Nikon D5000 12.3 Megapixel Digital SLR Reviews Roundup

Love it,, francis addae
Price not bad. Item was well packaged. Arrived on time and works perfect. I will recommend buying from this buyer.

Great, well designed, Harry Pandolfino
When digital started to wash away film I was skeptical. But digital is rising and film is disappearing. I originally bought a 'bridge' camera deciding I didn't want to do the SLR thing again but in the end I caved and bought this camera. As someone who was birthed and grew up with the mechanical SLR the first thing I noticed, with approval, is that it weighs a lot less than those old metal SLRs so it's easier on the neck strap for prolonged periods of time. I grew up with Nikons and so this was an easy choice for me. I get excellent results with it. I like the adjustable swivel back screen; it adds the advantages of the old TLR to the SLR. For someone used to mechanical controls it can take a while to master the menu levels to access all the features but it becomes more natural over time. I'd recommend the D5000 to newcomers or anyone wanting to shift from mechanical to digital.

But one MAJOR flaw, IMO, J. Houghton "Dead Man Dancing"
This is a very clever, well-priced camera with a reasonable learning curve. There are plenty of reviews from more technically and artistically gifted people than myself, so I'm going to stick to one issue that gripes hell out of me after spending money on this rig. You can -- and I did -- buy a wireless remote shutter release. Very handy for nature photography where you want the camera to be closer to the subject than you can be. Or a tripod shot where pushing the release with your finger risks a less-detailed shot. Right? Except that the remote shutter release for the D5000 only triggers FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAMERA! Which would be fine if you bought an SLR to put on a tripod and take pictures of yourself with your friends and/or family on vacation! But for the majority of uses that an SLR is typically put to, it is completely useless. I'm curious to know if anyone else finds this frustrating and if anyone else has rigged some kind of work-around with a dental mirror or...? I own the camera now, so I'd really like to be able to trigger the shutter from where most photographers position themselves, i.e. BEHIND THE CAMERA!
Thank you.
PS -- are there cameras where the focus ring on the tele-zoom is out toward the front of the lens? When manually focusing with the fingers right up next to the body and all that lens hanging out in space, it's pretty hard to hand-hold a shot. Much less likely that I'm going to need access to the zoom ring as I'm shooting, compared to the focus ring. Oh, well...can't have everything. Give me a remote shutter release that works from the right position and I'm a happy camper.

Great camera for Low price, jim
Received as described and works great. may not be brand new but definitely worth the cost. Definitely would recommend to others

The best, Isabel Garcia
It's the best camera I've ever had. It helps me a lot doing every single work and, despite having being through hideous altitudes, it has survived. It's also pretty good for starters or pros. I don't think I'll ever regret geting it. It's big, but it's a pro cam, it's expected. It's well worth the investment.

Nikon D5000 Review, AliMarie
The Nikon D5000 is a wonderful camera. It is the first SLR i've ever owned, and although it took a little practice and reading the manual (as with any new technology you buy) it was relatively easy to learn how to operate. Keep your manual handy if you're just starting out. I probably would not suggest the D5000 for someone who hasn't had ANY SLR experience before. It can be intimidating at first, so I might suggest a more user-friendly or beginners version of a Nikon SLR. After learning how to use this camera, i absolutely love it, it is my baby. At first I had some trouble with grainy images, but learning the proper ISO settings changes everything. There isn't really anything I can think of (or have tried) that this camera can't do. Along with my laptop, this camera is probably the best purchase I have ever made, and it is well worth the money, and its weight in gold.

I recommend this seller, Emanoel Diniz Da Rocha
I recommend this sellerI recommend this sellerI recommend this sellerI recommend this sellerI recommend this sellerI recommend this sellerI recommend this sellerI recommend this sellerI recommend this sellerI recommend this sellerI recommend this sellerI recommend this sellerI recommend this sellerI recommend this seller
So good

Great, Emily Sharp
Camera was in great condition. I have had it for a long time now and have not had any problems with it what so ever. Great purchase!

Fantastic for a beginner like me, J. W. Sellers "Hubert"
This was my first camera purchase, which I made around two years ago. I was definitely not let down. It has a plethora of features that are not too difficult to figure out how to use. I have learned a lot about photography in general as a result of owning this camera and I plan to keep it forever. It takes fantastic pictures that are more than good enough for most consumers.

