Suitable downgrade for Nikon D90

I have owned a Nikon D90 for a little while, and while I used to use it a lot I just haven't been finding the time anymore. Part of the reason is that I moved into town and when my car broke I didn't feel the need to replace it since everything is in cycling distance. Lugging around my gear when I want to go places is tedious, especially during routine daily activities. There have been cases where I wished I had a good camera on me to capture a sudden moment, at times where I wasn't planning on taking photos. My camera has been gathering dust for months.

So I decided that I really want a Canon S95, that I can carry on my wherever I go. It takes exceptionally great photos for a compact camera, allows manual control and RAW (which is very important to me still). As a student I am poor and I can't just shell out $400 on a whim. That's why I want to sell my D90 and some of my unused extra gear to generate the money. I hate having all my money tied up in camera equipment that I'm not even using.

Obviously selling my D90/equipment would generate much more money than the cost of an S95, so I think it might be a good idea to also purchase a cheaper SLR just to have for vacations, family events and any planned photography outings I may have in the future. So I need some advice on suitable downgrades.

I have been considering the D5000 because I have been told that it shares the same sensor as the D90 and the main differences are subtle things (like the autofocus motor and ergonomics). These are not real issues to me. I have owned the D90 for almost a year and have never been tempted to buy a lens without the motor built in. Also I don't mind a little menu diving to change my settings.

Many friends have also been suggesting the Canon T1i to me. It seems like a good camera on paper, but I'm finding very mixed reviews on the web. Lots of people swear by it, but lots of other people seem to think Rebels are junk. I would like to hear some suggestions from others. I don't plan on spending more than $700 on whatever DSLR I buy.

I honestly don't even care too much about the DSLR (I still like to make sensible purchases though), but people talk to me like I'm absolutely insane. They make me feel like by selling my DSLR and buying a compact camera (no matter how advanced and versatile it may be) that I am giving up on photography... which really makes me feel bad, because it couldn't be further from the truth. I like taking photos, which is exactly why I want a camera I can bring with me everywhere.

my opinion is that it is not cost effective to downgrade your camera. by the time it's all said and done you've now got a lesser camera and $200-300. is that really worth it?

if you intend to have two cameras (one P&S and one SLR), i suppose that in theory you COULD downgrade your D90 to a D5000 or something similar, and use the positive cost difference to go toward your P&S.

i don't know... i just don't think it's practical. first of all, you would HAVE to buy your new SLR used. this doesn't bother some people. it wouldn't bother me. i would have bought my D90 used if i didn't get a killer kit with it when i bought it new (back when they were practically giving the 70-300VR away along with the D90+18-105VR).

i think the best thing to do would to be to just hang out on your local craigslist photo section for a while and see what's out there. keep an eye on selling prices for used D90s and for possible replacements.

but my main point is... let's say you exchange your D90 for a D40, and you make $250 difference between your selling and buying prices. is that really worth the trouble? in my mind, the D40 is more than $250 less of a camera than the D90.

Maybe you can do much better deals than me, but my experience is that you lose money every time you switch cameras. So, the most economical answer would be to keep what you've already got. Buy the excellent 35mm f1.8g and carry the D90 with only the 35mm lens. It's not that big and will take miles better images than the Canon S95.

-moderntimes99

I am aware that I would lose a few hundred dollars over what I paid. However its better than not using it at all. A d90 with a small prime might actually be a reasonable idea... i could fit it in my backpack probably.

D90 prices seem to vary greatly now for new/used.

By the time you sell your D90 and buy another DSLR, you may end up with a lesser camera and very little savings in $$$ of your $700 budget.

Certainly see what you can get for the D90 first before buying another DSLR.

Selling lenses is more economical so you could sell your larger lenses and buy some primes instead. Get either just the 35mm, or the 35mm and the 50mm f/1.8.

Also, have you thought about getting a mirrorless camera? You can find them with kit lenses for around $500-600 now, so you would sitll profit from selling the '90.
--
Visit my Flickr!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/argonalex/

Have you considered replacing both the small compact and larger SLR with one of the small mirrorless cameras? For example, the GF1 with a 28-90 equivalent lens would be about two-and-a-half times the weight of the S95 but would be half the weight of the D90 with 18-105. It wouldn't be "pocketable" like the S95, but if weight is the issue it could be an alternative.

Acquireing a P&S makes a lot of sense to me since a "parked" dSLR doesn't take very good pictures. Selling out of your SLR gear to improve cash flow and to clear out space also makes sense, and is not equivalent to getting out of photography. It's just acknowledging your current circumstances.

Taking a loss on your current gear, to replace it with something that you're not likely to lug around on a bicycle either, doesn't seem to be very forward thinking. Your current situation changed rapidly when your car died. Your future situation may change just as dramatically for some other reason. I would just keep your current gear rather than replace it if I really wanted to have a dSLR available.

I have an S95, and it takes great shots and very good video. I've seen plenty of samples of winning shots here on dpreview that were taken with a superzoom or compact. In many respects, some of today's compacts outperform yesterdays DSLR's, except for speed. But it doesn't sound like that's an important characteristic to you.

I do agree with the others, in that by the time you sell off your D90 and lenses, and then buy something else, the size isn't really going to be that much different, as the D90 is already small for what it is, and you'll trade down for about the same amount of money that your D90 is worth.

If it were me, I'd sell it all off and focus getting good with the S95. Great camera. Good low light performance. Shoots in RAW. What else do you need? I'd say a secondary consideration would be to go with a good bridge cam, but then again, they are not too much smaller than the D90, so why bother.

Sounds like you are sold on the S95, so go for it. Who cares what others think photography should look like when it comes to the tool you are using.

