Pam Carroll

Hi Tess,

There's a few differences between those models you've mentioned - the D7000 is a crop-sensor camera, and the 5D Mark II is a full-frame camera. This means that the sensor of the 5D Mark II is physically larger than the D7000's which means it is generally able to gather more light and produce a cleaner image.

I wouldn't really compare the D7000 and 5D Mark II because of the difference in sensor size and because they are priced differently, as well as targeted towards different users.

As for the D70 you mentioned, I am assuming you mean the D700? The D70 is a very old Nikon SLR that has long been discontinued. The D700 is a full-frame SLR like the 5D Mark II and can be more evenly matched.

The Nikon and Canon shooting interface and look and feel are quite different, and especially as you are making a large investment you will need to make sure you are comfortable with the camera that you buy. If you can, head into a camera store and play around with both of them before you make your final decision.

If budget isn't a problem, I would definitely look at the 5D Mark II as it's got a better video implementation and amazing still images. The D7000 is brilliant but, as I said before, it's not really fair to compare it to the 5D as it's quite different.

As for a point-and-shoot, look at this article for some ideas: http://www.cnet.com.au/top-5-compact-cameras-339302806.htm

Hope this helps!

Hi Kathy,

The D90 has been out for over 2 years now. The D7000 is the most recent Nikon SLR that's comparable to the D90.

That said, the D90 shouldn't be discounted just yet. It still takes great photos and will do for many years to come. The D7000 has lots of different features to play with including full HD video and faster continuous shooting speeds which is good for taking photos of fast-moving subjects like kids or action. The D90 is also pretty quick in this respect, too.

Have you tried playing with both cameras in a store and seeing which one feels more intuitive to you? The D90 is a little easier to get to grips with as a beginner or as someone looking for a first SLR, especially if you're not going to be getting too in-depth with your photography knowledge. You also might be able to get one for fairly cheap now too.