for the 3200's extra 10 megapixels packed onto the same size sensor, which gave me concerns about image quality as the pixels get smaller. For a hundred bucks less, I can crop out half of the 3100's 14 MP and still get one to one pixel to dot ratio on an 8 X 10 printed at 300 dpi. I'd save that hundred and use it toward another lens.

silentknight16 Loc: Cape May, New Jersey

Hello... this may help. Over the years I have owned Nikon D60, D80, D90 and D5100. Does moving from one model to another improve picture quality? Not as much as you may think... The MP game tells you the more MP's you have the better pictures you will get. The truth of the matter is putting a quality lens on the camera body will do more for picture quality than buying more MP's. My advice would be look at the various models and concentrate on the features that each offer. The D60 is a 10MP D40 and it is probably time to move up. The D3200 got a very good rating in a recent review... it's negative was it didn't have the articulated LCD that the D5100 has. I have found that feature much more useful that the 8 MP's the D3200 has. Go for more MP's if you crop and enlarge ... otherwise shop for features you will use.

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

Use the articulated screen sparingly or one day you may find it snapped off when you least expected it because you had it out and bumped it against something. Buy the D5100 it is the same guts as my D7000 and the low noise and high ISO capabilities are excellent and better than the D3100, which is also a nice camera mind you. But, buy the D5100 if you can't afford the D7000, low light capability is a very important thing to have with low noise in the image, when choosing a camera body. Ohh yes, and the Auto WB balance is excellent on my D7000, far better than my D300, so you will have that advantage as well in the D5100.

FotoFan

Your comments are all really helpful. Thank you Lucian, silentknight16 and OddJobber. Good points - I see now that more research is involved. Besides these cameras mentioned, are there any I should consider (of course in my price level of $600-$800)?
Can anyone give me a quick but simple review of mega pixels and sensor compatibility? OddJobber, you referred to it but I'm such a newbie that it did not connect with me.

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

megapixels are not as important as sensor type and file size. For example there are cheap P&S cameras that have 14 megapixels but the file size of the image is small compared to say an older DSLR that had only 10 megapixels and the cheap P&S has a smaller sensor so the quality of the image won't be as good as a larger DSLR DX sensor. So there is a lot to know and understand but I don't have the time to post it all.

Stick with a D5100 if you want one now, since you seem to prefer Nikon which is fine by me, but if you can wait, you may wish to wait for the new "Expected" Nikon release of possibly the D600.

Just remember you can wait for years to get the best and latest camera, thereby missing all those great opportunities to take some super photos while you waited all that time. Then the day you buy the camera you have been waiting for, a week later a newer and cheaper model with more bells and whistles and functions and quality will always be released.

If you want one now, look around for the best in your budget and wants and buy it now. That would probably be the D5100 from what you have told us. Will you ever want to do anything greater than a 20x24 inch print, if no then you will never need more pixels than that camera will offer you?

FotoFan

Again Thanks Lucian. Yes, I think the D5100 is my favorite choice right now given all your good input. I'm really liking the angled LCD monitor. I just spent $200 on an external viewfinder for the D60 and it only gives me one viewpoint (above the camera). I hear you though, when you say that to be careful with it because it can break off. Has this happened to you or someone you know? Is it a vulnerability for this camera or with careful use, will it be okay overtime?

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

I can think of rare times when an angled view finder would have helped me but these are so rare it is not worth thinking about. Something else to consider since this is not film days, just lower the camera shoot and then look on the back. Or raise the camera over your head and point in the direction and shoot and you can again look on the back to see what you have. If it's not right, shoot it again. I do this at weddings.

The other thing to remember is that when holding over your head it is hard to see exactly what is on the screen anyway. Also if you are outdoors in day light it is almost impossible to see the back of the camera, let alone see a screen that is high above your head or down on the ground.

Therefore in my mind this is simply a gimmick that the consumer has fallen for and not really needed. Think back over the last year and ask yourself how many times did you really think, boy I wish I had a moveable screen?

I have heard of a few who forgot the screen was out of its parking bay in the camera and as the camera was moved around, the screen was caught on something and snapped right off because there is only a little flimsy piece of plastic holding it in place. And that is a major expense to have repaired.

If you think about it and the real use it will get and the poor viewing you get from a screen in bright sun light, you will probably realize that this is a non issue as a feature or function in the real world of shooting.

Susyseek2 Loc: Pennsylvania

I bought a D5100 at the beginning of this year, and I love it. I took a class offered by the camera store where I bought it, and learned about some of it's "bells and whistles" which was quite helpful. The only problem I have had is the battery charger Nikon sells for use with the D5100. I am on my 3rd one. They don't work well. But the camera itself is great!

tinusbum Loc: east texas

i upgraded to a nikon d5100 from a nikon d70 (only 6mp) i really like the 5100.i just wish i could get a spare battery,but i dont want to pay $50 for one.oh i havent had any problems with my charger.tom

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The only drawback to the D5100 is that it doesn't have a focusing moter. If you have autofocus lenses, or you don't mind focusing manually, it's not an issue.

Consider getting one refurbished. I saved over $100. It came packed in a Nikon box - gray and labeled "Refurbished." Other than that, it was like getting a new camera - with all the little bits and pieces. It had about 1,800 clicks on the shutter. You can try Adorama, B&H, KEH, or Nikon's site.

LindaB Loc: Indiana

The only drawback to the D5100 is that it doesn't have a focusing moter. If you have autofocus lenses, or you don't mind focusing manually, it's not an issue.


Jerry, could you please explain the focusing motor issue on the D5100. I have been considering a new camera and this is the one I have been looking at, but now I question this. I do not do well with manual focus as my eyesight is not as good as it used to be. So, wondering if this would be a problem.
THANKS for your comments.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It can be frustrating if you're used to autofocus. The D7000 has the focusing motor in the camera, so any lens can be focused automatically because the camera will do the adjusting. With the D5100, you must use Nikon's AF-S lenses (or some other brand) with the motor in the lens itself. Nikon calls it an SWM (Silent Wave Motor). If all of your lenses are autofocus, no problem. It's only those lenses without the motor that will require manual focusing.

Unfortunately, it's a big step in price from the D5100 to the D7000.

LindaB Loc: Indiana

THANKS for the info Jerry, appreciate it.

Pentony Loc: Earth Traveller

My D90 is going in for repairs thanks to my careless significant other (lol). I'm enjoying my D3100. I was torn between buying the D3200 or the D5100. The comments herein have steered me towards the D5100 and not for the flip viewer :lol: