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
Condition: Used - Very Good
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Availability:
Only 1 left in stock, order soon!
Arrives
Jul 25 β Aug 10
Features
- 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor
- Outfit includes the 3x AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens with image stabilization
- D-Movie Mode with sound; record 720p HD movie clips
- Vari-angle color 2.7-inch LCD monitor; one-button Live View
- Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
Description
From the Manufacturer From the Manufacturer A remarkable blend of simplicity and highly-advanced DSLR capabilities, the compact and powerful D5000 offers breathtaking 12.3-megapixel image quality, along with a flexible, Vari-angle, Live View monitor for fresh picture-taking perspectives. Nikonβs EXPEED image processing further enhances performance, contributing to split-second shutter response and continuous shooting at up to 4 frames-per-second to capture fast action and precise moments perfectly. The D5000βs 24-fps HD D-Movie mode with sound captures video clips with amazing clarity--offering new and exciting creative opportunities. Fast, accurate 11-point autofocus with 3D Tracking, teamed with famous NIKKOR optics, assures incredible image sharpness, while active image sensor cleaning combats annoying dust automatically. Featuring a convenient built-in flash, 19 automatic exposure Scene Modes to make the impossible easy and 23 Custom Setting options to fit your preferences, as well as 14 in-camera image retouching functions, the D5000 is the perfect DSLR, beginning with performance to meet your picture-taking tomorrows. Outfit includes the 3x AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens with image stabilization and legendary NIKKOR optical quality. Nikon D5000 Highlights 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor Coupled with Nikon's EXPEED image processing and NIKKOR optics, breathtaking picture quality is assured. 3x Zoom AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens included Legendary NIKKOR optical quality features Nikon VR image stabilization for added sharpness. D-Movie Mode with sound Record 720p HD movie clips enhanced by NIKKOR interchangeable lens quality and versatility. Vari-angle color LCD monitor Position the 2.7-inch monitor freely for fresh shooting perspectives. Screen flips inward for safe keeping. 19 Auto-exposure Scene Modes Capture stunning photos in challenging picture-taking situations including Sunsets, Candlelight, Silhouette, Portrait, Landscape, Beach/Snow, and more. One-button Live View Easy Live View access offers 4 autofocus modes, including Face Priority AF. Continuous shooting as fast as 4 frames-per-second Combined with fast power-up and split-second shutter response, decisive moments are captured easily without annoying shooting lag. Low noise ISO sensitivity from 200 to 3200 Engineered for exceptional low-light shooting. Built-in image sensor cleaning Effective 4-frequency, ultrasonic sensor cleaning keeps images spot free. 11-point autofocus system with 3D Focus Tracking Fast and accurate autofocus delivers razor sharpness. Auto Active D-Lighting Restores lost shadow and highlight detail in high contrast exposuresβSelectable and Auto modes available. In-camera Retouch image editing Creative in-camera image editing, featuring Soft Filter, Straighten, Color Outline Effect, Perspective Control, Red-eye Correction, Image Overlay, Monochrome and moreβall without a PC. Picture Control Settings for personal image control Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape and 9 customizable settings. Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II Nikonβs renowned 420-pixel RGB 3D Color Matrix Metering II, teamed with the exclusive Scene Recognition System, evaluates each scene for unmatched exposure accuracy. Durable, high precision shutter Testing to over 100,000 cycles assures precision and long shutter life. GPS geo-tagging GP-1 GPS unit (optional) automatically identifies and records every imageβs latitude, longitude and altitude, with satellite time-of-day.
Compatible Mountings: Nikon F (DX), Nikon F (FX)
Aspect Ratio: 32
Photo Sensor Technology: CMOS
Supported File Format: RAW, JPEG
Image Stabilization: VR
Maximum Focal Length: 55 Millimeters
Optical Zoom: 3 x
Maximum Aperture: 3.5 f
Expanded ISO Minimum: 200
Metering Description: Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
Compatible Mountings: Nikon F (DX), Nikon F (FX)
Aspect Ratio: 32
Sensor Type: CMOS
File Format: RAW, JPEG
Image stabilization: VR
Maximum Aperture: 3.5 f
Expanded ISO Minimum: 200
Photo Sensor Resolution: 12.3 MP
Photo Sensor Size: APS-C
Maximum Shutter Speed: 1/4000 Seconds
Minimum Shutter Speed: 30 seconds
Exposure Control: Automatic
Form Factor: Compact SLR
Effective Still Resolution: 12.3
Special Feature: TFT-LCD monitor with 230,000 pixels
Color: Black
Screen Size: 2.7 Inches
Shooting Modes: Movie
Item Weight: 1.3 Pounds
Video Resolution: HD 720p
Viewfinder: Optical
Flash Modes: Auto, On, Off, Slow Synch
Camera Flash: Built-In
Skill Level: Professional
Specific Uses For Product: Photography, Videography
Compatible Devices: Computers, SD/SDHC card readers, devices supporting SD/SDHC cards, USB 2.0 compatible devices
Continuous Shooting: 4 FPS
Aperture modes: F3.5βF5.6
Viewfinder Magnification: 0.78x
Flash Sync Speed: 1/200_sec
Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi
Wireless Technology: Yes
Total USB 2.0 Ports: 1
Hardware Interface: SDHC
