What are people views on the Nikon D5000?

I'm stuck between D5000, D3100 and the Canon 550D and 1000D. I don't need video, but I do need a variety of lens, I'm looking at shooting mainly wildlife, family and event. Not so much sporting or speed shooting. I have found a great deal on the Nikon D5000 & 18-55mm vr & 55-200mm vr & bag… Would this be the best option for me, it also allows me money left from my budget to put more into another lens?

Excellent camera D5000 Nikon lenses Excellent. I also use a D40 I also use UV filters on my lenses as this protects the lens its self. I have tried the rest too.

Honestly, no. 55-200 is nowhere near enough for wildlife. 300mm is absolute minimal, longer is preferred.

Canon makes a nice and very affordable 400mm f5.6 and a very decent 100-400 zoom. Nikon has nothing in that price bracket.

Family and event can be done with all of these, a decent lens and a flash

Until the D3100 was introduced, the D5000 with its articulated LCD screen was very popular.

Now the D3100 has eclipsed the D5000 with more features and a slightly lower price.

I would suggest you buy the D3100 with standard lens, 18-55 mm lens ($700) and then look closely at the new 55-300 mm lens which will give you longer reach which you will need for shooting wildlife than the older 55-200 mm lens.

Unnecessary. Too many pointless bells and whistles.

If you're shooting wildlife, you need something quick to use. The requirements are quite similar to sports photography, long lens and high speed. You don't need video or a flip out screen, but you absolutely do need speed.

You're better off with something like a Canon 50D or Pentax K-5 which has a higher frame rate and more advanced autofocus.

Or if you're prepared to buy used, you could get a Canon 1D mkII, which has even better AF than the 50D, and shoots at 8.5fps.

Now as to lenses, the 55-200mm lens is definitely not enough. You need to look at a 300mm lens on APS-C, and probably 400mm on full frame. I'd suggest having a look at either the Sigma 150-500mm or Canon EF 100-400mm L.

I use a Nikon D5000 with an 18-55mm and a 70-300mm lens. I love it!

Since the D5000 is being phased out, you will probably find a better deal than the D3100. But if you find a good price on the D3100, get that instead. It is a better camera.

I do use the articulating screen quite a bit and will miss it on my next camera. It is nice and compact (the D3100 is more so) and very responsive.

I agree with others about 200mm not being enough for wildlife. 300mm isn't that much more magnification, but it is the maximum you can get before getting into bulky and expensive telephotos.

The 70-300mm lens is more expensive and bulkier than the 55-300mm, but the autofocus is faster, the build is better, and the optics are superb. Don't bother with aftermarket lenses. They void the warranty if there are issues, they aren't as good, and they really aren't that much cheaper. Nikon is an optics company, not a camera company.