Need advice on first SLR

[Amber J]

I like to shoot landscapes and night photos. The qualities I find most important in a camera are:

-dust control
-image stabilization
-fast multipoint autofocus
-low noise at high ISO settings

Bulkiness and the ability to shoot HD video doesn't really matter to me as I already have several other smaller cameras and an HD camcorder. I have a camera that has 6 megapixels so any camera above that is fine, however, I'm not obsessed with getting a camera with extremely high megapixels.

I've been looking at Nikons, specifically the D5000 and D3100. They are so similar so I want to get some opinions on them from owners.

I would love to get a D90, it's just a matter of money.


Any recomendations would help greatly! Thanks!

 

[jcrob33]

D5000 for sure.

Though you're not interested in the Video, it is a nice feature. Plus it takes a few of the things from the D90.

And itsn't it now cheaper then the 3100?

 

[enzodm]

-dust control
-image stabilization
-fast multipoint autofocus
-low noise at high ISO settings

if for dust control you mean weather-sealed body, no chance to have it on entry-level Nikon and Canon cameras (from this point of view, d5000 d3100 d90 are equivalent; you should go d300). In addition, if you want to have sealed lenses too, also those should come from the pro series.
Pentax and Olympus cameras are (or were) sealed even in cheaper models, but I do not know details.
Image stabilization is on lens on Canon and Nikon, on body on Pentax, Olympus, Sony. So in the former case you have to buy stabilized lenses, in the latter any lens is stabilized. However, I suppose you shoot night&landscape on tripod, and when on tripod you have to disable stabilization.
Autofocus speed depends also on lens motor. Both d3100 and d5000 do not have in-body autofocus motor.

 

[Light Artisan]

D5000 for sure.

Can you explain your certainty on this one, please?

Because I've owned all 3 of the camera bodies being considerered here (D5000, D3100, D90) and would recommend a used/refurb D90.

You would be less likely to outgrow a D90 as fast, the 'baby Nikons' are nice but most people end up selling them within a year and upgrade to a body with a built in focus motor, dual command dials, top LCD and option for a real factory battery grip.