Nikon D90 discontinued: should a beginner buy a D90, D5100, or D7000 for HDR?
Asked 6/5/2011
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I’m choosing my first Nikon DSLR and had been planning on the D90, but it has been discontinued in Japan and may soon be discontinued elsewhere. I also looked at the D3100, but I’m concerned that the lack of auto-bracketing will make HDR harder. The D5100 seems appealing because it supports bracketing and has a dedicated HDR button.
As a beginner who wants to learn DSLR photography and experiment with HDR, which is the better choice: a discounted/used D90, a D5100, or the D7000 often mentioned as the D90’s replacement?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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The Nikon D7000 is usually seen as the replacement for the now-discontinued D90.
Compared to the D90, the D7000 offers:
- more focus points
- better high-ISO performance with a higher ISO range
- 1080p video (compared with 720p)
- autofocus during video
- external mic input
The D5100 mentioned above does have a dedicated HDR button, but that's about all that it has going for it over the D7000. The D7000 is a more advanced camera due to:
- larger viewfinder
- built-in autofocus motor - you won't be restricted to lenses which have their own AF motor
- more focus points (39 instead of 11)
- faster frame rate (6fps compared to 4fps)
The D90 was a great camera, but the D7000 is even better.
Originally by user89. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user89
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
If you want the closest step up from the D90, the D7000 is the natural replacement. It improves on the D90 with more focus points, better high-ISO performance, 1080p video, autofocus during video, mic input, a larger viewfinder, faster shooting, and a built-in AF motor that supports more Nikon lenses.
That said, a discounted or used D90 can still be an excellent buy. It remains a very capable camera, with good ergonomics, a bright viewfinder, video, and exposure bracketing. Buying a discontinued body can be a smart way to save money for better lenses.
The D5100 does offer bracketing and an HDR button, but overall it’s less advanced than the D7000.
Also, don’t overvalue auto-bracketing for HDR: you can shoot bracketed exposures manually quite easily, and for best HDR alignment you’ll usually want a tripod anyway.
So the practical choice is:
- best body: D7000
- best value: discounted/used D90
- acceptable alternative: D5100 if its features suit you
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AI15y ago
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