Opportunity to 'upgrade' to Nikon D5100.should I?
I currently own the Nikon D5000 with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses. I have the opportunity to sell my D5000 kit and go to a new D5100 with the 18-55mm and the 70-300mm lenses and it would cost me about $200 to do so.
Would you jump on this and, if so, why?
Added (1). Dear "Dr."… No, I certainly do not NEED to do this. However, since I shoot a fair amount of outdoor sports, I liked the better 70-300mm lens and the improved full-time AF on LiveView. Add the purported slightly better imaging, the side-articulating LCD (instead of the frustrating bottom hinged one) and slightly better ISO range… I thought trading a used d5000 for this new d5100 + $200 seemed pretty reasonable.
Added (2). I really appreciate all the input! Just to put perspective on this… It's not a true trade… I'm selling my immaculately cared for d5000 to someone who really wants it and I would be buying the d5100 from a fellow church member (I work for the church) who won it at some big event and is trying to give me a really good deal on it. He knows he could get more for it but he settled on the price that would end up costing me about $200 over what I make on the d5000. I could add another $100 but that would be my limit.
Do you need to?
the D5000 to the D5100 is not THAT much of an upgrade. You get a better sensor and better video capabilities, but if you don't absolutely need that, why do it?
So, unless you want a certain feature on the D5100, keep your D5000 until it falls apart in your hands (~10 years), or upgrade sooner to one of the future lines of Nikon DSLR's (D8000, D400, D800, D4/x/s, etc - http://nikonrumors.com/2011/06/02/reality-or-fiction-nikon-d4-d4x-d400-d400x-d800-d800x-d9000-specs.aspx/ )
Why don't you buy a d90 with that money.
Me, no. You, probably. You claim you don't need it but you're justifying every bit of the deal. I could spend the $200 on something else but you have your own reasons. C'mon, admit it. You WANT it! That alone is enough reason to rush out of the door right now before the offer ends. That's how it works. To each his own.
Sounds good to me.
Lenses aren't cheap, so you get the lens you really want and an upgrade on your camera for $200? Cheaper than a new lens…
The D5100 is a great improvement over the D5000.It has a better sensor, same as the new D7000.It has better video and a lot more added features. For only $200 more, I certainly would. Plus you will enjoy the 70-300mm lens as well. That is a deal you can't pass up.
I say that is the best deal I have seen in a while. The D5000 with the 18-55mm lens kit is going for $550 at best buy with the 55-200mm VR lenses at $250. The D5100 kit is going for $850 and the 70-300mm VR lens is going for $590 so to sell your D5000 package for the D5100 package is a steal. That is a difference of $640 for a swap of brand new items. The D5100 is a great camera to upgrade as it has the same sensor of the D7000 so the image quality and ISO performance is going to be a big upgrade. The Full HD video at 24 FPS and auto focus is a Big upgrade! Do it!
While the upgrade from D5000 to D5100 may not seem to be much when you just look at features, the sensor in the D5100 is a huge jump in technology. Its sensor borrows from the $1, 300 D7000
http://www.dxomark.com/...nd3)/Nikon
For $200, I would go for it
NOTE: You will still need a lens to shoot landscapes, groups and things that the 70-300 mm can't cover, but there are good used AF-S 18-55 mm lenses out there used that are quite affordable