HDMI Type: Built-in
Display Type: LCD
Display Fixture Type: Articulating
Display Maximum Resolution: 76,666 pixels
Has Color Screen: Yes
Display Resolution Maximum: 230,000
Flash Memory Type: SD/SDHC card
Memory Storage Capacity: 4 GB
Write Speed: 4 fps
Flash Memory Bus Interface Type: SD Bus
Compatible Flash Memory Type: SD, SDHC
JPEG Quality Level: Basic, Fine, Normal
Supported Image Format: RAW, JPEG
Bit Depth: 12 Bit
Total Still Resolution: 12.3 MP
Maximum Image Size: 12.3 MP
Maximum Focal Length: 55 Millimeters
Optical Zoom: 3 x
Lens Type: zoom
Zoom: Optical, Digital
Camera Lens: DX Nikkor with 3x zoom
Minimum Focal Length: 35 Millimeters
Real Angle Of View: 50.67 Degrees
Metering Methods: Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
White Balance Settings: Auto
Self Timer: 10 Seconds
Brand: Nikon
Model Name: Nikon D5000
Built-In Media: Camera Kit
Are Batteries Included: Yes
External-Memory Size: 4 GB
Model Number: D5000 18-55mm Kit
Remote Included: No
Model Series: D5000
Global Trade Identification Number: 45
Generation: 1
UPC: 018208254545
Unit Count: 1.0 Count
Manufacturer Part Number: D5000 18-55mm Kit
Manufacturer: Nikon
Digital-Still: Yes
Movie Mode: Yes
Image Capture Type: Stills & Video
Auto Focus Technology: Continuous, Contrast Detection, Face Detection, Live View, Multi-area, Phase Detection, Selective single-point, Single
Focus Features: Nikon Multi-CAM1000
Autofocus Points: 11
Focus Type: Automatic with Manual
Focus Mode: Continuous-Servo AF (AF-C)
Autofocus: Yes
Frequently asked questions
If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is:
Jul 25 β Aug 10
Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
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Top Amazon Reviews
Color: Black
I got this camera on the 25th of july and will try to tell my experience with it so far. Actually trying to pass the happiness I am having for getting such and amazing product in hands, after so many good options I looked over!! Got it with 18-55mm lenses, a small tripod and a 16GB class 4 SDHC card. Was in doubt between nikon's D5000, D90 or D60, Canon's EOS Xsi and T1i, Sony's A200 or A350 and Olympus E520 or E620. First, I have had some diferent digital cameras (and also a couple analogic before that), the better ones being sony's DSC W7, H9 and H50 (not mine, but I used for some days), so I don't know how the D5000 compares to other DSLR, but I can feel the great lap between this amazing camera and those other simpler ones I am used to... My first impression was that it really can take good color, bright and lively pictures from the box, on auto mode... maybe the one I am least using by now, but good to know it will work when you can't or don't want to set anything before the shot. So the camera goes great on full AUTO. Same for video, easy to focus with the kit lenses and pretty professional looking movie results. My dad was with the camera for 2 weeks before I put my hands on it, and he shot amazing pics from simple places and situations, even at night... and he was on AUTO all time, so this nikon can be used as a point-and-shoot, actually the best I've ever seen... it is funny to see that any picture taken with it looks like it would be very hard or impossible to be taken with the cameras we used before. I havent posted any video so far, but I had put some pics here [...] I've done a lot of research on the DSLR world and the most useful site was [...] where I found the info that made me decide between the Canon EOS 500 (or T1i) and this Nikon D5000 that I got here on amazon.com . So, knowing some previous things about aperture, shutter speed, focus, depth of field an ISO from the previous cameras and some books I've read in the past fell weeks I tried the Nikon on the other modes, A,M,S and P... Ok, P is also as good as the AUTO, but it is almost just AUTO, I found it hard to change to the type of exposure I wanted while rolling the control. So between this and AUTO I stay with AUTO. "A" mode (aperture prior)works great for me... the control with the DOF is good and the kit lenses on auto focus are great. The "S" mode is normal, but I have not used it too much, havent had action scenes so far. The "M" mode is easy to use as all controls are at reach, the only change I did was to make the Fn button control the ISO, so I have the shutter on the main wheel with my right thumb, click with a finger on the button behind the shutter and have the wheel to control aperture, with my left thumb I make it control the ISO or flash (2 buttons well placed close to the lenses) and if I use manual focus the left hand is already in place and stays there, zooming and focusing. About the kit lenses (18-55mm nikkor lenses), the focus has a really short turn (about 30 degrees, but fells like 5) from 28cm to infinity, it is handleable on manual focus but a bit too sensitive... the zooming is perfect though. I already bought a used nikkor 28mm 2.8 AF-D lenses, that goes well with the D5000 (with manual focus only, cause it is not DX) and have a much better focus ring, with about 160 degree turn from 25mm to infinity that fells like 360... this made me fell good for not buying an olympus because the nikon DX format has a 1.5 relation for lenses and the four third had a 2.0 relation, at this point I realise that finding good old used lenses that can work well on the D5000 is easy, and this 28mm lense made me remember using my father's yashica 45mm focus when I was 6... very good felling. For the manual focus the camera helps with the green light that goes on