Awesome camera, madga12
This camera is efficient, the pictures come out looking great and it was the perfect camera for a novice like me. It was simple to use and the quality of photos were stunning.

Great camera, mtate2870
I use this at work as my crime scene camera. It is sturdy and takes excellent photos. It was also used to photograph my wedding ceremony and we used it on our honeymoon as well.

Good for beginners, Brittany
I actually bought this camera used from an independent seller here on Amazon. This is the first DSLR camera I've ever used, and all I can say is that I love it!
It's great for beginners, it has a lot of setting that help you ease yourself into full manual mode. Shooting in aperture mode really helped me figure out what settings work well in different situations, and helped me get to manual mode. The flip out screen is nice, helpful in some situations. The only disadvantage is that it flips from a hinge at the bottom of the camera, not the side. So you can't use the flip out screen while the camera is on a tripod.
The kit lens that comes with it is actually really nice considering it is, after all, just a stock lens. Everything is nice and sharp, the auto focus works really well.
Overall, I think this is a great buy for someone's first DSLR. Everything is very user friendly, and easy to figure out. The manual is very helpful, and good at explaining a lot of things.

DO NOT BUY... FOCUS ISSUES!!, dymondsongs
DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA OR ANY OTHER FROM NIKON. I have the nikon D5000 (ONLY 1.5 YEARS OLD) and it has major problems (as other NIKON'S do just google problems with D5000 and focus issues) THIS CAMERA HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED FOR A NEW MODEL and nikon does not stand behind there products. I paid around $1500 with all the add ons and speed lights and lenses, my camera has serious trouble with the focusing. (its was out of the one year warranty so they are trying to charge me a lot of money that is really there fault for selling many people bad focus chips or mechanisms in brand new cameras) It has been at NIKON for 3-4 months and they won't even return my calls or fix the camera until i pay $170 fee to check the camera in there system. I have spoke to 3 different managers and they all tell me different things and they will get back to me with the problem, BUT NEVER DO, 3-4 months later no call back just a bill to check the camera in. GET A CANON AND SAVE YOUR MONEY AND THE HASSLE OF THIS PIECE OF CRAP COMPANY... don't know if there is a class action against them but i would definitely join-in if possible. Good luck with them they are a sorry excuse for a greedy company from overseas....

Love it, Resef
I have had zero problems with this camera, as I have heard that others have. Works exactly as a DSLR should, I have used this for portraits, landscapes, HDR, Infrared, no issue.

My first DSLR - will NEVER go back to point and shoot!, P. Colose
I've had this camera several years now, and love it! It has so much versatility and can be as technically sophisticated or as simple as I want for taking photos.
I have gone from a lukewarm photographer with the point-and-shoot cameras I've owned to a very engaged shutterbug thanks to this unit. It just begs me to shoot more and more.
I am hardly an accomplished photographer, but I have taken some fantastic pictures with this camera.

Stellar perfomance for over the 3 years that I've owned this camera., Gregory C W Archer "G. Archer"
I originally paid $711 for this Nikon. It is no FX but no where near the price tag either. I own a D700 as well with the FX processor.
One thing I would encourage anyone buying this camera to do - if you ever have the intention of upgrading that is - is to buy lenses that will work for a Nikon with the FX processor. I'm not going into detail because if you don't know what I'm talking about, then you should be educating yourself online.
The FX processor is a true 35mm processor where the DX processor auto-crops all your pictures. I have taken some absolutely breathtaking pictures with this camera. Get a high-speed SD card to cut down on processing speeds.
The Nikkor 50mm 1.8D is an amazing lens to put on this camera and extremely cost effective.
That's all the best advice I could think up to tell someone purchasing this camera. Happy shooting!

