Choosing between Nikon D5100 and D90.. Any help greatly appreciated!

An interesting discussion perhaps weighted by folks own predilections.

When I purchased the D5100 I looked briefly at the D90 but only as I wanted the best IQ that my money could buy at the time as well as the best useable ISO range.  For me that was the D5100. I reckoned I would probably want to upgrade the D90 to a better sensor sooner.

I switched from Olympus because of the lack of low light ability and the D5100 has delivered. I never quite understand the branding of the D5100 as entry level it is far more capable than that but then I don't use it in "Auto" or in "scene" modes.  Occasionally direct access to drive or ISO would be useful but in reality all the major functions are but two buttons away. "Menu diving" doesn't really come into it.

Lack of compatability with AF-D lenses was not a concern for me.  I bought the kit with 18-55 & 55-200 because it was too good an offer, but they are both quite capable lenses, inexpensive perhaps, lower build quality certainly but not "cheap".  I am slowly making additions/replacements as suit the photography I do or want to do. If I already had Nikon and a pile of AF-D lenses the choices might have been different but buying into a system, No.

A D7000 might have been nice but the budget at the time was simply not in the bank at the time perhaps in a few years I will see what is being offered in the higher up the tree.  But for now the D5100 is more than capable.