Nikon D5000 review

For provided Nikon D5000 review many thanks Sergey Virtuk (http://www.sergeyvitruk.com/)

Nikon D5000 review

Nikon D5000 is a great entry-level camera. I I attribute Nikon D5000 to amateur cameras. The D5000 is interesting for its rotary display, good matrix, Live View mode and the ability to shoot video. Usually Nikon D5000 comes with one of the lenses 18-55mm F3.5-5.6  or  18-105mm F3.5-5.6Such a kit is called a whale kit. In this review, I describe the features of only the camera itself Nikon D5000 body.

View of Nikon D5000 from different sides

The Nikon D5000 has an excellent built-in image editor, and easy controls that suit the photographer, or just a person who needs high-quality images. The camera even has such pShooting modes like: pet portrait, candle light, bloom, autumn colors, food, silhouette, sunset, beach, snow, etc. Not even a professional can figure it out.

Sample photo on Nikon D5000

Highlights of the Nikon D5000

1. At the camera 12 megapixel CMOSthe matrix. 12 megapixels is more than enough for the basic purposes in photography. If you are still chasing megapixels, I advise you to read my article Battle of Megapixels. Matrix value same as other APS-C type cameras. Physical matrix size - This is one of the most important parameters in a digital camera. The amateur Nikon D5000 has the same size matrix as the more advanced brother D90 and the same as very good cameras Nikon D300s, D7000, D5100.
   

   Sample photo on Nikon D5000 at high ISO

2. By virtue of the APS-C type of matrix, the physical matrix size the Nikon D5000 is still 2.25 times smaller in area than on full-frame expensive cameras such as Nikon D700, D800(to), D3(x, s), D4. Also, this means that when using lenses, the viewing angle will be 1.5 times smaller than when using the same lenses on a 35mm film. More details in the article about crop factor.
   

   Sample photo on Nikon D5000 at high ISO

3. Matrix cleaning... Nikon D5000 has a sensor cleaning option. This will help postpone the trip to the service center for a real cleaning. In my experience, cleaning the sensor with a dust extractor does not completely protect the camera from dust build-up or condensation streaks. Therefore, be prepared that the "vacuum cleaner" is not a panacea, but only lengthening the time before going to the service or buying cleaning products. Usually, the matrix does not require cleaning for 2-3 years with the matrix cleaning function.
   

   Photograph on Nikon D5000 High ISO

4. Frame buffer in shooting mode, RAW is 9 shots. But 9 frames in the buffer is only available when off noise reduction modes at slow shutter speeds, noise reduction at high ISOautomatic distortion control and Active disabled D-lighting. Considering that when the shooting speed is 4 frames per second and the above settings are enabled, only 5 frames are placed in the buffer, the camera starts to slow down after the first second of shooting in burst mode. For comparison, more advanced Nikon D90 has 11 frames in its buffer, and Nikon D3100 as many as 13 frames.
   

   Photo at Nikon D5000 at low ISO

5. Shooting speed - 4 frames per second. This is just a little less than 4.5 frames per second for a more advanced Nikon D90, one frame per second more than Nikon D3100, and as much as Nikon D5100. I do not recommend chasing rate in the amateur camera segment, since frame buffer, usually such cameras are very small. Anyway, I can manage only 2.5 frames per second without problems on a little crumb Nikon D40.
   

   Photo at Nikon D5000

6. The camera display is indeed turning. The screen size is 2.7 inches, the number of dots is 230.000. I like the display. But now, he does not lean back, from right to left, but from top to bottom. And in order to sight on the hinged display, you need to either rotate it to a position as in cameras without a rotary display, or raise the camera itself a little higher so that the display remains at eye level. My camera had a booster (battery pack), while the rotary display could not fully recline due to the booster. Most likely, the Nikon D5000 rotary display was made with a tilt-down in order to keep the navigation buttons to the left of it. For example, brother Nikon D5100 the display rotates to the left, while there is no problem with the booster, but there are no buttons to the left of the display.
   

   Photo on Nikon D5000

7. The ISO of the camera varies from 200 to 3200. In fact, you can set ISO 100 to 6400but ISO 100 will be called Lo1and 6400 is Hi2. Lo1, Hi2 is a software cheat for ISO. I don't recommend shooting in ISO HI mode. Lo mode often helps out and, in general, really gives better quality compared to ISO 200. About low ISO on D5000, D90, D300, D300s, D700 etc. you can read in my ISO article Lo1... ISO 1600 is quite "working", everything that is higher - you need to be careful and remember about the noise.
8. Ergonomics. The camera is quite convenient to control.. Of course, this is not a professional apparatus, but everything is extremely clear and simple. I recommend setting the Fn programmable button to change the ISO value, or to your liking.
9. Additional functions. Correction of distortion. Interval shooting (which is not even in D90) The camera has bracketing exposure white balance and active D-lighting.
10. The camera uses SD Flashcards. The maximum amount of card used can be 32GB when using SDHC cards.
    