Stellar perfomance for over the 3 years that I've owned this camera., Gregory C W Archer
I originally paid $711 for this Nikon. It is no FX but no where near the price tag either. I own a D700 as well with the FX processor.
One thing I would encourage anyone buying this camera to do - if you ever have the intention of upgrading that is - is to buy lenses that will work for a Nikon with the FX processor. I'm not going into detail because if you don't know what I'm talking about, then you should be educating yourself online.
The FX processor is a true 35mm processor where the DX processor auto-crops all your pictures. I have taken some absolutely breathtaking pictures with this camera. Get a high-speed SD card to cut down on processing speeds.
The Nikkor 50mm 1.8D is an amazing lens to put on this camera and extremely cost effective.
That's all the best advice I could think up to tell someone purchasing this camera. Happy shooting!

Price Point Camera, Stephen Pellerine
I have been testing several D5000 Nikons in a class I instruct in Photography. It is a great camera for the price. The D3000 is also a great option as well and what I am learning is that the actual image, on the display, is not near the quality of the actual image. When working on images in photoshop they (we find) hold even better quality than appear on the displays - so they are essentially capturing great quality images.
For the beginner, casual shooter, or tourist I would really be able to say this is a great go. We, in class, have been using the D5000 for many situations and find it quite acceptable for learning more technical aspects (shutter control, aperature control) and students are able to clearly see these values. Great for learning.
If you have troulbe with any video features on these cameras perhaps it is the memory card not being fast enough to store the video quick enough (inexpensive Sandisk especially have this issue from our experience). So, while you buy this and if you want to use the video a lot - ask for a faster card and this "should" prevent any issue. If you are simply shooting images there should be no issue.
What ever your decision - happy shooting