I don't know if this is what would fit your needs better than D90 or S95, but Sony Alpha NEX5 with prime lens kit is taking pictures with better quality than d90 and costs new the price of your d90 used. You are also getting the interchangeable lens camera, so just when you feel like it - you can add another lens (zoom or tele or whatever).

Nik

P.S. on the second thought I would consider adding 35 F/1.8 to D90 and possibly selling off any cheap zoom you may have (to offset the cost of 35). You will end up having very decent kit that will work for you for years to come.

Micro four thirds?

They offer much better picture quality than a compact at around the same price. You will be able to pick up an Olympus e1, e2 or EPL1 or a Panasonic GF1 at quite a reasonable price on the web. I have a Panasonic GF1 and it's well built and I can hold it better than an Olympus. Legacy lenses are dirt cheap and produce great results. By the way, I have just bought a D90and am considering whether to lose the M/43 gear!

I suspect, though, that once you start using a compact you will REALLY miss the D90 (which is a fantastic camera)!

Since money is an issue to you and you didn't write anything about video, you could look for a used S90 instead of a new S95. The difference in still pictures shouldn't be very big (if any at all).

I completely follow you with not getting the DSLR out as much as you want to, that's why I got my S95 as well and I'm very happy with it. I'm not convinced that I'd want to give up my DSLR entirely though.

--
D5000, Nikkor 18-200VR, 18-55, 18-105VR, 55-200VR, 35 f/1.8, Sigma 10-20, SB400
Canon S95

I have a D7000 and an S90. Love both. I carry one or the other (or both) depending on the circumstances. This weekend I've had the 35/1.8 on the D7k all weekend and haven't missed my zooms at all - just family events, but it's reasonably sized.

You'll pay a big premium to sell and buy, and wind up pocketing no cash. If you were going to do that, I'd buy used to replace my used gear and minimize the outlay. But I would keep the biggie and spring for a small lense.

Used S90 on eBay for under $300

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-PowerShot-S90-10-0-Megapixel-Digital-Camera-/160542392104?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item2561127f28

Thanks for the good feedback everyone, let me address some of the suggestions.

I know I had said I would consider using a small prime with the D90, but when I think further into it, it still might be too big. The reason the S95 appeals to me is that it can fit right in my jacket pocket and always be on hand. Also I can take it places that I wouldn't be comfortable bringing an SLR (or wouldn't be allowed to), like parties or concerts.

Even a micro four thirds would be too large, but I had considered it.

I'm thinking I might meet half-way. I could sell my lenses and flash and use the money I make to buy the S95, but keep the body and purchase a 50mm f/1.8 or something. Since I would lose too much money by selling the body.

pageerror404 said:

I'm thinking I might meet half-way. I could sell my lenses and flash and use the money I make to buy the S95, but keep the [D90] body...

Click to expand...

So, which lenses and flash do you have?

Hmmm, let's do some math. You're trying to raise $350 for an S95, right?

A used D90 body is worth about $600.

The difference between a used D90 and new D5000 is therefore zero, so making that move doesn't work. Even with a used D5000, you only net $100.

If you try to squeeze $350 out of the D90 body only, you're left with just $250 to buy a replacement, which puts you into D40 territory.

The D40 and D60 are great little cameras and one could keep you in the SLR game, but in the long run you'd be a lot better off to keep the D90.

My recommendation therefore would be abandon the downgrade idea. Either keep the D90 body (with minimal accessories) or sell it all and go cold turkey with the S95. See how you like it for a year. Save some money, then go shopping next year.

Why not pick up a 45mm 2.8 pancake lens? It can make any DSLR seem like a large point and shoot. Try it for a while with your D90....later, if you still need to make things smaller you could get a used D40...that combo will look like this:
http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/parts/image_for_link/72899-5078-53-1.html

I think you are just going to get hammered too hard with too aggressive downgrading. What if in six months things change and you get a new car...rebuy all your gear again?

Not knowing what lenses, flashes and other gear you have I can't say for sure but I assume it's more than just a body. Sell the most massive lens and get a small one. Lenses don't take the big losses when buying and selling like camera bodies do.

Lastly, do some research into a tiny camera bag...just enough to hold the camera body and small lens. I have a small one (by swiss army I think) that I got used with a film camera. This thing is small and can even clip onto a belt.

Just like a photographer climbing a mountain being a cyclist in the city requires that you have appropriate gear. I think that once you are geared up you might re-discover your love of photography.
--
eddyshoots

I say find a friend with a decent point and shoot and trade for a week or two and see how a point and shoot works for you, then decide whether to keep the DSLR or go the P&S route... I know I would not be able to go back to P&S as much as a hate lugging my DSLR, 3 lenses and a flash everywhere I go.

OP: I honestly don't even care too much about the DSLR

If this is true, sell it all. Buy the p&s and pocket the $. When people question your commitment to photography, you can ignore the critics or open up your laptop to show them all the great cityscape shots from the S95. You can save the cash or invest in software or tires.

pageerror404 said:

Lugging around my gear when I want to go places is tedious, especially during routine daily activities... My camera has been gathering dust for months.

I honestly don't even care too much about the DSLR, but people talk to me like I'm absolutely insane. They make me feel like by selling my DSLR and buying a compact camera that I am giving up on photography, which really makes me feel bad, because it couldn't be further from the truth. I like taking photos, which is exactly why I want a camera I can bring with me everywhere.

Click to expand...

Yup! Brev00 hit the nail on the head. Since you're not using the D90, just sell it ALL and sell it NOW while it's still worth something. Then get the S95 and take the pictures that you love. Forget your "friends" (or just borrow their DSLR when you really need one).

[I wanted to suggest µ43, but I see others already did it. Unfortunately I can't delete this post]