when on focus, and changing the menu to show distance info on the viewfinder I got it to show arrows that indicate to witch side to change the focus. Live view... I did not mention, but my father took all his picures on this mode and liked it, so again can be used as p-a-s, but I have not used it too much, just loved the viewfinder and the 11point AF. The picture reviewing is also nice on the LCD panel and it being articulated is good for awkward shots, but even greater to protect it and to maintain the screen off when using the viewfinder (when I don't want more info than that on the small window). I did record some movies and they all look great, only did on 720p and no complains, all them look better than any other camera I used, only inconvenience is the focus but it is easy to learn... and zooming during video looks nicer than on video cameras that have digital controls for zooming. Battery lasts long, about 6 days traveling on my father's hands and 1 or 2 full shooting days on my hands... you notice that the camera is all the time saving power and even turning the LCD off when you are looking is not annoying because it comes back nicely. Flash is powerful and have a good range, also very tunable for adding light to a scene or to freezing someone or something on a shot... helped with some exposures... The retouching options are fast, easy to understand and vastly usable, I did some shots on a cloudy day and with some NEF processing on camera and one or two other adjustments (also in the camera) I got images that seemed taken at noon!! In conclusion on this messy review, the D5000 is a great camera and I would recommend to anybody who wants good pictures and movies... take that from a DSLR newbie and a nature, travel, sports and technology lover. And also, on my personal experience, it fells amazing to handle this camera, hear it shooting, bursting at 4fps (the sound is lovely), doing everything well and much more than I would expect. (I am not a brand person, but the nikon name helped on my choice and I am pleased it did).
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Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2009 Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2009 by Leandro Biondo
Color: Black
First off we'll tackle the LiveView arguments. The complaint is that the LiveView feature focus is either SO incredibly slow or it just fails to focus at all. I was really worried about this going in because the whole reason for this over a D90 in my case was that the stupid angles I tend to like taking pictures from REALLY make an articulating LCD a godsend. Well, my first picture with the 5k was in a room with no lighting other than a natural light source in the form of a sliding glass door (venetian blinds half open) in the OTHER room (though the door was in front of me and I WAS shooting in it's direction, but still the light level was LOW). The AF on LV took approx 2sec. to lock focus perfectly (I tried manually adjusting for better but could not). Tried this again with an artificial (CCFL, warm, not cool, spiral type) light source BEHIND me, approx. 6ft from the subject. The time to focus was about 1.3 seconds (iPhone used for stopwatch, so add in my reaction time if you want, personally at 1.3sec I don't care). The bottom line here is AF in LiveView is something NO DSLR does truly WELL right now, but as far as what's out there goes, this performs admirably. And my fears have ALL vanished. Next up, the recall. Ooooh, scary, right? Not so much, first of all the complaints voiced here are that Nikon is somehow being shady by not giving an open list of which serial numbers are impacted. Look the simple truth of the matter is you either have this problem, and it's pretty much dead from the factory, or you don't. There was a pretty insanely wild guesstimation by one of the 1-star reviewers here on amazon who, one breath after saying there was no information available on affected units, then proceeded to toss out potential numbers for affected units. Yes, there is a recall, but the plain truth is, you get your camera, you turn it on, odds are GOOD it will power on just like mine did, fresh and happy and ready to go. If you are still worried you go to their site, plug in the serial number, and get your mind put at ease. This is NOT that big a deal and I personally think it's good of Nikon to voluntarily offer a recall without having to be brow beaten into it, especially on one of their more buzzworthy cameras, normally (ahem, apple) you'd have to bury a company in a pile of their defective products up to their ears to get them to replace one of their "most talked about" new products. Cut then some slack. And rest fairly comfortably in the knowledge that, odds are more than just good you wont get a defective unit. As for the rest of the camera, I LOVE the auto-rotating menu for the LCD, just, awesome, the articulating LCD is great and I for one am VERY happy it's not side-hinged, if you have problems with this hitting your tripod, you take shots from WAY more crazier angles than me lol, and that's saying something. :) Image quality, top notch. Menu systems. I will go on record as saying that nikon has THE best menu system on a DSLR, PERIOD. ABSOLUTELY in love with it. Love the optional viewfinder gridlines ala the D90, the 11-area-AF is superb and fast in non-LV mode. LV is as good as ALMOST any other example out there right now (and if you exclude cameras if LV-focus specific lenses it's an even closer race). A note, you WILL need to upgrade CameraRaw to 5.4 if you use Photoshop (CS4 here) or the NEF files wont be understood, rest easy though as it's a free upgrade. [...] What else. The weight is nice, still lighter than a D90 but not as feather light as a D40, continues the common-model battery from most other Nikon's which is great, means if you go from one Nikon to another you gain yourself an extra battery and charger out of the deal (handy!). Overall this is a GREAT camera for the price. If an articulating LCD is important to you, then this is the camera for you, if it doesn't matter, consider the D90, it's pentaprism IS a step up but the differences are NOT great. HIGHLY recommend this camera.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2009 by P. Fulbright