D5000: Solid mid-level Nikon DSLR, John Williamson
Sometimes one can get carried away with sorting specs, reading pro and con reviews, making lists of what's important and not so critical. This reviewer became guilty of that while trying to make up my mind which way to go in upgrading to a new DSLR. Yet what bumped me over the edge toward purchasing the Nikon D5000 was an analysis that I read online by independent reviewer and photographer Ken Rockwell, and in 2010 he said on his site: "The Nikon D5000 is Nikon's best DSLR today, if size, weight and price matter. The D5000 offers the technical image quality of Nikon's best DX cameras like the D300s and D90, with the smallest size, weight and price." In the weeks prior, I had been debating whether to go for the Nikon D3000 or wait for the then-rumored D7000, but that cinched it fairly well when I read his words.
Some of us have features we would like based on needs, and one of mine was a Vari-Angle LCD monitor, which I had experienced with the Nikon Coolpix P90. Since the D5000 was the only Nikon DSLR at the time with that feature, that helped to narrow it down quickly. We each have our priorities.
I purchased my D5000 locally, a right deal at the right time that sometimes happens. Picked it up with the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens "kit" lens, as the almost-negligible difference in price made this lens worthwhile. Never thought that it would be that good, plastic mount and all, but it turned out to be a real gem. Thought that it might be just mine, but checking with other users, they have had great results with it as well. It focuses closer (0.9 feet) than some of the more expensive Nikon zoom lenses (like the 16-85mm VR and 18-200mm VR lenses), it's smaller and lighter in weight, and the optical qualities are quite good.
Before getting into this too far, for me the purpose of this camera was to have another vehicle, if you will, for the Nikkor lenses, which have proven themselves over the years. In that light, the camera body choice means far less than the lenses. As of the time of this writing, I've owned the D5000 for over 18 months now. Colleagues and fellow photo enthusiasts have been complimentary at the quality of the images that I've been able to produce with this camera and its lenses. Sparing you the technical talk, I spent many years in the photo equipment industry, have owned a number of Nikons and other brands going back to the 1970s. I consider myself a 'professional amateur' or 'prosumer' if you will, and photography is an avocation rather than a profession.
I'm writing this from the perspective of someone who has needed excellent quality results, but not wanting to budget for true pro gear, and this may be like you if you're reading this review. Rather than listing the pros and cons, I'll list some of the highlights that I've found during my experiences shooting and note taking.
Handling/Ergonomics
The ergonomics of the D5000 are truly noteworthy. All of the main controls are located around the huge rear display plus on the right top, but the D5000 has no direct ISO-button. That's not as bad as one might think, as the [Fn]-button (look for it) can be customized to act as an ISO-button. The same applies to the missing white-balance as well as metering-mode and AF-mode button. This is one of the main differences between the Nikon D5000 and the control concept of the Nikon D90, where you'll find buttons for all regularly used functions. But the exposure-relevant controls like shutter speed and aperture can be adjusted by the very convenient rear thumb dial. Once you take the times to learn the layout of the various buttons and controls, you might find, as I did, that it's just the right balance. I have very average size hands, and everything seems to fall at hand quite handily, far more than the D200, which I used to think was very good. And if the ergonomics are good, then you have more time to pay attention to the composition and less to fiddling with the camera.
Body Quality
The relatively high build quality of the Nikon D5000 is based on a high quality plastic shell on an internal metal structure. The grip is rubberized with a thumb rest on the back just below the top-mounted command dial. In comparison to its bigger sister, the Nikon D90, there are a lower number of direct access buttons, but this is somewhat compensated by Nikon's first Vari-Angle LCD monitor.
Sensor Dust Removal
DSLR sensors are quite prone to collecting dust due to the removable lens, so an important feature is some sort of anti-sensor-dust system. Nikon's dust reduction solution is based on high frequency vibrations induced to the sensor's low pass filter; this user found that it works reliably.
Battery
The included EN-EL9a Li-ion battery should last about 500 images on a single charge. Your results may vary. Use of LiveView may reduce this to 350 or 400 images. And the battery is backward-compatible with the Nikon D40, D40x, D60 and D60x. I have purchased three additional batteries here on Amazon; you never know when you might need them.
Viewfinder
This is larger and brighter when compared to other DSLRs in this price range. The specs say that it has coverage of about 95%, and the diopter correction is from 1.7 to +0.7. It has an advanced focusing screen display similar to the flagship Nikon DSLRs, and it's it's possible to superimpose grid lines, which can be quite helpful for accurate scene compositions. The amount of exposure-relevant information in the viewfinder is adequate but rather scarce: it shows not much more than the key exposure data, yet no info about your chosen metering or white balance mode for example.
Vari-angle LCD
Cannot say enough about how handy it is to have the 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD, which proved to be invaluable from the first week that I had it. This feature was good with low-angle shots and holding the camera overhead in crowds, as I had already found with the Coolpix P90, yet didn't have on the more costly D200. And it's nice to be able to flip the LCD closed to protect the screen when it's not in use. Must note that the newer Nikon D5100's 3.0" Vari-angle LCD monitor is even better than that on the D5000. There is a difference in favor of the D5100, subtle as it may seem.
Live View
The D5000 offers an optional real-time scene display via the camera's Vari-Angle LCD monitor display instead of the optical viewfinder. This live-view feature is one of the more intuitive ones but unfortunately it's not one of the fastest. After pressing the live-view button the display shows the scene with almost 100% coverage. You can also superimpose a grid for composition purposes, and you can zoom in or out of your scene by pressing the zoom-in/zoom-out button up to a magnification of over 6x... great for macro photographers.
Focusing in LiveView mode is only possible via the so-called "Contrast-detect AF" which is not ideal as the LiveView on the D5000 can be very slow. It offers face detection and subject tracking, but the reduced contrast AF performance can be irritating. It's extremely slow, almost intolerable, when you're using it for action photography. For example, I was trying to shoot rapid sequence images of some black squirrels one day, and couldn't get a single decent shot of them while using Live View on the LCD screen. It's best to stick with the regular viewfinder in such cases.
