Hey,
It really depends on your personal preference both are great cameras. I would say go to a camera store and have them put both in your hands and test each one thouroughly to your preferences. I beleive all of the "broken" D5000 are out of circulation. Personally I would consider a more advance camera as well test out a D90 and a 40d or 50d.

Caleb

One more thing take two memory cards and compare the quality at home.

Caleb

That's indeed a good idea. DPreview gives some good images but nothing beats a personal evaluation.

I have done the handling part and they both seemed the same to me (slightly small for my hands but comfortable nonetheless). The lenses that come with the kit are equivalent.

Thanks for the comment

A refurbished advance camera would be large enough in your hands and would be pretty afordable. I have large hands and the D90 fits great.

Caleb

From what you have said, I would look for a slightly used Canon EOS 5D that is in very good condition. It has all the body features you should need, and is normal size but not too big and heavy. Image quality is very good for almost any kind of subject, except maybe extreme action.

Thank you for the suggestions. I think I'm in the right place to find second hand digital cameras (Singapore). So I'll look into that.

If they are really cheap why not get a 350d and a 5d the 350d would be good to learn the ropes for a month or two and then could serve as a backup camera.

Caleb

I hope you are not serious. If you are do you think it an easy transition from a small APS-C sensor size to a full-frame sensor? Everything looks and feels different, the viewfinder is different and the lenses are all different.

Why not it would be alot easier of a transition than jumping from the compact and bridge cameras to a full frame. full frame lenses will work on a 350d. As long as he doesn't get used to auto mode the whole time he uses the 350d then why not. He could learn the general use of dslr then have a second slightly less hard transition from the beginner dslr. Most likely unlike you, Ive transitioned from the compact and it would of been so much harder if I went straight to a full-frame even though I don't have one it would be alot easier for me now to get one and use it, you've been pro most of your life I'm sure and used film slrs and were already used to manual and maybe semi manual control when the DSLRs came out. So to answer your ?, yes I am serious.

Caleb