Upgrading from d40x....

[harborblack]

Hello all,
I am a long time visitor to different posts here but just finally joined.
My d40x shutter finally kicked the bucket and it's time to upgrade.

I have just purchased a new D90 (not grey market) for the following reasons:

I own lots of old glass I still wish to use
I want to get better at photography and understanding it and the manual controls and LCD on the D90 appeal to this
I wanted to buy new due to the shutter failure on my D40x, and the fact that this will be a signifigant investment for me money wise, one of a size that I will not be likely to make for many years.

HOWEVER,

I just saw the KEH and Adorama both have used d7000 bodies for only a small amount more than what I purchased my new d90 for.
The catch is that there will be a restocking fee of about 90.00 on the D90 (plus shipping cost Im out an additional 135 above the cost of the D90 which could cover a new lens, a light kit, etc ).

According the the specs the D7000 is superior to the D90 in pretty much every way, and the controls appear to be very similar if not the same?
The lens compatibility looked the same as well, am I missing something?
I am fairly serious about my photography, I shoot a lot of family, kids, couples photos.

Long story short,
Is it worth it to eat the restocking cost and shipping and the peace of mind of NEW and return to D90 for the USED D7000 from reputable sellers?

Thank you so much for your help and opinions.

(old glass I use if it helps:
50mm 1.4 S
135mm 2.8
28mm 2.8

New glass:
35 mm 1.8
55-200mm
18-55mm

also have a 55mm macro somewhere)

 

[goodguy]

I know there is a lot of respect to the D90 and it is a capable camera but it really was already replaced twice by the D7000 and then the D7100.
From what you are writing it looks like the camera will be a long term investment, something you will use for many years till it will break so no I wouldnt get the D7000.
I would get the D7100, it will cost you more but in the long term you will have a better camera and will give you overall better performance.
If you absolutly cant afford the D7100 then I guess I would go with the D7000.
I had the D7000 and while mine was a lemon and I had back focusing problems I still got amazing results with it and I really loved that camera.

Now just out of curiosity you wrong you have a 50mm 1.4 S, I know there is a 50mm 1.4G and 50mm 1.4D but I never heard of the S model, is that an auto focus model ?
How old is it ?

 

[KmH]

No, you're not missing anything.

Though there would be little image quality difference, the D7000 is a more capable camera than the D90.

 

[harborblack]

Nikkor-s auto 50mm 1.4 is my lens.
There is no way I can afford the d7100, the d7000 is honestly borderline financially.

My questions are:
do the additional af points on the 7000 cause any focus issues when shooting handheld?
what is the learning curve like? I am already a little intimidated by the d90.
would you be concerned about purchasing a d7000 used for any reason?

 

[Derrel]

If you can use a D40x, you can handle a D90, OR a D7000 OR a D7100, no problem. It's about like moving from an old car with a 3-speed automatic to one that has a 4-speed automatic and is 10 years newer....SAME basic stuff, a couple of new buttons...the best part is the D90 and the D7xxx series both have a dedicated shutter speed thumb wheel and a dedicated f/stop wheel on the front deck, so, Manual and Av and S modes are even easier to use on the newer models.

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Auto-S is an older model, I am familiar with it; it WOULD fit onto the D40x with no problems, but, unless it has been Ai-modified, the aperture control ring is TOO LARGE in diameter, and it could really damage the minimum aperture sensing pin (7 o'clock, front, lower left of lensmount area) AND maybe also the Ai-follower tab on the D90 and the D7xxx models...

So, be VERY careful with the old 50/1.4 AUTO-S model!!! and also any other pre-Ai Nikkors!!!! The D40 D40x and the D60 and D3xxx and D5xxx series ALL can and WILL accept the older, pre-Ai "fat barrel" lenses, but the D90 and D7xxx models MUST HAVE Ai-style lenses, or newer, AF, AF-D, AF-i, or AF-S lenses for proper,safe operation.

 

[harborblack]

Thank you so much for the warning! Is there a modification or adapter for those lenses?

 

[Derrel]

No adapter, but many camera repair places can do an "Ai modification". At the very barest minimum, an Ai conversion is basically, removing some metal from the aperture control ring area; a better Ai-conversion also adds a secondary aperture scale to the lens. I've done two myself with just a file, a scribe, and a steady hand and 30 minutes of slow, careful filing, but that was on later-vintage Nikkors. Earlier lenses, like yours, need a bit more work, but it's not really all that complicated.

This guy is one of the leading experts in this: AI Conversions for Nikon Lenses: Effective, Fast and Affordable!

 

[manicmike]

I loved the D90. If I still had it I wouldn't move to a D7000.

 

[goodguy]

Nikkor-s auto 50mm 1.4 is my lens.
There is no way I can afford the d7100, the d7000 is honestly borderline financially.

My questions are:
do the additional af points on the 7000 cause any focus issues when shooting handheld?
what is the learning curve like? I am already a little intimidated by the d90.
would you be concerned about purchasing a d7000 used for any reason?

Almost always I shoot hand held, rule of thumb is keep shutter speed and focal length same to prevent camera shake.
50mm then speed is 1/50, 100mm then speed is 1/100.......etc
This of course is just a general rule, depends of the person some will need faster and some can go lower.

If this is the max you can afford then yes go with the D7000, very good camera!

 

[shadowlands]

D90 still rocks!!! You'll love it... I went from a D40 to a D90 and it was awesome....
But if the price difference is close, get the D7K. Why not?
But if it's a few hundred more... keep the D90. You'll love it, period.