Color: Black
I received the Nikon D5000 - VERY QUICKLY - via an Amazon.com dealer and was able to hit the ground running. I knew NOTHING (and I mean NOTHING) about photography (F-stops, aperture size, and shutter speeds meant nothing to me 4 weeks ago), but with the great documentation provided with the D5000 (along with lots of great web-based tutorials) I was able to have intelligent conversations with much-more experienced photographers within the first week. Indoor pics are a challenge for the beginning (because it's all about light, light, light) but close attention to the features for the D5000 will help to make this much easier. Pictures that I thought would be difficult to make good-quality (like late night, long shutter shots) ended up being the easiest to create and the starter lens that comes with the D5000 takes great pics out of the box. Do yourself a favor, and use cambridgeincolour.com along with the (multi-lingual) User's Manual provided. You will be taking great shots in no time. I've learned how to take advantage of both deep and shallow depths-of-field easily with this little wonder, and the quality of pics taken with the Portrait-Setting will make any novice happy. Any photographer will need some patience, but be sure (if you first buy only the body) to get the 18-55mm and 55-200mm Nikkor lenses at a minimum. The long lense will expand your creativity several-fold. You'll find the D5000 runs seemingly forever on a charge of its modular Lithium-Ion battery (the battery is a real workhorse too, rated at over 1 Ah). You will love how the D5000 feels in your hand as well as the multiangle LCD display (that can be rotated to face into the camera to protect it, or rotated to sit inside the body, but facing out for easy continuous use). I'm told they sell LCD protectors so do yourself a favor (as I plan to) and get one, as well as UV filters (if not for utility's sake, then to protect your expensive lenses, since a $20 filter is a lot cheaper to replace than a $200 - or more - lens). The best advice I can give is, practice with this thing a lot, read the manual through (it's enjoyable reading though this is a complex little device) and share your shots with others to get an idea of how well you're doing. Oh, yeah, and get a tripod - it opens up a whole new level of picture-taking. Your photographer friends (if they're anything like mine) will be mostly helpful and encouraging, and will offer advice (even without being prompted). Avoid those who offer destructive advice but listen to everyone else. Take from them what you need and keep learning on this greater teaching camera !
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Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2011 by Mark
Color: Black
I decided to upgrade to a DSLR a few months ago because I wanted to learn to take the fabulous pictures that I had come to associate with DSLRs. After I made the decision, the next choice was Cannon or Nikon. My current point and shoot camera was a Cannon PowerShot, so I thought I would stick with Cannon until I saw the specs on the D5000. It had everything that I liked about my Cannon and was worried about giving up--video, a rotating screen with Live View--all in an affordable DSLR package, so I decided to take the plunge and go Nikon. After a month of using the camera in different situations--a trip to New York, a wedding, a bridal shower, a kid's birthday party--I couldn't be happier. I'm very much a beginner when it comes to operating a DSLR, but all of the pictures I've taken with the D5000 have been excellent. The camera was easy to pick up and start using, but it is also easy enough to learn to start customizing your shots for different situations. I'm impressed by the camera's ability to help a beginner by auto-selecting some settings while allowing the photographer to manually select other things. The kit lens is a good starter lens, and works for most of the situations I've shot in so far. I'm still learning what this camera can do, and I'm excited to know that the D5000, with its advanced features, can grow along with me as I develop as a photographer. In terms of size, I have small hands and I feel like I can comfortably carry around the D5000. Yes it is bigger and heavier than a point and shoot, but it's not so big that its cumbersome for me to carry. Which is a good thing, because I've started carrying this camera everywhere because I always want to be able to capture that perfect shot! If you're transitioning from a point and shoot to a DSLR and you want something with great features that still is easy to use, this is the camera for you. I couldn't be happier with my D5000--when you get that crisp shot of a kid opening presents or a beautiful bride coming down the aisle, it's so worth it to have made this investment!
