Why is the D5100 cheaper than D90?

[jake337]

The D90 was never a prosumer model.

Nikon has 2 grades of entry-level cameras. The compacts that don't have an auto focus motor - D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100 - and the normal size cameras that do have a focus motor - D50, D70, D70s, D80, D90, and D7000.

Damn wikipedia lies again!!!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_D90


I only said it was because that is how all the sites list it as. But I guess Nikon doesn't list it as one, but then again they don't list the D300s as one either.


But at the end of the day it really doesn't matter because it's about how your imagination and how you create, utilize, and shape the light.

Here's a d40x group on flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/search/groups/?q=portrait&m=pool&w=23006027@N00&s=int

 

[SCraig]

Yeah, it was never official by any means. I always sort of thought of it like this:

Consumer grade: D3100, D3200, D5100, D40, etc

Enthusiast grade: D7000, D90, D70, etc

Pro-sumer grade: D700, D800

Pro grade D3, D4

The next step is where the D600 fits in, I guess it'd be considered an enthusiast grade FX. It's clearly not aimed at pro-sumer occasional wedding type shooters, but it's kind of weird putting it alongside the pure enthusiast grade, which was traditionally been DX format.

It's not that simple. In Nikon's own words, the Professional D300.

I agree that this breakdown is generally correct but there has never been any clear-cut definition handed down by Nikon. I even read somewhere a few years ago that the "Pro-grade" Nikons were easy to recognize because they all had black shutter release buttons whereas "Everything Else" has silver buttons. That would put the D300, D700, and D7000 in the "Pro" range where they obviously don't belong.

That generalization also doesn't take into consideration time. For example, the D1 once WAS a Pro-Grade camera but by today's standards it is far from being one.

I don't have an answer. I think your listing is as good as any, but even so there are gray areas.

 

[fjrabon]

Yeah, it was never official by any means. I always sort of thought of it like this:

Consumer grade: D3100, D3200, D5100, D40, etc

Enthusiast grade: D7000, D90, D70, etc

Pro-sumer grade: D700, D800

Pro grade D3, D4

The next step is where the D600 fits in, I guess it'd be considered an enthusiast grade FX. It's clearly not aimed at pro-sumer occasional wedding type shooters, but it's kind of weird putting it alongside the pure enthusiast grade, which was traditionally been DX format.

It's not that simple. In Nikon's own words, the Professional D300.

I agree that this breakdown is generally correct but there has never been any clear-cut definition handed down by Nikon. I even read somewhere a few years ago that the "Pro-grade" Nikons were easy to recognize because they all had black shutter release buttons whereas "Everything Else" has silver buttons. That would put the D300, D700, and D7000 in the "Pro" range where they obviously don't belong.

That generalization also doesn't take into consideration time. For example, the D1 once WAS a Pro-Grade camera but by today's standards it is far from being one.

I don't have an answer. I think your listing is as good as any, but even so there are gray areas.

yeah, I totally agree with you. Its never that clearcut (and I don't Nikon has ever wanted it to be that clear cut). The D3200 is the entry level and the D4 is the flagship, between those points is a lot of grey area and debate.

 

[jake337]

Yeah, it was never official by any means. I always sort of thought of it like this:

Consumer grade: D3100, D3200, D5100, D40, etc

Enthusiast grade: D7000, D90, D70, etc

Pro-sumer grade: D700, D800

Pro grade D3, D4

The next step is where the D600 fits in, I guess it'd be considered an enthusiast grade FX. It's clearly not aimed at pro-sumer occasional wedding type shooters, but it's kind of weird putting it alongside the pure enthusiast grade, which was traditionally been DX format.

It's not that simple. In Nikon's own words, the Professional D300.

I agree that this breakdown is generally correct but there has never been any clear-cut definition handed down by Nikon. I even read somewhere a few years ago that the "Pro-grade" Nikons were easy to recognize because they all had black shutter release buttons whereas "Everything Else" has silver buttons. That would put the D300, D700, and D7000 in the "Pro" range where they obviously don't belong.

That generalization also doesn't take into consideration time. For example, the D1 once WAS a Pro-Grade camera but by today's standards it is far from being one.

I don't have an answer. I think your listing is as good as any, but even so there are gray areas.

yeah, I totally agree with you. Its never that clearcut (and I don't Nikon has ever wanted it to be that clear cut). The D3200 is the entry level and the D4 is the flagship, between those points is a lot of grey area and debate.

It's not really a gray area.


They are just models in between the D3200 and the D4 with different options available. Just choose the one that fits your needs.


You can get professional quality pictures from a D1. You can print pretty large too depending on the distance your work is supposed to be viewed from and the quality of the file you create.


http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1021&message=1311883&changemode=1


Flickr: Search Nikon D1 Users Group

 

[coastalconn]

FWIW, I hang out in a certain bargain forum and many people have reported success grabbing a Nikon D90 with the 18-105 on clearance at some best buys! Call it what class of camera you want but that is a steal of a deal...

 

[xj0hnx]

FWIW, I hang out in a certain bargain forum and many people have reported success grabbing a Nikon D90 with the 18-105 on clearance at some best buys! Call it what class of camera you want but that is a steal of a deal...

For how much? My local best buy has a D7000 and D90 that the girl that runs the section said they were going to be selling the floor models soon. Unless they let them go for silly low, I'd almost rather pass than buy a camera that thousands of grimy hands have done who knows what to.

 

[coastalconn]

oops, forgot to say for 599... Most people are scoring New in Box! If they sell display model they take another 10% off. This is regional I guess.