Nikon D5000 Digital Camera Review

Nikon introduced the first SLR with video recording capability, the D90, in 2008, and has now followed up with a sub-$1000 sibling, the Nikon D5000. The two cameras share the ability to shoot movies at 1280 x 720 resolution (known in the high-def TV world as 720p format), and the same 12.3-megapixel resolution, but the D90 is priced at $999 for the camera body alone, while the D5000 sells for $850 including an 18-55mm lens. There are many differences beyond price to consider, though, as our lab testing and hands-on shooting revealed.

One interesting feature of the D5000 is a 2.7-inch LCD that’s mounted on a hinge, flipping down from the camera body, then rotating up to 270 degrees. It’s useful when you want to hold the camera at an unusual angle – over your head to see past a crowd, for example, or down low for eye-to-eye photos of your pet – though we’re not sure why Nikon chose to put the hinge at the bottom instead of at the side, where it’s usually found on cameras with articulated screens. The side-mounted version (as seen on the Olympus E-620, among others) provides an advantage in holding the camera steady (particularly useful when shooting video) and lets you mount the camera on a tripod and face the screen toward yourself for self-portraits.

The D5000 feels good in your hands, compact enough to be comfortable but large and solid enough for a firm grip. The LCD shooting information display is bright and easy to read, and with a press of a button becomes an interactive menu for quickly adjusting all the key photographic settings. Unlike many pop-up flashes, we found this one produced a nice even illumination pattern, without a bright hot spot in the middle. And the inclusion of an HDMI output jack makes it easy to connect to an HDTV, both for watching video and showing off your photos in all their high-res glory.

The Live View mode, which lets you line up a shot using the LCD instead of squinting through the optical viewfinder (and the only way to shoot video) has improved over the D90, which tended to stutter when you moved the camera quickly. Unfortunately, focusing in Live View mode is still very slow. It’s OK if your subjects are standing still, but impractical for grabbing shots of kids running in the yard or sports photography.

As with all of Nikon’s consumer-oriented SLRS, you get a wealth of in-camera editing options, which are both fun and practical. In the D5000 there are also nineteen preset scene modes to tailor the camera settings for shooting under particular conditions, including candelight, high-contrast beach or snow scenes and sunsets. Of course, there’s also a full auto mode for those who want to let the camera handle the technicalities, plus manual controls for those who know their way around an aperture setting. All in all, it’s a nicely outfitted camera for a range of users.

Performance (read in-depth performance coverage at DigitalCameraInfo.com)
Our lab testing revealed substantial strengths along with one important weakness. On the plus side, the D500 kept image noise (the annoying speckles you’ll find in solid-colored areas of photos) to a minimum, both in bright and low light, in stills and in video. It also handled high-contrast scenes particularly well. The major sticking point for still photos is image sharpness, which was noticeably sub-par when photos are viewed in large sizes. As for video, colors looked about right in bright light but not in more subdued illumination (as you’d find indoors), and capturing smooth motion is a problem, thanks to a 24 frame-per-second speed that’s lower than the more common 30 frame-per-second video standard. Video clips are also limited to five minutes, so the D5000 won’t replace a standard camcorder if you’re planning to shoot the school play or a wedding ceremony non-stop.

Comparisons (read in-depth comparisons at DigitalCameraInfo.com)
We stacked the D5000 up against four other SLRs, including the Nikon D90 and the other recently introduced sub-$1000 SLR, Canon’s T1i.

Despite their many similarities, we found the Nikon D90 superior in our lab-tested performance categories, particularly when it comes to image sharpness (though it should be noted, the inexpensive lens shipped with the D5000 is undoubtedly a factor here). The D90 is designed for a more demanding photographer, with two control dials for speedy manual control settings and a more rugged body. It also has a built-in autofocus motor, giving it wider lens compatibility.

In the head-to-head shootout between the video-enabled Canon T1i and the Nikon D5000, we found the Canon produced better-looking video, and while the T1i option to shoot at a higher resolution (1080p format) isn’t overwhelmingly appealing given the unimpressive 20 fps frame rate, the video is notably smoother, sharper and more colorful at 720p. For stills, though, we prefer the Nikon. Neither camera is especially sharp, but the Nikon has less of a problem here, and the D5000 proved superior when it comes to white balance, long exposure, image noise and dynamic range, plus a faster burst rate for continuous shooting.

Looking at lower-priced, non-video SLRs, the Canon Rebel XS, a 10.1-megapixel model that sells for $600 with lens, offers very good image quality, with better resolution scores and color accuracy than the Nikon D5000, at a significantly lower price. The XS isn’t built as ruggedly as the Nikon, though, with a flyweight plastic body that feels unimpressive, and lacks the Nikon’s cool hinged LCD.

Finally, we looked at the Pentax K2000, another low-cost alternative at $600 including the camera body, lens and an external flash. While not as solidly constructed as the Nikon, the Pentax feels more substantial than the XS, and offers image stabilization to counteract the blur caused by shaking hands right in the camera, while Nikon and Canon both require you to purchase individual image-stabilized lenses to get this feature. The Pentax also did well in our lab testing, beating the Nikon D500 in resolution and white balance accuracy, and posting impressive image noise results. The Nikon did prove superior in long exposure shooting, color accuracy and burst mode shooting, though. And while the lack of video recording in the Pentax is no surprise, it’s missing any Live View mode at all, meaning you’ll have to line up your photos with the optical viewfinder. Given the slow speed of Live View autofocus, we don’t use it much anyway, but for some buyers this missing feature will be a deal-breaker.

For a more in-depth review, visit the Nikon D5000 Review at our partner DigitalCameraInfo.com