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Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2009 by B. A. Chaney
Color: Black
I bought a D5000 with the 18-55 VR lens from Amazon last Friday (Black Friday). I paid about $200 less than a friend who bought the same camera a few months ago. AND... It is NOT part of the recall! My biggest initial concern was getting caught up in the recall. I am very happy to say that Amazon seems to be beyond those serial numbers - at least with the kit (camera and 18-55 VR lens). I'm upgrading from a D50 I bought 4 or more years ago. There are a number of reasons why I chose THIS camera. First, I like Nikon over other brands because they are easier to use/better menus for those of us who aren't experts. I also think that Nikon makes the best lenses. Even their cheapest kit lenses have great optics and take great pictures. Not all manufacturers can say that. The second thing I want to address is this camera's lack of an internal motor to auto focus a lens. In other words, you need Nikon's AF-S lenses with this camera. (Note: almost all of Nikon's lenses work with this camera and auto focus.) I would only think it is a concern for someone who has really old lenses, a non-Nikon lens like Sigma or Tamron without an auto focus motor built-in, or possibly some specialty lens that won't auto focus on its own. For me, I have purchased 4 different lenses over the last 4-5 years. They all work just fine. While it is something to be aware of, I think most people who are looking at this camera will be fine too. The lack of an internal motor means the D5000 is slightly smaller and lighter than the next step up - cheaper too. This makes the D5000 easier to hang around your neck and carry around all day. This camera is not targeted at a pro, though it is very capable of taking pro pictures. Pros are more likely to opt for the D90 or above. Third - My D50, the D40, D60, D70 and D80 are all Generation 1 cameras. (Actually the D40 & D60, may be called Generation 2, but are more Generation 1.5) Nikon's current lineup, the D3000, D5000, D90 and D300s, are all Generation 2 cameras. What the reviews say is that the Generation 2 cameras take better pictures. They see things more the way the human eye sees things. I am at that point where I am trying to learn more about photography and take better pictures. I did my research. The D3000 is a light camera that you can carry around all day without getting neck cramp. The problem with the D3000 for me was that all the reviews said how much noise (little purple dots that look like film grain) showed up in photos at the higher ISOs. The D90 is a great camera with numerous features that appeal to someone who has some idea what ISO and F stops mean and how they affect the quality of the photo. The D5000's problem, until recently, has been that it was too closely priced to the D90. There was just no reason not to take the extra step up to the D90. Now that Nikon and Amazon have dropped the price of the D5000, it is a much better value. The D90 with the same 18-55 VR lens is about $300 more expensive than the D5000 as of this writing. The D5000 uses the same sensor (and some other parts) as the much more expensive D90 and D300s. It is a newer camera than the D90. I would think, but don't have actual knowledge, that this would have a positive effect on some of the advanced features in the D5000. I say this because the software in the D5000 is newer. It does NOT have the noise problems of the D3000. If you cannot afford the D5000, I suggest you consider the D40 (while supplies last) over the D3000. The D40 takes better pictures and costs less. Video - Do NOT buy a DSLR to shoot videos. NO DSLR from any manufacturer does this really well. The technology is too new. Video on a DSLR is a goof, something neat/fun to play with and not something to take too seriously. DSLRs are designed to take really good photographs. If you need good video, buy a camcorder! In my opinion, the D5000 is THE camera for folks new to DSLRs who need something simple, but with great capabilities and those, like me, who want to take a step up in features/capabilities without having to spend over $900 dollars for the D90 and a lens. While Live View has its limitations, the articulating screen (it swivels - very cool feature) on the D5000 will make it easier for me to take those occasional hard to get photos. I really think I made the right choice and got what I feel is a heck of a deal! I hope this information is useful to those of you who are still trying to decide which camera is best for you. One last thought... Nikons seem to hold their value. I plan to sell my D50 - AND - there seems to be a market for it. Once I learn what ISO and F stops are (I have some idea, but am still learning.), I will likely sell my D5000 and buy whatever the next step up is. I think this is a great added value to buying a good name brand camera like Nikon. All the best... **Update 1/3/10** Well, I've had a chance to shoot a few hundred photos with my new D5000. I did a direct comparison with about 150 photos between my old D50 and the new D5000. The output of my old D50 and the new D5000 are remarkably close. These side by side comparisons were shot with the same lens (Nikkor 16-85mm VR and Nikon NC filter), the built in flash and the Nikon SB 800 flash. I took some shots in "Auto" and many shots in "P". I used every ISO and color controll the D5000 had and tried to tweak them up and down (sharpness, saturation and hue). I've decided to return the D5000, and then decided to keep it, and here's why. The added megapixels of the D5000 seem to have very little effect in the amount of detail in the photos as compared to my D50. The D50 has a 6 megapixel sensor. (I DID tweak the settings of my D50 to get better output. I will tweak the settings of the D5000 too.) And, the D50 seemed to have a slightly more reliable/consistent meter when shooting in auto white balance. All this really surprised me. I guess I was expecting more of a difference between the two cameras. The D50 probably has one of the most accurate meters in any Nikon digital camera - better than the D40 and D60. In the thousands of photos I took over 4-5 years, it got the white balance spot on every time. In defense of the D5000, it does have features far beyond those of the D50. It is these features that have made me decide to keep the D5000. The software in the D5000 allows you to adjust many