Camera Labs

Hi all,

You can see my current equipment at the bottom of this message. I'm thinking about upgrading my D40 and am considering either the D5100 (£378 Amazon UK), D3200 (£429 Amazon UK) or waiting for the successor to the D5100 (D7000 = too expensive for me).

My needs are: autofocus with my 50mm f1.8 (D40 does not autofocus with this lens) and ability to do exposure braketing.

As such, I feel like the D5100 is both the cheaper AND the better option. Would you agree with this? Is general would you agree that the D5100 is a better camera than the D3200? I'm not sure about the articulated screen and whether I'd use this a great deal.

Finally, does anyone have any idea when a successor to the D5100 will be released and whether it is worth waiting for this?

Any advice / opinions appreciated!

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Nikon D40 / Nikon D5100

Visit my photograph portfolio and personal blog

18-55 VR f/3.5-5.6
55-200 f/4-5.6
50 f/1.8

Follow me on Twitter: @stevesayskanpai

If you have the AF 50/1.8D it won't AF on a D5x00 or D3x00.
if it's the AF-S 50/1.8G then you're good to go with both bodies.
I'd go for the D5100 btw. because I see every day what havoc a highest resolution body like my 36MP D800 can play with lesser lenses. And the D3200 has a pixel-pitch that is equivalent to 54MP (!) full-frame.
There are not many lenses that can look good then...

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

No I have the AF 50 / 1.8D - dammit! I'm pretty pleased with this lens even with just manual focus (see http://stevesayskanpai.wordpress.com/people/#jp-carousel-4730 for example) - but it would still have been nice to have autofocus ...

I'm leaning toward the D5100 and also the 35mm f1.8.

I'm also wondering whether I should get the new kit lens (adds vibration reduction onto the 18-55 that I currently have for an extra 70 quid!) ...

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Nikon D40 / Nikon D5100

Visit my photograph portfolio and personal blog

18-55 VR f/3.5-5.6
55-200 f/4-5.6
50 f/1.8

Follow me on Twitter: @stevesayskanpai

Yeah, I'd suggest upgrading your lenses a bit, too. That would make it easy to have AF on a D5x00.
With regard to your fixed-focal thoughts, Steve: What is the situation in which you use the 50/1.8 or would use a 35/1.8?

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

What's the price of the Nikon D90 in your region? This is still a great camera (even if it's not the newest one) and it would focus with your 50mm lens.
Just the video mode is not up to date but if that's not important you can get pretty happy with the D90.

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Canon EOS 500D + Canon EOS 5D Mark III + Canon EOS 33v
Canon EF 24-105mm 4L IS USM + EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 100mm 2.8L Macro IS USM + Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM + Canon Speedlite 580 EX II + Nissin Speedlite Di 466