Change up from D90 to D5100?

I like my D90, but I very much want some of the features of the newer D5100, most of all the articulated screen. My aging knees make low-level shooting difficult and the screen with LV would solve a lot of those problems. But it will mean giving up the the pentaprism VF (very big deal). So improved LV and degraded FV. Tough choice and I'm not sure which way to jump.

Ideally, I'd upgrade to the D7000 but it has a fixed screen.I want to stay with Nikon, but maybe something Sony is a better fit...
Brian

In the same boat as you. Looking for an upgrade for my D90, but for different reasons. Better ISO performance for one, newer CPU, improved DR, etc. There is nothing out there that has tempted me as yet in Nikons lineup. So am waiting for the D7000 upgrade, it may not have an articulated screen but should have a few of the things I am looking for. Potentially a D400 (D300 replacement) seems like it may be desirable as well, but expectation is will have to wait some time for that if and it ever comes out.
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Regards,
Sanjay

I owned a d90 for years, and wanting to upgrade I tried and then gave up on the d7000 (autofocus problems with 2 different cameras). I sold the d90 and bought a d5100 for only slightly more money, and am pleased. No AF problems, and the new sensor is indeed superior to the d90 sensor in every way (recovering shadows without excessive noise is just downright amazing when you shoot at ISO 400 and below). The tilting screen is very useful, and the lack of external controls is only sometimes annoying once you get used to it. I even find the d5100 more ergonomic than the d90 in some respects (placement of the AF/AE lock button fits me better). For me, the "upgrade" was very much worth it. I got the d5100 for only $520 through 42nd Street Photo, which was $50 cheaper than I could find it anywhere else. That amount of money for a camera with those capabilities is virtually a steal.
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RadarK

I picked up a D5100 package with the 18-55 and 55-300, partially to see how these lenses perform on my D90, as well as the D5100, when compared to my current 18-105.

First, the D5100 is a genuine upgrade in everything except the VF, but then I didn't expect that a mirror would match up well with a pentaprism. Other than that, it's faster, sharper, better AF and just well sorted out; and the articulated screen is a joy to use and better than I could have hoped for.

But the lens combinations surprised me: I assumed the 18-55 would be good, and a good fit for the smaller, lighter D5100 body, but the 18-105 is superior. I assumed that higher resolution would show its shortcomings but it seems to bring out the best in the lens. In turn, the 18-55 is better on the D90 than it is on the D5100.

Yes, I know there are too many variables to account for, but this is a subjective evaluation and, to my eye and in prints up to A3 size, the D5100 + 18-105 is an excellent combination. A bit heavy and unbalanced on the smaller body, but workable.

My guess I'll sell the D90 body with the 18-55 and use the 18-105.
Brian

I have the D5100 and on the whole am very pleased with it, however I should point out a feature of using the articulating screen for different camera angles.

I bought the camera partly because I thought the screen would make shooting odd angles easier but it's not as practical as I expected. When using Live View (which you would have to when using the screen angled out from the camera) there is a delay of around 1 second between pressing the shutter and the camera taking the picture. This is because the mirror has to drop down quickly to allow the camera to meter, and then flip up again to actually take the shot. When shooting static shots this isn't particularly problematic, although I do find it irritating, however when shooting moving subjects it makes it pretty much impossible. As a result I rarely use it, only for the odd self portrait or if I'm taking a shot from a tripod raised too high for me to see through the view finder.

You may already be aware of this but I wasn't when I bought the camera, and didn't think to test this particular scenario in the shop at the time, so was disappointed when I first tried to use it in this way.

Other than that the camera is very good. I would have preferred a D7000 for more controls on the body but I couldn't stretch to it financially, and to be honest now I'm used to it I still work quickly. I have set the function button to control iso and sometimes set the shutter to AE lock and AE/AF button to focus so I can have single or continuous focusing without going in to the menu.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,
Chris

Chris, thanks for the LV tip. I have only used it for static shots so far, and wasn't aware of that issue,
Brian