more aspects of how the camera operates and takes pictures than what my D50 had. This allowed me to tweak any settings that I was not completely happy with. It also has numerous preset scene modes for those who want to treat the D5000 more as a really good point and shoot. I guess this camera gives the user enough features where even prosumers could be happy with the creative flexibility the controls give. The D5000 has a number of other advantages over the D50. The first is a time saver for me. Its auto distortion controll seems to handle lens distortion "in camera" when the pictures are taken. Having the camera address lens distortion saves me from having to fix it after the photos are taken. I shoot quite a bit with a 12-24mm lens that tends to twist things some. I also took several test photos of a very square surface with a 70-300mm lens at different focal lengths. You could see the lens distortion through the view finder. Big bonus... The auto distortion control really seems to work! Additional features include much better low light performance (The D50 and many other cameras will never touch the D5000's low light performance.), ADR (it will capture detail inside shadows rather than just turning the shadow black.), a larger-articulating screen that is much easier to see and read (the D5000 displays the camera settings on the rear screen instead of an LCD on top of the camera.), live view (I recommend using this only for those hard to get photos when you just can't use the view finder. It can take 3 to 8 seconds to focus in live view.) auto focus with 3D tracking for photographing subjects that are moving, and a smaller and lighter form factor than the D50. The bottom line for me was that my old D50 took really good photos in good conditions. The D5000 takes only slightly better pictures than my D50 in good conditions. In less than perfect conditions, the D5000 seems to take much better photos than my D50. If you're upgrading like me and none of these added features mean anything to you, keep your current camera. Otherwise, while not completely perfect, the D5000 can be a good upgrade or a very capable first dslr that is easy to use AND will give you the room and controls to expand your skills and your creativity as you learn. I did play with a variety of settings in my new D5000. The "One Change" that seemed to make the biggest improvement in the quality of the photos was to adjust the sharpness settings in the Picture Controls menu. I have turned the sharpness settings way up over the factory defaults. The factory settings ranged from 2 to 4 (on a scale of 1 to 9). I greatly prefer setting the sharpness more in the 5 to 8 range. You can adjust the sharpness for the different modes - 5 for images you want to be softer like portraits, and 6, 7 or 8 for everything else. If you shoot in "auto mode", these changes won't work. You will need to move to "P" or some other setting to take advantage of this. If you try it, I think you will be pleased at how much sharper and how much more detail you get in your photos over the factory settings. The information I share comes in part from personal experience and in part from reading reviews and information all over the web - not because I'm some pro photographer. For anyone who cares to read more, I recommend checking out Ken Rockwell. You can Google him. He rates ALL of these cameras and provides useful information like tips on how to setup your D5000 once you buy it. Note: The guide to setting up the D5000 is burried in the site. If you click the "Nikon" link, then go down to "Plain English User Guides", you will find it. His guide to setting the camera up is separate from the review of the D5000 on his site. If you follow his suggestions when adjusting the saturation levels (color), you should know that you CAN really get some wild colors - colors that are not natural. I didn't get this the first time and got some really crazy output from the camera. I decided to leave most of the color settings set at the factory defaults. I saved two custom settings with the saturation level turned up one notch for pictures taken outside and in good sunlight. If you screw up the settings on the camera, it is easy to restore the factory default settings. So, don't be affraid to try different things. Ken recommends setting the sharpness settings to 5. As I said before, I prefer to go even sharper and use settings that range from 5 to 8. Ken's only beef with the D5000 was that Nikon started with it too closely priced to the D90. The D5000 shares the same sensor and A LOT of other parts from the more expensive D90. This makes the D5000 a fantastic camera and a great value at its current price point. Amazon lists the link to the DPReview review on the D5000 page or you can Google it. People may want to read the DPReview of the D5000 before reading Ken Rockwells Guide to setting up the D5000. DPReview tells you whats wrong with the factory default settings on the D5000. Ken Rockwell tells you how to adjust the factory settings to get even better photos! I know I'm rambling a bit here. I'm going to so much effort here only because the reviews on Amazon have provided me so much helpful information in the past. I am just trying to give something back. Oh, I DID sell my D50 for $350! I was very happy to get this kind of money for a camera that was 4 or 5 years old. All the best...**End of Update**
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Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2009 by Todd
Color: Black
When I got this camera, I was thrilled. It was light, easy to use, and took great pictures. I missed the top LCD that my D70 had, but it was mostly great. Just recently, after about six months of ownership, but only maybe 20 or 30 days of use, the camera broke. Well, not broke exactly. It still takes pictures, but the mirror seems to be locked up or something. When you look through the viewfinder, you see what looks like a focusing screen with the blurry out of focus image and several focus points clear. It takes clear pictures, but is unuseable because you basically can't see what you're pointing at. I discovered this problem the day before a three week trip to Australia. My local camera guy says this is a common problem with the D3000 and D5000. I live overseas. I can't bring back the camera. I'll have it repaired when I get a chance to return it in the U.S. (this warranty is not international). But the damage is done. I won't be buying another Nikon. I'd only bought this camera over the Canon d500 (Ti1) because of my previous investment in lenses, etc. (turns out you can't use lenses from the D70 in auto-focus anyway). When I get my camera repaired, I'll use it and probably take reasonable pictures with it until it possibly breaks again. But I won't be investing in any more lenses, etc. My next camera will be a Canon.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2009 by Henry T
