Nikon D5000

[Rex_Tremende]

Oh. My. Gosh.

This is exactly my 25th shot on a new camera I don't know how to use, taken with no flash and no tripod.

My trusty Sony DSC-S30 finally gave up the ghost after maybe a decade of use. It had a fully articulated view screen that enabled a lot of tricky angles. I've had my eye out for a similar one for years, but it seems that a fixed screen was the only option among all the available cameras on the market.

Well some months ago, I noticed and ad for a Nikon that had the same type of view screen, however it just wasn't a priority. I had a perfectly good working camera.

Until this week.

All sorts of things started falling apart on it, and now, the only way I can make it turn on and off is to pop the battery in and out - and the battery refuses to stay put - it keeps popping out on its own.

Argh!

I can't be without a camera!

So, I took the plunge and got what I've been missing since my old Yashica bit the dust almost 20 years ago - an SLR camera with interchangeable lenses that has auto features, but can let me manipulate attributes as needed - as well as the best features of that digital dinosaur that I've used for so long. I found that in the Nikon D5000. I think I'm going to enjoy using this.

But, oh my! It has a user manual 231 pages long.


Say, Phil....





Regards,
Rex.

[Mark Keeney]

I love my Nikon D80. Now you will have to get the telephoto lens, and the wide angle lens, and the grip that holds 2 batteries, and a tripod, and a new kilt, and a sporran to hold the accessories.

[pdcorlis]

Congratulations and Fear not Rex, the D5000 is a real peach! Set at default settings it will make great looking photos and the stock 18-55mm lens is better than it deserves to be. Be sure to leave the lens "VR" set to "ON" and have a ball.

Now for the bad news - I hear we are supposed to be 5% smarter than any technology we own. That may be a tall order for guys like you and me but there are whole books written to help us understand all the buttons, knobs, and do-hickies on these critters. I'm partial to the "Magic Lantern" series of books. They are easier to grock than those inscrutable manuals.

In the end, its like riding a bike. All those years with the Yashica will have you running your new Nikon like Uri Geller bending spoons before you know it.

oh yeah - nice photo!

[Spectre]

I sure do love my D60!

[Jock Scot]

I second the "Magic Lantern" suggestion Phil. Cleaver picture there Rex.

[pdcorlis]

Yeah, I just upgraded to a Nikon D90 body - Magic Lantern here I come... again...

[Paul]

Looks great... I wanted a cross between a pro and consumer camera that did HD video and I bagged myself a refurb Kodak Z1012 for around 110quid.
It's great quality but it's unreliable unless I'm using my Kodak lithium batteries or my rechargeable battery that fits the camera - as it "acts weird" with any others and burns them down to nothing in a couple of uses.

[ForresterModern]

Pic looks great. DSLRs take a little getting used to but are getting easier to use despite having greater technology than in past. Good luck with and enjoy yours---take more kilt pictures.

I have been an interested and dedicated amateur photographer for the last 25 years. Gone from Pentax 35mms with two bags full of lenses and other gear to 645 format with only one bag of gear and lenses, added digital cameras of several varieties about 10 years ago for work (had to include digital photos into PowerPoint presentations and lectures)--mostly point and shoots. Then 4 years ago sold off most if not all of the Pentax gear and dove into DSLR with Canon Digital Rebel XT and a few lenses, and have been hooked ever since. Still have and use the Point and Shoots (mostly Fuji's) for situations where I don't want to carry the bulky body and lenses, but with a recent upgrade to the XSi I remain a happy Canon camper. Nothing like auto focus, face recognition, multiple automatic modes, self sensing TTL flash, image stabilization and long zooms to make an idiot like myself look good. All I have to do is choose composition and frame the picture, and even a lot of that can be done post-processing.

Can honestly say I have never owned a Nikon, although I did use a couple different ones for some classes a few years back.

[ShaunMaxwell]

Rex, you might want to check out Ken Rockwell's site... He's got a lot of very useful information that's kind of dumbed down for non-professional photographers that I've found to be very helpful. This may be useful for you: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d5000.htm

[Standard]

Rex, you might want to check out Ken Rockwell's site... He's got a lot of very useful information that's kind of dumbed down for non-professional photographers that I've found to be very helpful. This may be useful for you: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d5000.htm

Thanks for the link Shaun, I passed it on to my daughter who is shooting a D40 which we bought her for a high school graduation present.