Camera Labs

Hi Vernan Jagunap, to answer some of your questions:

And how important is the new sensor? And the Expeed2 of the D3100?

You'll have to wait for the reviews to see the performance of the new sensor. I think* Sony uses the same 14.2mp sensor so maybe you can use that as a general indicator. The image processor by itself is insignificant, it just facilitates the other features of the camera.

* Don't take my word for it.

The sensor size of the D5000 is bigger that the D3100 and it has fewer megapixels, which could mean that the D5000 shots better in low light.

Yes, it could mean that but the D5000's sensor is not bigger and it is one generation behind so the advances made since then could make up for the lower pixel pitch on the D3100.

I like those low angle shots, and the super-micro shots.

The flexible screen of the D5000 might help you there but I've done fine without it and so have a many other people.

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Graham
Flickr

It is actually different, they have different Dimensions! So yes, the D5000's (and sony's 14.2MP) sensor is larger, but only by a very small margin.
D3100 sensor = 23.1 x 15.4 mm
D5000 sensor = 23.6 x 15.8 mm
Source: Nikon Imaging worldwide

Also, I dont think a 230k swivel screen is sufficient enough in reality to do really precise shots, it only helps framing.

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- Wout -
Lowepro Nova 200 AW filled with Nikon D90 + MB-D80
18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX, SB-700

Yea, I just saw your reply in the other thread, I was just about to edit this one but you beat me to it!

About the screen, live view should let you zoom in to 100% and at this 1:1 magnification, precision should be on par with any kind of screen shouldn't it?

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Graham
Flickr

I would say, more wouldn't hurt

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- Wout -
Lowepro Nova 200 AW filled with Nikon D90 + MB-D80
18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX, SB-700

The D3100s must be going fast...

Yesterday I was at the camera store looking at a D90, and I saw a couple who were buying a new D3100 and a few lenses. I asked the sales rep if I could try out a D3100, and he said that they didn't have any. He then proceeded to tell me that the couple had ordered in the D3100, because they never have any in stock.

This must be a pretty popular camera!

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-Evan

Gear: 7 Nikon Nikkor AI-S and AF-S lenses, SB-700 flash, Nikon D7000, Nikon FM, variety of accessories

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."
- Ansel Adams

Thanks for the replies.

Perhaps I would just wait until Gordon compares the two.

How important is the D-Lighting button?
It is one of the difference between the D3100 and D5000.

D5000 has more options on active D-lighting (Auto, Extra high, High Normal, Low, or Off);

D3100 has only on/off.


Also, how important is the ISO?
D3100 is 100-3200, with boost up to 12,800

while
D5000 is 200-3200, with boost up to 6,400


Thanks!

The D-lighting stuff really won't make too much of a difference, only when you get really picky.

Also, people would be out of their minds to use anything higher that 6400 on a D5000/D3100. Although high ISO is good, those numbers would get you pretty noisy results. 3200 is getting high, I'd try to keep it all under 1600 if possible.

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-Evan

Gear: 7 Nikon Nikkor AI-S and AF-S lenses, SB-700 flash, Nikon D7000, Nikon FM, variety of accessories

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."
- Ansel Adams

In normal shooting conditions its rare for me to have to go beyond ISO 1600. Also D-Lighting as far as I know is software, and not hardware improvement. So you can as well do this in post processing (assuming you dont shoot in JPEG)

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- Wout -
Lowepro Nova 200 AW filled with Nikon D90 + MB-D80
18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX, SB-700

I dont think active D-Lighting is a deal breaker, it's useful, but on or off is probably enough.

ISO on the other hand is handy. The D3100s results look leagues above the D5000s, and actually I find myself at the 6400 limit of my D5000 quite often. Id rather have a noisy shot than miss the shot from not wanting to raise my ISO high enough

I wouldnt even consider between the two cameras though. Whats the D5000 got that the D3100 doesnt? A tilty screen? Get the D3100 in my opinion.

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Nikon D5000 and D300 with 12-24mm, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 60mm f2.8 Macro, 18-200mm, 17-55mm f2.8 (all Nikon)

Thanks for the replies.

@Jeremy,
The D5000 brackets the D3100 doesn't. I also don't know how significant that difference is.

>Vernan

D-Lighting is pretty usefull, but you can easily do it yourself manually. All it does is underexpose the image, and add some fill light.

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

By do it yourself, you also safe pretty important buffer space.

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- Wout -
Lowepro Nova 200 AW filled with Nikon D90 + MB-D80
18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX, SB-700

Indeed. The buffer can take more shots, the processing should take less long, and you retain 3rd party software compatibility (I've found that D-lighted shots look weird in Lightroom).

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

Yea, NEF being a closed format makes results in 3rd party editors quite unreliable. I ignore all features like D-lighting and picture control for this reason. It doesn't help that CNX gets less and less attractive with every revision of competing software.

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Graham
Flickr