Color: Black
My D5000 was delivered yesterday evening while I was at work. The lovely wife opened the box enough to pull the battery out and charge it for me. After a grueling 12 hour shift at work I had forgotten about my new toy. I had purchased the D5000 w/ 18/55 kit lens then separately purchased a 55/200 VR kit lens. It was cheaper that way. Go figure. After many doggie slobbers when I arrived home I noticed the D5000 box on the kitchen table. My heart started palpating. I tried to control my self to no avail. My new toy was here! I carefully unpacked everything. I actually followed the quick start guide and was ready in no time. I'm a big guy with the requisite big hands. The D5000 felt good in my hands. Not too heavy, not too light. The black body was finished with a slightly rough tactile coating. Very nice. My right thumb fit nicely in the thumb spot while my right index finger felt at home on the shutter. With a firm grip on the D5000 I was able to fully articulate my wrist and point the camera in a variety of positions. The camera felt good in my hand. I could tell that I could lug this beauty around for a full day and not get the dreaded "photog's wrist syndrome." I attached the 18/55 kit lens. The lens seemed to provide a better balance when attached to the body. The VR switch, on the lens, was factory set to OFF. My first few images didn't utilize the VR. I was so excited and getting more excited by the minute that I forgot the properly look at the lens. I could notice the difference between the VR switching. This 18/55 kit lens is quite amazing. Sure it's made out of plastic, but it does a great job. If you don't already have Nikon lenses then the 18/55 kit lens is a no brainer. Well worth it. As the quick guide said...Frame your first subject...then BAM! I was looking for subjects to shoot. Since I work nights everyone, except the dog, was asleep. So I can't run around flipping light switches, move knick-knacks, or anything that could involve waking the baby. God forbid I wake the baby. My wife would have my testicles drawn and quartered within 7.9 seconds. Of course it's been raining for 2 days straight. So I'm stuck in the house...with a new camera. No worries! I really like the D5000. Coming from the "superzoom point & shoot world" this is a welcome, although a little scary, change. I used film SLR cameras up until the late 90's so I have some experience with SLR photography. But the digital advances sure make everything so much easier. I'm not a "all manual all the time" kind of guy. Like most of us, I want the added feature of full-manual to play with, but like having an excellent and fast AUTO feature. I like to spend time with my family when we're all out and about and don't like to fiddle with any settings. The family gives me plenty of time, on my own, to experiment. I added some images above.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2009 Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2009 by K9 Review Squad πΎπ
Color: Black
The announcement of Nikon D5000 in April 2009 is quite unexpected for many people. D5000 is quite different than other Nikon beginner cameras (D40, D60), and it also does not resemble Nikon D90, a mid-range Nikon DSLR line. Nikon D5000 is an unique camera in Nikon line. It has swivel LCD screen (None of other Nikon DSLR has this feature), and it has movie mode (the second camera that has this feature in Nikon line after D90). Along with Nikon D3000, Nikon hopes that D5000 will be a huge success in this holiday season. D5000 will compete against Canon T1i / 500D. BODY & HANDLING Nikon D5000 weights 588g (with card and battery). The dimension is 127 x 104 x 80 mm which is a bit bigger and taller than D3000. From the top, Nikon D5000 looks exactly the same as Nikon D3000. It has info button, exposure compensation, shutter button and shooting mode ring. Nikon D5000 has a thumb dial which you can use to change aperture or other settings. It also has AE-AF lock button, live view button, four-way controller button, playback button, menu button, trash bin button, magnifying buttons (+ and -) and info button. On the left side, you have self timer (function) button which could be customized. I usually customized it to ISO setting. The layout and available buttons are very similar to Nikon D3000. If you are coming from higher end Nikon D80-D90 line, you might miss the image quality button, ISO button, AF release mode button, and White Balance button. BUILT QUALITY & ERGONOMIC D5000 like all other Nikon beginner camera up to Nikon D90 has rugged plastic interior with textured "rough" finish. I like the textured finish more than smooth finish (like in Canon T1i camera). Ergonomically, it is good to hold, but the space between lens mount and the grip is pretty tight. If you mount bigger lens or if you have big hands, then you might not feel comfortable. However, I feel D5000 has slightly better ergonomic because it has a taller grip than D3000 or D60, so all of my fingers can rest on the grip, instead of hanging loose. LCD SCREEN D5000 has unique vari-angle LCD screen. This swivel LCD is a little bit awkward because it swivel to the bottom not to the side like many other digital cameras. You can swivel the lcd screen down to 90 degree and then rotate it to left o right up to 270 degree. It is quite versatile for overhead or low angle shot. It is also very helpful when you are in live view mode or movie recording mode. However, I personally prefer if the lcd swivel to the side rather to the bottom, but I can understand why Nikon design it that way. Nikon tries to keep the layout / body interface as similar as other Nikon beginner cameras. Unfortunately, unlike D90, the LCD screen resolution is limited to 230k (the same as D3000). So you will be never able to check if your photos are in focus or not. Additionally, there is no top LCD screen like Nikon D90. LENS COMPATIBILITY Nikon D5000 comes with Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens. This