    Photo on Nikon D5000

11. The camera can shoot video without autofocus with HD quality of 1280 * 720and lasting up to 5 minutes. The quality can be changed to 640 * 424 and lasting up to 20 minutes, or 320 * 240 and the same duration of 20 minutes. The video is exactly the same as Nikon D90. Do not think that 5 minute clips are not enough. 5 minutes is a decent interval for the video, personally, I have never had a little limit of 5 minutes. Given the fact that the Nikon D5000 still does not have the ability to focus when shooting video, you can use any lens for video, even old soviet. Video supports metering exposure with manual optics, such as Nikon 300mm f / 4.5 Nikkor-H Nippon Kogaku Japan Auto Non-AI. When the Live View mode is turned on, the aperture is locked to the set value so that when shooting video, change the aperture - turn off the Live View, change its values ​​and turn on the Live View again. If you need a video with auto focus, then look at the models Nikon D3100, D5100, D7000, D800(to), D4. The lack of auto focus on the Nikon D5000 is a serious drawback for many users.
    

    Photo on Nikon D5000

12. Nikon D5000 uses pentaser mirror instead of a better pentaprism. The camera provides only 95% of the frame coverage when sighted through the optical viewfinder.
13. The battery can withstand over 600-700 frames. Battery life may vary by lens, mode of operation, flash use, etc.
14. Focusing. By the camera 11 focus points. They can work in 4 operating modes: one point, automatic, 3D tracking and dynamic selection. Focus points as many as Nikon D90, D5100, Nikon D3000, Nikon D200, Nikon D3100. Responsible for focusing Nikon Multi-CAM1000 system. The speed and accuracy of focusing very much depends on the lens and shooting conditions. In Live View, a contrast focusing mode is available that does not fail.
15. BB. White balance The camera will be detected normally. If someone is not happy BB, you can always shoot in RAW and correct balances.
    

    Photo on Nikon D5000

16. Nikon D5000 no built-in focus motor, therefore, in order to be able to automatically focus - you need to use lenses AF S (lenses with built-in focus motor). Lenses marked AF will only work in manual focus mode.
17. The camera has a built-in flash and a shoe for installing external flashes. Minimum excerpt when using the flash is 1 \ 200seconds. The camera does not support fast sync and command mode flash control.

Sample photo on Nikon D5000 at maximum ISO

If you choose a Nikon digital SLR camera, you can use my nameplate Generation of Nikon cameras which shows which class the camera belongs to and how long it was released. Nikon D5000 has the same matrix as Nikon D90, Nikon D300, Nikon D300s, which means that the quality of the photos will be the same as that of a professional Nikon D300s. Of course, professional cameras are more convenient to use, have a very high rate of fire and various very useful functions.

Nikon D5000 High ISO Photo Example

Personal impression:
The camera turned out to be very compact and small. After a day of filming on D200, Nikon D5000 seemed just a toy, but the photos showed excellent. The Nikon D5000 is the first amateur camera to feature video and a swivel display from Nikon. True, since the camera is amateur, then the possibility of autofocusing would not hurt the fans, since not everyone will agree to focus manually when shooting video. Now video without autofocus is archaism. Therefore, after the release Nikon D3100, the latter was rated very highly.
The picture is no worse than the Nikon D90. Ergonomics are good, in the classic Nikon style. Unfortunately, I do not recommend the Nikon D5000 for purchase. The video is better with the model Nikon D3100. The rotary display, in my opinion, is not entirely successful; it works with a rotary display Nikon D5100 much nicer.

Sample photo on Nikon D 5000

In this Nikon D5000 review, all photos were taken with the lens. Nikon 35mm F1.8G in RAW -> JPEG without processing, only reduced size and imprinted data with EXIF module.

Sample photo on Nikon D5000 at high ISO

Of course, the new models that replaced the Nikon D5000 are D5100, D5200 in many ways superior to the old woman:

Prices for modern Nikon cameras in popular stores can look at this link.

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Nikon D5000 - good camera with a rotary display... Of the serious advantages - an excellent matrix and ergonomics, of the disadvantages - the lack of autofocus when shooting video. I recommend looking to the side instead of Nikon D5000 Nikon D3100, D5100, D3200.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.