Nikon D90 VS Nikon D5000

I am wondering what the difference between Nikon D90 & Nikon D5000 is?? I have friends and one has one and one has the other and they BOTH say that their is the Best..

I don't know Nikon - Nor camera's in General but was wondering if there was a difference -

I recently went to the Nikon official site and compared several different models. The D90 was at the top of the line until they released the newer models. I don't know where it falls now since I believe they quit producing it. It may still just be a matter of opinion as to which is better lol.

Qmamom, I think you're right, it's a matter of preference. Marcie each of your friends probably just likes their camera better.

You seem to be getting hung up on the two different brands and it doesn't really matter, both are top brands. (And there are more than just those two major brands). It doesn't hurt to look, you might learn more about cameras in the process. But I don't think you'll get better photos switching brands. You probably need to keep learning about different techniques to get better w/the camera you already have.

If you really want to try a different camera, maybe rent one to try it out. Maybe you will end up someday finding a camera you like better than the one you have now. I think the hard thing about buying online is you don't get to hold the camera and get a feel for it before you buy it. Once you get better at photography it might become easier to know what you might want in a new camera.

D5000 was replaced by the D5100
D90 was replaced by the D7000

Nikons (current bodied are as follows - from cheapest/worst to best/most expensive):
D3100
D5100 (D5000 use to be here)
D7000 (D90 use to be here)
D300s
D700
D3s
D3x

As for the differences.
I'd say the body on the D90 is better quality (magnesium alloy for the D90, plastic for the D5000)
D90 has a higher resolution LCD on the back, dedicated info LCD on the top
D90 can focus using AF-D lenses (it has a AF-motor that lets it do this)
D90 has a bigger and brighter viewfinder.
The D90 has CLS (Creative Lighting System) commander built in. So it can command an off camera (Nikon) flash.
D90 has more AF points.
D90 has overall better AF


D5000 can use really old Nikon Non-AI lenses and the D90 can't. This shouldn't be a problem, but here's an explanation:
D40/D60/D5000 do not have a motor in camera body for focusing some lenses. So some 3rd party or older AF and AF-D lenses will meter but not AutoFocus.

Pre-AI | AI,AI-S,E series
- mounts,no meter use as Full manual set aperture on lens and shutter on camera. And guessimate the exposure as no metering.

AI-P | AF AF-D | AF-G
- mounts and meters,no AF so you set/lock aperture at f22 and manually have to focus and will meter scene.

Lenses designated Nikon AF-S, Sigma HSM or Tamron Di2 with built in motor. Will function fully.

But on the D90 can take Ai and Ais lenses and the AF and AF-D series lens will Autofocus on the D40/D60/D5000 they will not.

When I was looking to upgrade from the D60 to the D300 ($ dropped) retailers were trying to talk me into the D90. That said I'm glad I waited but I have looked at the D90 for my son but glanced over the D5000 as the D5100 & D7000 were out. Some think that more megapixels make better cameras but I have learned that isn't always the case.
P.S. Stealthy Ninja, you forgot the D300s lol. Great job explaining the differences!

The D5000 is a lower level camera compare to the D90. In theory the D90 is a better camera because it a higher end camera, however the D5000 was made after the D90. So it's a toss up.

Plane Fly wrote: The D5000 is a lower level camera compare to the D90. In theory the D90 is a better camera because it a higher end camera, however the D5000 was made after the D90. So it's a toss up.

When it's made is largely irrelevant. A newer camera might have more modern features (like 1080p video) but a good camera is a good camera. A D700 will still beat a D5000 any day of the week and the D700 is really old. Heck a Canon 5D (not mark II the original) is 5 years old or so and it'll still take a nicer photo than a D5000.

Qmamom wrote: When I was looking to upgrade from the D60 to the D300 ($ dropped) retailers were trying to talk me into the D90. That said I'm glad I waited but I have looked at the D90 for my son but glanced over the D5000 as the D5100 & D7000 were out. Some think that more megapixels make better cameras but I have learned that isn't always the case.
P.S. Stealthy Ninja, you forgot the D300s lol. Great job explaining the differences!

Yeh I always forget the D300s lol. The D7000 is better than the D300s in many ways. The D300s always slips my mind. I edited my post, thanks.

Yeh I always forget the D300s lol. The D7000 is better than the D300s in many ways. The D300s always slips my mind. I edited my post, thanks.

lol just teasing...

NP you were right I did forget.