lens has a plastic mount, but the image quality and the light is recommendable. It never get super sharp like pro grade lens, but pro grade lens might costs more than ten times, so 18-55mm VR is one of the best value lens out in the market. The lens has image stabilization feature which is called Vibration Reduction (VR). It works well and quietly up to 3 stops. If you hold the camera tight and still, you can shoot up to a quarter second without motion blur. Unfortunately, D5000 does not have built in focus motor in the camera. Therefore, it can't auto focus older lenses such as the venerable Nikon 50mm f/1.8 or the legendary Nikon 85mm f/1.4D. If you need AF function, you need lens that has auto focus motor in it (AF-S lenses). If you are looking at third party lenses, look for HSM (Sigma lens) or motorized Tamron lenses. IMAGE QUALITY & ISO Nikon D5000 employs 12 megapixel sensor which is very similar to the one with Nikon D90. It produces better image quality than other Nikon beginner camera up to date. In low light situation, D5000 delivers clean image up to ISO 1600, and usable image at ISO 3200 if you expose it correctly. Image quality in high ISO setting is very satisfactory. Like other Nikon DSLR cameras, D5000 also has Auto ISO limiter. You can effectively limit the ISO and minimum shutter speed. The Auto ISO works very well and accurate most of the time. My favorite way to use this is to set the camera to Auto ISO, and then use Aperture mode and let the camera adjust the rest for me. AUTO FOCUS AND RELEASE MODE D5000 has the same AF system as D3000 and D90. This AF system are quite reliable for everyday use. It comes with dynamic tracking and 3D tracking which is great for moving objects and sports. The auto focus is very fast and responsive. D3000 has 4 frame per second continuous shooting. It is neither fast or slow. For sports, dances or plays you might hope for faster burst. Quiet release mode: This is a new release mode unique to Nikon D5000 and later D300s. When you shoot in Q mode, you can full press and hold the shutter button to keep the mirror up. Then, when you release the shutter button, the mirror will flip down. I don't think this feature is quite useful because it does not really make the shutter release quieter, it just divides the shutter release into two steps. The beep sound that indicate the auto focus lock will be automatically turn off when you use this mode. INTERFACE Despite the lack of dedicated buttons for many important setting such as ISO, release mode, white balance etc, It is relatively easy and quick to change those setting. What you need to do is hit the INFO button twice and toggle to setting that you want to change and change it with the main thumb dial. It is not the most efficient interface around. (The best interface will be Olympus super control panel), but Nikon is showing some progress. MOVIE RECORDING MODE Movie recording in D5000 is quite basic and easy to activate but tough to handle. To activate, you need to press lv (live view) button once, and then after you focus (you can half press the shutter button or manual focus) then you pres OK button to start and end recording. Them, you can now record the movie up to 5 minutes. The countdown will be displayed in the screen. It is tough to handle because there is no built-in stabilization so in order to stabilized the video you need a tripod. You will need to focus manually too to keep track of moving object because live view contrast-based auto focus is very slow and unreliable. However, compare to a regular camcorder, the movie mode are excellent in low light condition and able to create a very shallow of depth of field. You can also switches lenses to create different effects. COMPETITORS Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens Canon T1i is D5000's arch rival in 2009. It has high-res fixed LCD screen, 15 megapixel image resolution, compatible with all Canon EOS lenses, and bigger viewfinder. It can record movie up to 18 minutes. For direct comparison, check out [Canon T1i vs Nikon D5000] Pentax K-x 12.4 MP Digital SLR with 2.7-inch LCD and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Lens (Black) Pentax Kx is the best value camera in 2009. With only $550 this holiday season, you can get full featured beginner camera with movie recording mode, built-in image stabilization, and solid image quality. Check out our Pentax kx review and Pentax kx vs competitors. Sony Alpha A380L 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization and 18-55mm Lens Sony A380 has a very good image quality especially in bright light situation, fast AF in live view mode, tilt-able LCD screen and built-in image stabilization but no movie recording mode. Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP Live MOS Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization and 2.7 inch Swivel LCD w/ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 ED Zuiko Lenses Olympus E-620 is the smallest beginner camera that has built-in image stabilization, swivel LCD screen, back-lit buttons but no movie recording mode, smaller image sensor and has smaller viewfinder. Check out our own Olympus E-620 review. Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens If you are interested in Nikon camera, you might want to consider D3000 too. It is cheaper, lighter and smaller, more user-friendly but has inferior image sensor, no live view and no movie recording mode. Check out our own Nikon D3000 review. CONCLUSION Nikon D5000 is a feature-packed Nikon beginner camera that sits in the middle between beginner and advanced Nikon camera. It is a solid product with excellent image quality. The swivel LCD screen could be helpful for many situations. From features and image quality stand point, it matches Nikon D90. What hold D5000 back is its body interface and lack of built-in AF motor. Overall it is a good camera for your money. But before you get one, you need to check out its limitations especially about its lens compatibility and movie mode. Subjective Rating - Relative to entry level DSLR cameras 2009 Image Quality : 5/5 Features : 5/5 Performance : 5/5 Body and Handling : 4/5 Value for Money : 4/5 For sample images, ISO comparison and camera body pictures, please visit my blog. You can find the link from my profile. Thanks for reading
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Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2009 by Enche Tjin