Live View mode seems to sometimes cause shutter lag, and it has taken over two seconds to focus often while the contrast-detect autofocus tries to get it together. Fiddling with it, I found that it's made worse by camera movement. Using a VR lens does have some positive effect, but not much. Live view on the D5000 is best used on a tripod, where you can move the AF point around and let the camera do its work in a slow and steady fashion. Beginning users should be aware that the D5000 focuses much slower in Live View than the compact digital camera that they're used to. Just adjust your expectations accordingly.
Pop-up Flash
The built-in pop-up flash is TTL-controlled, and supports red-eye reduction as well as slow- and rear-curtain sync with a maximum sync speed of 1/200s. It's not overly speedy, but fast enough for this class of DSLR. The output can be adjusted in 1/2 or 1/3 steps from -3 to +1 EV, and it pops up automatically when taking pictures in automatic mode. There's a hot shoe for those who need more flash power.
Speed
Operational speed is impressive. The D5000 powers up quickly without delays and it can shoot continuously up to 4 pictures per second. But in RAW or RAW/JPG mode the frame rate slows down after 11 frames in succession due to the limited memory buffer. The number of JPG frames is almost unlimited, though Nikon has limited the maximum number of continuous frames to 100. When using the "Auto distortion control" the number of continuous frames decreases dramatically, even in JPG mode. Your results may vary, but test it first.
AF Performance
The phase-detection AF speed and accuracy of the D5000 can be quite impressive, even in dark conditions, and the AF performance shows up in continuous AF mode as well. If you're losing your target, the AF won't start to `hunt' all over the place. But this user has found considerable AF lag while shooting indoors in low light situations, especially in Wide-area AF mode. There are times that the AF took a second or more to make a decision. It's good that the D5000 has an AF-assist lamp, but it really doesn't seem to speed things up much.
Metering
The metering systems offers special features ahead of those we're accustomed to from other consumer and prosumer DSLRs. Besides the conventional center-weighted and spot metering, you'll find the "Active D-Lighting" feature. This is a useful function for high contrast scenes, and it preserves details in highlights as well as in shadows. Active D-Lighting can be selected from Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low or Off within the on-screen menu, and delivers reliable images in combination with the evaluative system, even for those tricky scenes we encounter.
White Balance
The AWB (Auto-White-Balancing) system of the D5000 does a great job, but just like most digital cameras, it can struggles in artificial light conditions. It's prudent to go for a manual WB approach here, unless you use a flash unit.
Lenses:
The lack of an internal focusing motor in the D5000 does limit some lenses that you can use, even those from Nikon. Just because a lens is marked "AF" does not mean that if will autofocus on the D5000 and some other models, so check the specs carefully before buying. Cannot speak for any of the excellent third-party lenses (Tokina, Tamron, etc.) on the market today, but if the Nikon lens is marked "AF-S Nikkor" then it will autofocus properly on the D5000.
Video Functionality
Not a priority for this user, but the D5000 comes with movie functionality, and shows a user-friendly implementation of this feature. The motion JPGs (AVI-Format) can be recorded in three different sizes from 320x216px and 640x424px up to 1280x720px (=HD 720p), with a common frame rate of 24 frames per second. Taking videos with a DSLR may feel a bit strange but the results are well-above average and not comparable to the small, low quality movies from digital compact cameras. But like most other DSLRs (other than the D7000 and some Canon models), the D5000 is no real substitute for a digital video camera. From this user's observations, there are problems with fast moving objects and poor sound quality. And there's no AF available during recording, though manual focusing is still possible. Video capabilities are not a reason to buy this camera. If video is a priority or a serious choice for you, then look to the D7000.
The Bottom Line...
If you're familiar with Nikon DSLRs, at the first glance the D5000 seems to be a Nikon D90 with less buttons and a Vari-Angle LCD monitor. That may seem to be oversimplification, but to this user, that's as close a comparison that I can make. This camera has the same CMOS sensor and feature packages that $1,200 - $3,000 Nikon cameras have. You'll have to tweak and personalize your menu choices a little more on this prosumer, but the features are there. Once you familiarize yourself with the Nikon way of navigating and using the controls, this camera really is easy to use.
Navigation through the menus to get to frequently-used settings used in the field (ISO settings, white balance, exposure compensation, and such) can be accessed fairly quickly and without too much poking around.
Have used a number of DSLRs and bridge cameras over the past decade, and in terms of sheer functionality, must admit that I prefer the D5000 to the trusty and older Nikon D200, magnesium chassis and all. At 19.8 ounces, the D5000 is lighter by almost 10 oz, whereas the D200 weighs in at 29.3 oz. This may not seem like much, but after carrying the camera around your neck for the better part of a day, even with a good aftermarket strap such as the Tamrac N45 Black Leather Padded QuickRelease Camera Strap , that weight difference does count. Also, the D5000 uses readily-available SD/SDHC memory cards, has more exposure and shooting modes.
Any negative points that I have with the Nikon D5000 have to do with the shutter lag and Live View performance that have been listed earlier. It's enough that this otherwise great camera is worthy of a 4-star recommendation rather than the five stars that I would have liked to award an otherwise great product. Even knowing that, I can conditionally recommend the Nikon D5000, but might suggest that buyers also consider the newer D5100, or the D7000. These are excellent choices for beginners who want to step up to something better, enthusiasts looking to expand their photographic horizons, and pros already using D-series Nikons who need a backup body.
I've found the D5000 to have great features, other than those noted, and is easy to use if one takes the time to learn its features and how to adapt them to your individual needs. I've had a number of digital cameras, and this one has spoiled me because of its perfect size, array of features, and ease of use. Remember that the camera doesn't take great photos. It's the photographer that does that, but to have the right tools, meaning the camera body and the right selection of lenses helps the creative process. In that the D5000 does the job.
1/15/2012

