Nikon has unveiled the D5000 upper-entry-level DSLR and we've prepared a full preview of the camera and its features. Sitting between the D60 and D90, the D5000 appears to go head-to-head with Canon's EOS 500D, aiming at upgrading DSLR owners and experienced compact users. It combines many of the features of the D90 in a slightly smaller, simpler body and includes a 12.3 MP CMOS sensor, live view, 720p movies and a 2.7 inch, 180 degree Tilt/Swivel LCD.
Click here for our detailed hands-on preview of the Nikon D5000
Nikon UK has revised the prices of the D90, so that the MSRPs of the models above and below the D5000 are now:
| D60 | • Body only: £ 399.99 • 18-55mm VR kit: £ 479.99 |
|---|---|
| D5000 | • Body only: £ 719.99 • 18-55mm VR kit: £ 799.99 |
| D90 | • Body only: £ 849.99 |
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Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 14th April 2009 - Nikon Europe is pleased to announce the introduction of a new DSLR for the hobbyist and for family fun: the D5000. Packed with features that make taking pictures easy and fun, this camera stands out above the competition with its unique vari-angle LCD monitor, which allows you to shoot easily from any angle you can imagine.
The D5000 has inherited the D90’s groundbreaking HD movie capability, Nikon’s proprietary D-Movie function. Coupled with extensive in-camera editing features, a wide choice of scene modes, 12.3MP sensor and high-sensitivity between ISO 200 and 3200 (which can be extended to ISO 100 and ISO 6400 equivalent) for shooting in a wide range of lighting conditions, this camera makes it easier than ever to take great quality pictures.
View life from a different angle
The D5000’s 2.7-inch vari-angle LCD monitor offers a whole new perspective on photography, allowing you to take pictures easily from any angle. Its flexible, moving screen allows you to position the camera perfectly to suit the angle or shot you’re trying to take - so whether you’re at a concert and you want to get a clear view above the crowd for your shot or you want to take a picture from ground level, you can adjust the vari-angle monitor to give you the best view of your subject. Close it to protect the monitor or place it in the standard position for regular shooting using the viewfinder. You can even reverse the monitor for effortless, perfectly-framed self-portraits. Thanks to Nikon’s ergonomic design values and the downward opening direction of the screen, it will never get in your way, and you’ll be able to maintain a steady grip on the body which will prevent camera shake. The choice is limitless.
D-Movie and Live View
Shooting movie clips with a DSLR will allow you to get really creative. For example, you can change the lens for a new perspective and enhance the emotional impact of your movies using the Picture Control settings before you even start shooting. The D5000 offers D-Movie (with audio) - high-definition movie capture perfectly compatible with the latest television screens and an HDMI output for easy connection. The single button access to the Live View function allows you to view and compose your shot or movie on the vari-angle LCD monitor for optimal framing. When taking still shots, the camera offers four types of contrast AF (wide area, normal area, face detection and new subject tracking) to make capture as easy as possible. In subject tracking AF mode, the camera will even restart tracking the subject once it leaves the frame and then returns, so your target will always be in focus.
Setting the Scene
With a total of 19 scene modes, you don’t have to know the ins and outs of digital photography to take great pictures. Simply turn the dial to ‘scene’, choose the appropriate scene mode setting and the camera will do the rest for you. The camera will even display a sample scene to make the scene selection easier for you. Another easy-to-use feature is the camera’s extensive range of built-in editing function, with which you can edit your pictures and create visual effects in-camera, before you even get to a computer.
There’s more
In addition to all these features, the D5000 is a high quality camera in its own right. With its high-sensitivity 12.3 effective megapixel CMOS image sensor, Nikon’s innovative EXPEED high-speed image-processing system, fast and precise 11-point AF system and highly-durable, high-performance shutter, it is also perfectly suited to those with a higher level of photographic knowledge. Image quality is guaranteed further by the image sensor cleaning mechanism with airflow control system, Active D-Lighting and Picture control. The different playback options of the D5000 are as enjoyable as they are practical. You can view photos in batches of up to 72, and there is also a calendar view that organises images by date and time. And for serious photo enthusiasts, the D5000 can display a histogram on magnifies areas of the image to facilitate exposure control. It feels good to handle, too, with Nikon’s typically ergonomic design in a compact, light-weight body. Those who shoot pictures in quieter settings will appreciate the new Quiet shooting mode and, the built-in pop-up flash which will automatically detect when the flash is needed. For those on the move, GPS-compatibility with Nikon’s GP-1 unit will come in handy when pinpointing shooting locations as will the HDMI output when you finally want to present your great shots to your family and friends. The Nikon D5000 is compatible with a wide variety of AF-S and AF-I Nikkor lenses.
