Nikon D300 vs. D90- For a Newbie...?

[We're a team...Me and God]

I know very little about photography, except for what I learned in my journalism class at school. I've never owned a nice camera, of the DSLR variety, , but I have the oppurtunity to purchase the d300 for much cheaper than the d90... I figured I might as well go for the d300, in case i want to improve, and i can learn as I go along and read books/internet...

What do you think?
Is the D300 too advanced for me, or will I be able to figure it out and love it more as I go along? I AM looking to improve in my knowledge as a photographer, I'm aspiring, but is it too much?

Thank you SO much!

 

[Carolina Flyboy]

The D90 is regarded by many professionals as something much like a toy. If you have the money, go for the D300. I currently shoot with a D60, the second-lowest model on the entry-level side of the scale, and I want to upgrade to the D200, the cheaper and older version of the D300.

The D300 sports great automatic features from what I've heard, and also allows for complete manual control- much more manual control than the D90. If you're serious aout photography, you'll come to love shooting fully-manual and having complete control over what your camera produces. And even if the D300 was more expensive, I'd say go with that, because chances are, you'd want to upgrade from the D90. Better to get the best thing than to get the second-best and shell out even more money for the product that was better in the first place, when you wish to upgrade.

The D300 would not be "too advanced" for you. I'd suggest you buy a book on the camera model, such as "Nikon D300 for Dummies" or some other similar title, that can help you figure out the control layout and options since you're new to Nikon's cameras.

Any professional would pick the D300 over the D90. More options, more dedicated buttons, more control over every image.

I hope this has helped you. Good luck and happy hunting!

 

[DARKESTKNIGHT]

no enjoy ur camera take picture and practice with it often start with family and friends the more u use it the more u will learn i bought a kodak SLR and one lens came with it i purchase the 75mm and every time i think i got the hang of i learn something new i need to take a class lol, but until then i will keep using it. so good luck i think u will be alright.

 

[Eclipse]

It's not the the D300 is too advanced. It's just that the D90 likely does all you need it to do. I'm not telling you not to get the D300...If you've got the money, go for it. But, here's a few thoughts.

The D90 can use and autofocus with all the same lenses as the the D300. The core photographic controls and exposure modes are the same on both cameras. While the D300 has a better autofocus system, more robust build and higher burst rate among other features, none of those features add up to better pictures. However; the extra money required to buy a D300 could easily pay for at least one additional lens that you may find far more useful than the extra features of the D300.

You may eventually out grow the D90. The reality is, the more advanced camera is meant to make the job of an advance amatuer or pro shooter easier. Because both cameras use doesn't change the quality of the photo. The more likely event is that after two or three years, you'll decide it's time to upgrade to take advantage of new features and new performance levels in a newer camera.