Nikon D5000 Review
With Nikon’s “beginner” range of DSLR cameras making up over three-quarters of their total DSLR sales, it is small wonder that the company decided to bring out a better version. The Nikon D5000 is an upgrade of the D40 and D60 cameras which are designed to bring those new to the world of digital photography forward without much difficulty in transition. The D5000 is the cheapest Nikon camera yet which has video capability.
Overview
The D5000 possesses a 12.9 megapixel sensor and 11 point Auto Focus. It gained these features from the D90 as well as the distance and color tracking option. It also has a new EN-EL9a battery which boasts a higher capacity than previous consumer cameras from Nikon.
The ISO range is actually from 100 to 6400 but only the 200 to 3200 range should be used when taking pictures. Nikon’s Active D-Lighting feature which prevents you from having to edit your pictures too much is also included. Its continuous shooting rate is 3.9fps and comes with accessories such as rechargeable li-ion battery, built-in flash, accessory shoe cover and quick charger.
Like most Nikon DSLR cameras, the D5000 has seven main shooting modes. Aperture priority involves you choosing aperture while the camera takes care of shutter speed. Shutter priority is like the above option expect you choose the shutter speed with the camera dealing with the aperture. D-Movie mode involves high definition video capture with 24fps and 720p. The other standard options are manual, auto, scene and program.
Design
The D5000 looks like a larger version of the D40X. It is bigger because of the new tilt and swivel LCD feature. One problem with this camera is that is may be too large for someone who was comfortable with older Nikon DSLR’s like the D60. On the flipside, people with larger hands will be delighted with the D5000 as it offers a more comfortable grip. The D5000 is constructed solidly enough but is nowhere near as durable as mid-range cameras such as the D300.
In terms of controls, the D5000 has more buttons to play with than previous incarnations. That being said, anyone who owns one of Nikon’s previous consumer DSLR’s will feel at home with the D5000’s controls almost instantly. The Live View button is an added feature and is used to record video but is within easy range too. The handgrip is deeper than on previous Nikon cameras though the thumb rest is too small to rest the thumb on.
Menu And Display
The monitor is the by now standard 2.7 inch, 230,000 dot creation with the tilt and swivel mount a brand new addition to the Nikon range. The monitor has seven different shades of brightness and offers total screen coverage. The viewfinder lets the D5000 down somewhat. It has the same 95% frame coverage as other Nikon incarnations but offers a lesser magnification.
Performance
In terms of performance, the D5000 comes closer to more expensive mid-range Nikon cameras than entry-level ones. The D90 will set you back far more but an expert can produce photographs of almost the same quality in the D5000. Its continuous shooting fps is marginally less at 3.9 against the D90’s 4.5 but it can capture up to 63 JPEG images compared to the D90’s 25 JPEG capacity.
Its shutter lag is the best of all its contemporaries at 0.02 seconds, slightly ahead of the Canon Rebel XS at 0.03 but with such small margins it hardly matters. Where the D5000 really excels however is the number of frames it can shoot per burst. It manages 30 before the camera slows which obliterates all its rivals.
In terms of battery, the D5000 is a step up from the D60 though it is backwards compatible. This means the same battery and charger can be used with older cameras. The new EN-EL9a battery has a capacity of 7.8Wh, 0.6Wh more than the old EN-EL9 battery. You should be able to get 510 pictures from this battery before having to recharge.
Quality Of Images And Video
The D5000 has the same sensor as previous Nikon cameras and thus delivers images of a similar high quality. The Picture Control menu is excellent and allows you full control over every aspect of taking a picture. The brightness, saturation, hue and contrast are all yours to play with.
The videos shot by the D5000 are not a million miles away from the D90 in terms of quality. Other Nikon lenses can be used in this camera so its 24fps video capture looks very impressive. For example, if you want to shoot in low light, simply put on a fast prime lenses for high quality results.
With a maximum video time of 5 minutes, 2GB video limit and without the ability to Auto Focus, the video function of the D5000 is far from perfect. Nonetheless, for its price it is hard to quibble with having the function in the first place.
Nikon D5000 Gallery
Overall
At less than $700 and with video capability, the D5000 is an ideal way to step up from entry-level DSLR’s or enter the world of digital photography without having to pay thousands of dollars. Its features, image and video quality are top notch and it is likely this camera will continue to help Nikon make ground in the digital camera wars.