Nikon D5000 specifications
| Price (body only) | • US: $ 729 • UK: £ 719 • EU: € 699 |
|---|---|
| Price (with 18-55 VR) | • US: $ 850 • UK: £ 799 • EU: € 799 |
| Sensor | • 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor |
| Dust Reduction System | • Airflow control system • Image Sensor Cleaning • Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required) |
| Image processor | Nikon EXPEED |
| A/D conversion | 12 bit |
| Image sizes |
• 4,288 x 2,848 (L) • 3,216 x 2,136 (M) • 2,144 x 1,424 (S) |
| File formats | • NEF (compressed RAW) • JPEG: Fine (approx. 1:4), normal (approx. 1:8), or basic (approx. 1:16) compression • NEF (RAW) + JPEG (any size) • AVI Motion-JPEG |
| Movie | • File format AVI (Motion-JPEG) |
| Lens mount | • Nikon F mount with AF contacts • Approx. 1.5x lens focal length (Nikon DX format) |
| Usable lenses | • AF-S, AF-I
• Other Type G or D AF Nikkor • Other AF Nikkor/AI-P Nikkor • Type D PC Nikkor • Non-CPU • IX Nikkor/AF Nikkor for F3AF - All functions supported
- All functions supported except autofocus - All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II - All functions supported except some shooting modes - Can be used in mode M, but exposure meter does not function; electronic range finder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster - Cannot be used |
| Auto Focus | • 11 focus points (1 cross-type sensors) • Multi-CAM 1000 • AF working range: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100, normal temperature) • Contrast Detect in Live View mode |
| Lens Servo | • Single Servo (AF-S) • Continuous Servo (AF-C) • Automated selection of AF-S or AF-C, (AF-A) • Focus Tracking automatically activated by subject's status in (AF-A) • Manual focus [M], Electronic range finding supported |
| Focus Point | • Single point from 11 focus points • Center point narrow or wide zone • Liveview (Tripod mode): Contrast AF on a desired point anywhere within frame |
| AF Area Mode | • Single point AF |
| Focus Lock | Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button |
| AF assist | AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5-3 m/1.6-9.8 ft.) |
| Exposure modes | • Program Auto [P] with flexible program |
| Metering | TTL full-aperture exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor |
| Metering range | • 3D Color Matrix Metering: 0 to 20 EV • Center-Weighted Metering: 0 to 20 EV • Spot Metering: 2 to 20 EV (At normal temperature (20°C/68°F), ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens) |
| Meter coupling | CPU (not AI) |
| Exposure lock | Locked using AE-L/AF-L button |
| Exposure bracketing | • 3 frames |
| Exposure compen. | • +/–5.0 EV • 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps |
| Sensitivity | • Default: ISO 200 - 3200 in 1/3 EV steps |
| Shutter | • Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter • 30 to 1/4000 sec (1/3 or 1/2 EV steps) • Flash X-Sync: 1/200 sec • Bulb • Time (optional Wireless Remote Control ML-L3 required) • Tested to 100,000 exposures |
| Active D-Lighting | Can be selected from Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, or Off |
| White balance | • Auto (Using main imaging sensor and 420-pixel metering CCD) • Presets (12) with fine tuning • Manual preset • White balance bracketing (3 frames in increments of 1, 2 or 3) |
| Picture Control | • Standard |
| Image parameters | • Sharpening: Auto, 10 levels • Contrast: Auto, 7 levels • Brightness: 3 levels • Saturation: Auto, 7 levels • Hue: 7 levels • Quick Adjust; 5 levels • High ISO Noise Reduction (High, Normal, Low, Off) |
| Color space | • sRGB • Adobe RGB |
| Viewfinder | • Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder |
| Focusing screen | • Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark V screen with focus frame • Superimposed on-demand grid lines over the viewfinder display. |
| LCD monitor | • 2.7 " TFT LCD • Approx. 230,000 dots • 100% frame coverage • Brightness adjustment |
| LCD Liveview | • Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face priority is selected) |
| Shooting modes | • Single frame • Continuous 4 fps (at shutter speeds over 1/250. 67 Large Fine JPEG, 11 RAW) • Self-Timer • Delayed remote, quick response remote (optional Wireless Remote Control ML-L3 required for remote shooting) • Quiet shooting (doesn't re-cock shutter until shutter button is released) |
| Self-timer | • 2, 5, 10, and 20 s |
| Flash | • Auto pop-up type (auto pop up in Auto, Portrait, Child, Close-up, Night portrait, Party/indoor, Pet portrait modes) |
| Flash control | • TTL: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR using 420-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash and SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-400 |
| Flash Modes | •Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, fill-flash, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye correction, reat curtain with slow sync. |
| Flash Accessory Shoe | ISO 518 standard-type hot shoe contact; Safety lock mechanism provided |
| Flash Sync Terminal | No |
| Flash compensation | • -3 to +1 EV • 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps |
| Creative Lighting System | • Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-900, SB-800, or SU-800 as commander and SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-R200 as remotes |
| Playback mode | • Full-frame playback |
| Retouch functions | D-Lighting, red-eye correction, trim, monochrome, filter effects, color balance, small picture, image overlay, NEF (RAW) processing, quick retouch, straighten, distortion control, fisheye |
| Languages | Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) Mini-B connector |
| Storage | • SD (Secure Digital) memory cards, SDHC-compliant |
| Power | • Lithium-Ion EN-EL9a (Approx. 510 shots, CIPA) • Included battery charger MH-23 • Optional AC adapter EH-5a with EP-5 connector |
| Dimensions | Approx. 127 x 104 x 80 mm (5.0 x 4.1 x 3.1 in.) |
| Weight (no batt) | Approx. 560 g (1 lb. 4 oz.) without battery, memory card, body cap, or monitor cover |
| Operating environment | Temperature: 0 - 40 °C / 32 - 104 °F, Humidity: under 85% (no condensation) |
| Box contents | Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9a, Quick Charger MH-23, USB Cable UC-E6, Audio/Video Cable EG-CP14, Camera Strap AN-DC3, Eyepiece Cap DK-5, Rubber Eyecup DK-24, Body Cap BF-1A, Accessory Shoe Cover BS-1, Software Suite CD-ROM (Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area) |
| Optional accessories | • *Remote Cord MC-DC2, *GPS Unit GP-1, Photofinishing software Capture NX 2, AC Adapter EP-5/EH-5a, Magnifying Eyepiece DK-21M, Eyepiece Correction Lens DK-20C, Eyepiece Magnifier DG-2, Eyepiece Adapter DK-22, Right-Angle Viewing Attachment DR-6, Semi-soft Case CF-DC2, Wireless Remote Control ML-L3, Sync Terminal Adapter AS-15, Camera Control Pro 2 |
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