D5000: Solid mid-level Nikon DSLR, John Williamson "JargonTalk"
Sometimes one can get carried away with sorting specs, reading pro and con reviews, making lists of what's important and not so critical. This reviewer became guilty of that while trying to make up my mind which way to go in upgrading to a new DSLR. Yet what bumped me over the edge toward purchasing the Nikon D5000 was an analysis that I read online by independent reviewer and photographer Ken Rockwell, and in 2010 he said on his site: "The Nikon D5000 is Nikon's best DSLR today, if size, weight and price matter. The D5000 offers the technical image quality of Nikon's best DX cameras like the D300s and D90, with the smallest size, weight and price." In the weeks prior, I had been debating whether to go for the Nikon D3000 or wait for the then-rumored D7000, but that cinched it fairly well when I read his words.
Some of us have features we would like based on needs, and one of mine was a Vari-Angle LCD monitor, which I had experienced with the Nikon Coolpix P90. Since the D5000 was the only Nikon DSLR at the time with that feature, that helped to narrow it down quickly. We each have our priorities.
I purchased my D5000 locally, a right deal at the right time that sometimes happens. Picked it up with the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens "kit" lens, as the almost-negligible difference in price made this lens worthwhile. Never thought that it would be that good, plastic mount and all, but it turned out to be a real gem. Thought that it might be just mine, but checking with other users, they have had great results with it as well. It focuses closer (0.9 feet) than some of the more expensive Nikon zoom lenses (like the 16-85mm VR and 18-200mm VR lenses), it's smaller and lighter in weight, and the optical qualities are quite good.
Before getting into this too far, for me the purpose of this camera was to have another vehicle, if you will, for the Nikkor lenses, which have proven themselves over the years. In that light, the camera body choice means far less than the lenses. As of the time of this writing, I've owned the D5000 for over 18 months now. Colleagues and fellow photo enthusiasts have been complimentary at the quality of the images that I've been able to produce with this camera and its lenses. Sparing you the technical talk, I spent many years in the photo equipment industry, have owned a number of Nikons and other brands going back to the 1970s. I consider myself a 'professional amateur' or 'prosumer' if you will, and photography is an avocation rather than a profession.
I'm writing this from the perspective of someone who has needed excellent quality results, but not wanting to budget for true pro gear, and this may be like you if you're reading this review. Rather than listing the pros and cons, I'll list some of the highlights that I've found during my experiences shooting and note taking.
Handling/Ergonomics
The ergonomics of the D5000 are truly noteworthy. All of the main controls are located around the huge rear display plus on the right top, but the D5000 has no direct ISO-button. That's not as bad as one might think, as the [Fn]-button (look for it) can be customized to act as an ISO-button. The same applies to the missing white-balance as well as metering-mode and AF-mode button. This is one of the main differences between the Nikon D5000 and the control concept of the Nikon D90, where you'll find buttons for all regularly used functions. But the exposure-relevant controls like shutter speed and aperture can be adjusted by the very convenient rear thumb dial. Once you take the times to learn the layout of the various buttons and controls, you might find, as I did, that it's just the right balance. I have very average size hands, and everything seems to fall at hand quite handily, far more than the D200, which I used to think was very good. And if the ergonomics are good, then you have more time to pay attention to the composition and less to fiddling with the camera.
Body Quality
The relatively high build quality of the Nikon D5000 is based on a high quality plastic shell on an internal metal structure. The grip is rubberized with a thumb rest on the back just below the top-mounted command dial. In comparison to its bigger sister, the Nikon D90, there are a lower number of direct access buttons, but this is somewhat compensated by Nikon's first Vari-Angle LCD monitor.
Sensor Dust Removal
DSLR sensors are quite prone to collecting dust due to the removable lens, so an important feature is some sort of anti-sensor-dust system. Nikon's dust reduction solution is based on high frequency vibrations induced to the sensor's low pass filter; this user found that it works reliably.
Battery

