Nikon D5000 Review

The D5000 fits into Nikon's range above the new entry level D3000, but below the D90. It manages to combine most of the D90's features into the lighter body it shares with the D3000, adding a flip and twist articulated 2.7-inch monitor. Although the body feels a lot smaller than the D90 there's actually not much in it. The D5000 is slightly narrower but a couple of millimetres taller and deeper. The body is strong plastic over a metal chassis, and the build quality and finish are of Nikon's usual high standard. It feels light but robust, and is a comfortable camera to hold. The right-hand side controls are sensibly placed, and in common with most Nikon DSLRs there is a row of buttons on the left of the monitor.

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.

IMG Source : Amazon.com

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 Nikon D5000 follows conventional DSLR design in having a shooting mode dial on the top of the camera, which allows you to select either one of the advanced modes like Manual, Aperture or Shutter priority, or a number of scene modes. The Exposure Compensation button is thoughtfully positioned next to the shutter release. Hold down this button with your right forefinger and spin the control wheel on the top-rear of the camera with your thumb to adjust its settings - simple and intuitive. The control wheel is now slightly slanted, making it more ergonomic than on the D60.

The D5000 can record video and mono sound as a goof, but any camcorder gives much better moving picture and sound quality. The Nikon D5000 has relatively poor video and audio quality, and can't focus while you shoot. Just buy a camcorder if you want video. (Nikon doesn't make camcorders, so they're not going to tell you that.)

The overall control layout and 'philosophy' of the Nikon D5000 has more in common with the likes of the D40 and the D60 than the D90. It has only one control wheel, and there are no dedicated buttons for controlling ISO sensitivity, white balance, metering or AF mode. The Drive Mode / Fn button can be reprogrammed to perform ISO selection or white balance adjustment (or one of a few other functions such as file quality specification), but the others still have to be set through the main info screen, called up by pressing the 'i' button bottom-left of the rear display. With practice, performing adjustments via this screen becomes fairly quick and easy, but it's still not as efficient as the D90's dedicated controls.

Specification Nikon D5000

Auto Focus Technology	Contrast Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi-area Selective single-point Single Continuous Face Detection Live View
Autofocus Points	11
Camera Flash	SB-600
Color	black
Compatible Devices	Nikon 200mm f/4.0D ED-IF AF Micro-Nikkor Lens -- Search on Amazon ASIG B00006I5J5 Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED Autofocus VR Zoom Nikkor Lens -- Search on Amazon ASIG B00005LEOO
Compatible Mountings	Nikon F (FX) Nikon F (DX)
Continuous Shooting Speed	4 fps
Display Fixture Type	Fully-articulated
Display Resolution Maximum	230,000
Display Size	2.7 inches
Expanded ISO Maximum	3,200
Expanded ISO Minimum	200
Exposure Control Type	manual-and-automatic aperture-priority shutter-speed-priority
External Memory Included	Yes
Flash Memory Type	SD/SDHC card
Flash Modes Description	Auto
Flash Sync Speed	1/200_sec
Flash Type	Built-in Flash, Hot-shoe
Focus Description	Nikon Multi-CAM1000
Focus Type	Automatic with Manual
Form Factor	Compact SLR
GPS	Optional
HDMI Type	Built-in
ISO Range	Auto, 200 - 3200 (plus 6400 with boost)
Image Aspect Ratio	3:2
Image Stabilization	None
Image types	JPEG

Price Nikon D5000 From Amazon : $399.99
Price Nikon D5000 From Ebay : $499.99