Qmamom wrote: I recently went to the Nikon official site and compared several different models. The D90 was at the top of the line until they released the newer models. I don't know where it falls now since I believe they quit producing it. It may still just be a matter of opinion as to which is better lol.[/quote


Just was wondering as I was kind of under the thought that they were the same sort

icepics wrote: Qmamom, I think you're right, it's a matter of preference. Marcie each of your friends probably just likes their camera better.

You seem to be getting hung up on the two different brands and it doesn't really matter, both are top brands. (And there are more than just those two major brands). It doesn't hurt to look, you might learn more about cameras in the process. But I don't think you'll get better photos switching brands. You probably need to keep learning about different techniques to get better w/the camera you already have.

If you really want to try a different camera, maybe rent one to try it out. Maybe you will end up someday finding a camera you like better than the one you have now. I think the hard thing about buying online is you don't get to hold the camera and get a feel for it before you buy it. Once you get better at photography it might become easier to know what you might want in a new camera.

Sorry if you think that I am like that - NO I like talking about camera's, lenses and stuff ( I know nothing so I thought that I would ask) I was thinking that the D90 was a better camera BUT then I was told that the D5000 is better - So I was confused

Oh I am NOT looking for a camera - I like mine and I am working on getting better BUT I was talking to both of them and I was just wondering..

I hope to get better at photography before I do anything else - I love my Canon.. it will take a while to try stuff out but I am asking not to GET something but to find out more about the Nikon Brand and which one is better ..

Ya know?? Or am I talking out my a--?? Sorry

Stealthy Ninja wrote: D5000 was replaced by the D5100
D90 was replaced by the D7000

Nikons (current bodied are as follows - from cheapest/worst to best/most expensive):
D3100
D5100 (D5000 use to be here)
D7000 (D90 use to be here)
D300s
D700
D3s
D3x

As for the differences.
I'd say the body on the D90 is better quality (magnesium alloy for the D90, plastic for the D5000)
D90 has a higher resolution LCD on the back, dedicated info LCD on the top
D90 can focus using AF-D lenses (it has a AF-motor that lets it do this)
D90 has a bigger and brighter viewfinder.
The D90 has CLS (Creative Lighting System) commander built in. So it can command an off camera (Nikon) flash.
D90 has more AF points.
D90 has overall better AF


D5000 can use really old Nikon Non-AI lenses and the D90 can't. This shouldn't be a problem, but here's an explanation:
D40/D60/D5000 do not have a motor in camera body for focusing some lenses. So some 3rd party or older AF and AF-D lenses will meter but not AutoFocus.

Pre-AI | AI,AI-S,E series
- mounts,no meter use as Full manual set aperture on lens and shutter on camera. And guessimate the exposure as no metering.

AI-P | AF AF-D | AF-G
- mounts and meters,no AF so you set/lock aperture at f22 and manually have to focus and will meter scene.

Lenses designated Nikon AF-S, Sigma HSM or Tamron Di2 with built in motor. Will function fully.

But on the D90 can take Ai and Ais lenses and the AF and AF-D series lens will Autofocus on the D40/D60/D5000 they will not.

THANK YOU For this - it helps me out a lot - One friend has a D5000 and her pictures are Great & one has a D90 & her pictures are also amazing.. So I was just being noisy and I wanted to sort of find out which one of better so I can talk about it.. I really don't know anything about Nikon SO this is Great & VERY Helpful - So Means A LOT to me

Qmamom wrote: When I was looking to upgrade from the D60 to the D300 ($ dropped) retailers were trying to talk me into the D90. That said I'm glad I waited but I have looked at the D90 for my son but glanced over the D5000 as the D5100 & D7000 were out. Some think that more megapixels make better cameras but I have learned that isn't always the case.
P.S. Stealthy Ninja, you forgot the D300s lol. Great job explaining the differences!

OH... I am not sure which one is better OR whatever but I like to sort of know (or try to) what I am talking about.. One friend has a D5000 & takes amazing pictures with it and the other has a D90 & her pictures are amazing and she has her own photography - she owns her own company - I am NOT looking for a new camera but wanted to know sort of what I was talking about -

Nice to know that I can ask a question and get answers..

Plane Fly wrote: The D5000 is a lower level camera compare to the D90. In theory the D90 is a better camera because it a higher end camera, however the D5000 was made after the D90. So it's a toss up.

Well both Pictures are AMAZING with what they have so - One is a professional & one just does it for fun... Thank youl