The included EN-EL9a Li-ion battery should last about 500 images on a single charge. Your results may vary. Use of LiveView may reduce this to 350 or 400 images. And the battery is backward-compatible with the Nikon D40, D40x, D60 and D60x. I have purchased three additional batteries here on Amazon; you never know when you might need them.
Viewfinder
This is larger and brighter when compared to other DSLRs in this price range. The specs say that it has coverage of about 95%, and the diopter correction is from 1.7 to +0.7. It has an advanced focusing screen display similar to the flagship Nikon DSLRs, and it's it's possible to superimpose grid lines, which can be quite helpful for accurate scene compositions. The amount of exposure-relevant information in the viewfinder is adequate but rather scarce: it shows not much more than the key exposure data, yet no info about your chosen metering or white balance mode for example.
Vari-angle LCD
Cannot say enough about how handy it is to have the 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD, which proved to be invaluable from the first week that I had it. This feature was good with low-angle shots and holding the camera overhead in crowds, as I had already found with the Coolpix P90, yet didn't have on the more costly D200. And it's nice to be able to flip the LCD closed to protect the screen when it's not in use. Must note that the newer Nikon D5100's 3.0" Vari-angle LCD monitor is even better than that on the D5000. There is a difference in favor of the D5100, subtle as it may seem.
Live View

