Review based on a production Nikon D5000
The recent boom in DSLR sales has seen all the major manufacturers adding bulked-up or stripped-down entry level models, repositioning their offerings to make sure that anyone willing to put up with the size and weight of a DSLR will look at one of their models. The whole thing has often left existing DSLR owners a little lost - 'why isn't there a direct replacement for my camera?' - but has undoubtedly meant there are many more attractive, accessible cameras on the market just waiting to entice first-time DSLR owners.
And its into this maelstrom of DSLR proliferation that Nikon launches its latest baby DSLR, the D5000. Nikon's recent strategy of inexpensive, simplified models caused a lot of confusion. The D40, D40X and D60 removed the autofocus motor, making them smaller and less expensive but limiting the choice of lenses that could be autofocused. Despite this oft-criticised move, the cameras sold very well, prompting the major third-party lens makers to create versions of their popular budget lenses that would focus on these baby Nikons. However, it appears Nikon has again decided that simply replacing models isn't the best way to address the market. So here we have a camera that genuinely seems to sit above the D60 (rather than continuing in parallel until the stock runs out), and below the D90. Like the baby Nikons, the D5000 doesn't have an autofocus motor built into the body but does gain a tilt-and-swivel LCD.
The idea of an upper-entry-level DSLR (for want of a better term), that sits below the 'enthusiast' grade D90 (with its twin control dials, big battery and pentaprism viewfinder), is hardly a radical one - the Canon EOS 500D and Olympus E-620 seem to cater to a similar market. So what does this new Nikon have to offer either the tech-savvy first-time DSLR buyer, or the owner of an older entry-level model wanting newer features but unwilling to slavishly follow the manufacturer's 'upgrade path'?
The D5000 could easily be seen as a D60 with a tilting screen added, and most of a D90 stuffed into it. As such it offers quite a few feature improvements over its little brother:
As you can see from the table below the D5000 offers many of the features of the D90 and certainly represents a major step up from the D60.
 Nikon D90 |
 Nikon D5000 |
 Nikon D60 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor | • 12.3 million effective pixels • 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS (DX format) |
• 12.3 million effective pixels • 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS (DX format) |
• 10.2 million effective pixels • 23.6 x 15.8 mm CCD (DX format) |
| Image sizes | • 4,288 x 2,848 (12 MP) • 3,216 x 2,136 • 2,144 x 1,424 |
• 4,288 x 2,848 (12 MP) • 3,216 x 2,136 • 2,144 x 1,424 |
• 3872 x 2592 (10.0 MP) • 2896 x 1944 • 1936 x 1296 |
| Sensor cleaning | • Image Sensor Cleaning • Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required) |
• Image Sensor Cleaning • Airflow control system • Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required) |
• Image Sensor Cleaning |
| Autofocus | • 11 area TTL • Nikon Multi-CAM1000 |
• 11 area TTL • Nikon Multi-CAM1000 |
• 3 area TTL • Nikon Multi-CAM530 |
| In-body focus motor | • Yes | • No | • No |
| AF area modes | • Single point • Dynamic area • Auto area • 3D Tracking (11-points) |
• Single point • Dynamic area • Auto area • 3D Tracking (11-points) |
• Single point • Dynamic area • Auto area (closest subject priority) |
| Live view AF modes | • Face priority • Wide area • Normal area |
• Face priority • Wide area • Normal area • Subject tracking |
N/A |
| Sensitivity | • ISO 200 - 3200 |
• ISO 200 - 3200 • ISO 100-6400 with boost |
• ISO 100 - 1600 |
| Continuous | • 4.5 fps • 25 / 7 frames (Fine JPEG / RAW) |
• 4 fps • 63 / 11 frames (Fine JPEG / RAW) |
• 3 fps • 100 / 9 frames (Fine JPEG / RAW) |
| Viewfinder type | • Pentaprism | • Pentamirror | • Pentamirror |
| Viewfinder magnification | • 0.94x | • 0.78x | • 0.8x |
| Viewfinder Frame coverage | • Approx. 96% | • Approx. 95% | • Approx. 95% |
| LCD monitor | • 3.0" TFT LCD |
• 2.7" TFT LCD • 230,000 pixel TFT • Articulated |
• 2.5" TFT LCD • 230,000 pixel TFT |
| Dimensions | 132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in) | 127 x 104 x 80 mm (5.0 x 4.1 x 3.1 in) | 126 x 94 x 64 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 in) |
| Weight | • No battery: 620 g (1.4 lb) • With battery: 703 g (1.6 lb) |
• No battery: 560 g (1.2 lb) • With battery: 611 g (1.3 lb) |
• No battery: 471 g (1.0 lb) • With battery: 522 g (1.2 lb) |
| Image processing engine | • Expeed • 12 bit |
• Expeed • 12 bit |
• Expeed • 12 bit |
| Active D-lighting | Can be selected from Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, or Off | Can be selected from Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, or Off | On/Off |
| Automatic chromatic aberration correction | Yes | Yes | No |
| In-camera retouching | • D-Lighting |
• D-Lighting • Red-eye reduction • Trimming • Monochrome & filter effects • Color balance • Small picture • Image overlay • NEF (RAW) processing • Quick retouch • Straighten • Distortion control • Fisheye • Color outline • Perspective control |
• D-Lighting |
| Movie mode | Yes | Yes | No |
| Live View | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bracketing | Yes | Yes | No |
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read some of our Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).
Conclusion / recommendation / ratings are based on the opinion of the author, we recommend that you read the entire review before making any decision. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of them, click to display a larger image in a new window.
To navigate this article simply use the next / previous page buttons or jump to a specific page by using the drop-down list in the navigation bar at the top of the page. You can support this site by ordering through the affiliate links shown at the bottom of each page (where available).
This article is protected by Copyright and may not be reproduced in part or as a whole in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.
Dpreview use calibrated monitors at the PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally also A, B and C.
 |
Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD (Body Only) | $198.00 |
19 Piece Super Zoom Kit with Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens and 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD + Sigma 70-300mm Telephoto Zoom Lens + Rokinon 650-1300mm Lens with 2X Converter (=1300-2600mm) Zoom Lens + 8 GB Memory Card + Multi-Coated 3 Piece Filter Kit + Extra High Capacity Li-Ion Battery + Back Pack Case + 57" Tripod + 6 Piece Camera Accessory Kit + 3 Year Celltime Warranty Repair Contract | $1,189.95 |
Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens and 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD | $629.00 |
Nikon D5000 12.3MP DX CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and 55-200mm f/4-5.6G VR Lenses and 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD | $390.00 |
Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens and 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD | $629.00 |
Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens | Too low to display |
Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD (Body Only) | $198.00 |
Nikon D5100 16.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera Bundle with 18-55mm and 55-200mm VR AF-S Lenses | Too low to display |
Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch Vari-Angle LCD Monitor (Body Only) | Too low to display |
Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens | $446.95 |
Focus Camera Nikon D3200 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Red) with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR and 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX "VR" Zoom-Nikkor Lenses + EN-EL14 Battery + 32GB Deluxe Accessory Kit | $776.00 |
Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm & 55-200mm DX AF-S Zoom Lens with 32GB Card + Case + Flash + Filters + Tripod + .45x Wide & 2.5x Telephoto Lens Kit | $579.95 |
Nikon D5000 12.3MP DX CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and 55-200mm f/4-5.6G VR Lenses and 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD | $390.00 |
Focus Camera Nikon D3200 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Black) with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens + EN-EL14 Battery + Nikon Filter + 32GB Deluxe Accessory Kit | $579.95 |
   |
|
Connect with dpreview
|
Comments