Why I choose D90

I fully understand the exasperation and frustration of trying too hard to compare DSLRs, and the anguish over which camera to buy (Canon or Nikon?) as the first DSLR.

Just to share my personal take on this, I choose Nikon D90 in the end, after reading countless reviews on Canons (50D, 5D and upon a salesperson's suggestion, 500D) and Nikons (D200, D300, D90 and upon another salesperson's suggestion, D60) for the reasons below:

1) Its light-weight

I needed something that's relatively light-weight, although D90 is still a little 'heavy' for me after holding it for some time.

This need comes tops on my priority list as I quickly realised that I will not be able to carry it around with me on any outing trips if it's as heavy as, or heavier than, a D200.

It was particularly useful that I borrowed a D200 from my colleague to try it out. I like the images no doubt, but I could only use it at home. Not that we always go out, since teachers have no life, but I want the option of being able to take the camera out if I want to, and not spend time debating with myself if it's worth taking out for this and that trip.

Although Nikon D60 was significantly lighter and felt good in my comparatively tiny hands, being an old model and its limitations of not being able to fit all Nikon lens was a huge minus for me. Ken Rockwell actually mentioned that D60 is not worth getting as it's exactly the same as D40, just that D40 is even better for reasons I cannot remember.

2) Its images

Like I've said, I've read countless reviews, and almost all commented that D90 is the 'best first DSLR' for an amateur, and its images are 'stunning', and are similar to what D300 would give you. Best of all, it gives you better images than D200 - a camera one of the singaporemotherhood forum's children photographer was using when we went to her studio 2 years ago. Of course, the lighting would be the main culprit in producing pictures like what she gave, but since I like her pictures (fast camera, clear, sharp and stunning colours), there was little hesitation about which cameras to narrow down to for Nikon.

So I was down to Nikon D90 and D300.

3) Its ergonomics and menu

While I was reading reviews, one of the reviewer shouted out,"Stop reading reviews! Go to the shops and feel for yourself which camera suits you best."

I decided, finally, to do just that.

I tried both Nikon and Canon. Nikon D300, Canon 5D and 50D were obviously too heavy for me. What my 3rd sister said did influence me to a large extent,"There was no joy in using D200 because it was too heavy."

It made me think,"Oh, so there should be, or must be, JOY in using a camera."

And yeah, I think it makes sense now. Now that I am using D90. I don't have to hesitate about taking it out anytime I want to. I don't have to dread the heavy weight when I drag it out of the dry cabinet. And I need to hold the camera for quite a long time to explore its functions, buttons, and try it on many takes. It would have been impractical to get a D300 for me.

Canon 500D felt fine in my hand, but I just didn't like what the menu showed. It sounds stupid or lame but as a word person, I just didn't like the font (probably) displayed on the screen.

I've always been using Canon digicams and have not ventured into other brands. However, I've never quite like the menus of Canon. I find it puzzling and difficult to maneuver. I thought Nikon menus are comparatively simpler to understand. When the salesperson explained to me how to locate certain functions, I wasn't totally lost as compared to when using a Canon.

Nikon also has this 'hump' where your fingers rest when taking pictures. I can't quite remember for Canon but it certainly felt more well-constructed when I held a Nikon.

4) Its price

For picture-quality as good as a D300, I thought I should get a D90 and decided if I should 'upgrade' next time and not jump into a hefty purchase for an overkill and put it into the dry cabinet, just to regret it later, as with some of my purchases.

I wasn't sure if I would like DSLR shooting. Worse yet, I might go back to using a compact digicam. If I'd bought a D300, I'd probably die-die also want to use the DSLR to prevent a waste of money, although I might not find joy in using it. Although it works out to be almost the same theory for D90, the price difference is still quite substantial.

5) Canon vs Nikon

I was very tempted to get a Canon because almost all the great photographers, particularly the ones in children's portrait field (in Australia), use a Canon. The colours were beautiful and soft. However, I quickly realised that they are using the top-range cameras like 5D Mark something, and of course, they would have had some photoshop done on the pictures.

Fortunately, the 2-hour Nikon workshop I went to just 2 days before had a travel photographer as the presenter and he felt that Nikon is a better camera for taking children's portrait as it's sharper and details like the lines show up clearer.

Yeah, what he said maybe a bias, but I need assurance that Nikon is better, especially when I've already plonked my funds in one.

There are some reviews that allow me to heave great sighs of relief after making the purchase:

Canon 500D vs Nikon D90 Review
Oh yeah, I hate the word 'Rebel' on a camera. Which idiot came up with that?!!

Nikon D90 Digital Camera Review

Stats Comparison among Cameras & Reviews

It certainly has not been easy. After all, when you buy your first DSLR, your first purchase will determine your whole system journey. Most people don't have the budget to dump the whole system into the bin and start all over.

In any case, I've read so much on the cameras that this line sticks in my head:

Canon and Nikon - you can't go wrong with either.

At the end of the day, it's how the camera feel to you, especially physically. It's as simple as that, surprisingly.

Of course I also asked around, especially the colleagues in my school who use a Nikon. One, when asked why he chose a Nikon over Canon, said,"Nikon is a camera-maker while Canon makes different products." On that count, he feels that Nikon is more 'specialised' in making cameras.

As for me, I've always wanted a Nikon. Doesn't it have a nice ring to it? A Nikon DSLR. Yeah, I've heard the line 'If you want a compact, go for Canon. If you want a DSLR, go for Nikon.'