The D5000 offers an optional real-time scene display via the camera's Vari-Angle LCD monitor display instead of the optical viewfinder. This live-view feature is one of the more intuitive ones but unfortunately it's not one of the fastest. After pressing the live-view button the display shows the scene with almost 100% coverage. You can also superimpose a grid for composition purposes, and you can zoom in or out of your scene by pressing the zoom-in/zoom-out button up to a magnification of over 6x... great for macro photographers.

Focusing in LiveView mode is only possible via the so-called "Contrast-detect AF" which is not ideal as the LiveView on the D5000 can be very slow. It offers face detection and subject tracking, but the reduced contrast AF performance can be irritating. It's extremely slow, almost intolerable, when you're using it for action photography. For example, I was trying to shoot rapid sequence images of some black squirrels one day, and couldn't get a single decent shot of them while using Live View on the LCD screen. It's best to stick with the regular viewfinder in such cases.

Live View mode seems to sometimes cause shutter lag, and it has taken over two seconds to focus often while the contrast-detect autofocus tries to get it together. Fiddling with it, I found that it's made worse by camera movement. Using a VR lens does have some positive effect, but not much. Live view on the D5000 is best used on a tripod, where you can move the AF point around and let the camera do its work in a slow and steady fashion. Beginning users should be aware that the D5000 focuses much slower in Live View than the compact digital camera that they're used to. Just adjust your expectations accordingly.
Pop-up Flash
The built-in pop-up flash is TTL-controlled, and supports red-eye reduction as well as slow- and rear-curtain sync with a maximum sync speed of 1/200s. It's not overly speedy, but fast enough for this class of DSLR. The output can be adjusted in 1/2 or 1/3 steps from -3 to +1 EV, and it pops up automatically when taking pictures in automatic mode. There's a hot shoe for those who need more flash power.
Speed
Operational speed is impressive. The D5000 powers up quickly without delays and it can shoot continuously up to 4 pictures per second. But in RAW or RAW/JPG mode the frame rate slows down after 11 frames in succession due to the limited memory buffer. The number of JPG frames is almost unlimited, though Nikon has limited the maximum number of continuous frames to 100. When using the "Auto distortion control" the number of continuous frames decreases dramatically, even in JPG mode. Your results may vary, but test it first.
AF Performance
The phase-detection AF speed and accuracy of the D5000 can be quite impressive, even in dark conditions, and the AF performance shows up in continuous AF mode as well. If you're losing your target, the AF won't start to `hunt' all over the place. But this user has found considerable AF lag while shooting indoors in low light situations, especially in Wide-area AF mode. There are times that the AF took a second or more to make a decision. It's good that the D5000 has an AF-assist lamp, but it really doesn't seem to speed things up much.
Metering
The metering systems offers special features ahead of those we're accustomed to from other consumer and prosumer DSLRs. Besides the conventional center-weighted and spot metering, you'll find the "Active D-Lighting" feature. This is a useful function for high contrast scenes, and it preserves details in highlights as well as in shadows. Active D-Lighting can be selected from Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low or Off within the on-screen menu, and delivers reliable images in combination with the evaluative system, even for those tricky scenes we encounter.
White Balance
The AWB (Auto-White-Balancing) system of the D5000 does a great job, but just like most digital cameras, it can struggles in artificial light conditions. It's prudent to go for a manual WB approach here, unless you use a flash unit.
Lenses:
The lack of an internal focusing motor in the D5000 does limit some lenses that you can use, even those from Nikon. Just because a lens is marked "AF" does not mean that if will autofocus on the D5000 and some other models, so check the specs carefully before buying. Cannot speak for any of the excellent third-party lenses (Tokina, Tamron, etc.) on the market today, but if the Nikon lens is marked "AF-S Nikkor" then it will autofocus properly on the D5000.
Video Functionality
Not a priority for this user, but the D5000 comes with movie functionality, and shows a user-friendly implementation of this feature. The motion JPGs (AVI-Format) can be recorded in three different sizes from 320x216px and 640x424px up to 1280x720px (=HD 720p), with a common frame rate of 24 frames per second. Taking videos with a DSLR may feel a bit strange but the results are well-above average and not comparable to the small, low quality movies from digital compact cameras. But like most other DSLRs (other than the D7000 and some Canon models), the D5000 is no real substitute for a digital video camera. From this user's observations, there are problems with fast moving objects and poor sound quality. And there's no AF available during recording, though manual focusing is still possible. Video capabilities are not a reason to buy this camera. If video is a priority or a serious choice for you, then look to the D7000.
The Bottom Line...
If you're familiar with Nikon DSLRs, at the first glance the D5000 seems to be a Nikon D90 with less buttons and a Vari-Angle LCD monitor. That may seem to be oversimplification, but to this user, that's as close a comparison that I can make. This camera has the same CMOS sensor and feature packages that $1,200 - $3,000 Nikon cameras have. You'll have to tweak and personalize your menu choices a little more on this prosumer, but the features are there. Once you familiarize yourself with the Nikon way of navigating and using the controls, this camera really is easy to use.
Navigation through the menus to get to frequently-used settings used in the field (ISO settings, white balance, exposure compensation, and such) can be accessed fairly quickly and without too much poking around.
Have used a number of DSLRs and bridge cameras over the past decade, and in terms of sheer functionality, must admit that I prefer the D5000 to the trusty and older Nikon D200, magnesium chassis and all. At 19.8 ounces, the D5000 is lighter by almost 10 oz, whereas the D200 weighs in at 29.3 oz. This may not seem like much, but after carrying the camera around your neck for the better part of a day, even with a good aftermarket strap such as the Tamrac N45 Black Leather Padded QuickRelease Camera Strap , that weight difference does count. Also, the D5000 uses readily-available SD/SDHC memory cards, has more exposure and shooting modes.
Any negative points that I have with the Nikon D5000 have to do with the shutter lag and Live View performance that have been listed earlier. It's enough that this otherwise great camera is worthy of a 4-star recommendation rather than the five stars that I would have liked to award an otherwise great product. Even knowing that, I can conditionally recommend the Nikon D5000, but might suggest that buyers also consider the newer D5100, or the D7000. These are excellent choices for beginners who want to step up to something better, enthusiasts looking to expand their photographic horizons, and pros already using D-series Nikons who need a backup body.
I've found the D5000 to have great features, other than those noted, and is easy to use if one takes the time to learn its features and how to adapt them to your individual needs. I've had a number of digital cameras, and this one has spoiled me because of its perfect size, array of features, and ease of use. Remember that the camera doesn't take great photos. It's the photographer that does that, but to have the right tools, meaning the camera body and the right selection of lenses helps the creative process. In that the D5000 does the job.
1/15/2012