Photography Reviews

Digital Photography Equipment Review—The Nikon D5000 DSLR Camera, Part 2

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Just because digital photography can be technically complex is no reason for the major camera manufacturers to make it equally complicated to understand and select the right DSLR camera. Nonetheless, they do; and the Nikon D5000 DSLR is another example of bringing a camera to market that is neither a direct replacement of an earlier model nor quite as capable as a higher-level model; it’s both somewhere between and in a niche of its own. The D5000 segments the entry-level DSLR market even more, as Nikon considers it a “high-end,” but still a beginner’s DSLR, camera.

Read real customer reviews of the Nikon D5000 here.


Part 1 of this PhotographyTalk.com article provides considerable details about how Nikon has created a place for the D5000 between its D60 and D90, so it can compete against the Canon EOS 500D and Olympus E-620. Part 2 reveals a number of other features of the D5000 that should make it appealing to a number of groups of camera buyers.

The camera’s general performance is well above average and a definite improvement of the Nikon D60’s processor power and buffering. The D5000’s speed is particularly noticeable in its continuous shooting mode and raw mode, which puts it at the top of the list for this segment of the camera market.

The D5000’s competitive performance is also evident in its auto-focus speed and accuracy. This is a case where the D5000 is more like the D90, with that camera’s advanced AF system. The focus locks quite fast, and proves to be precise, picture after picture. Although low lighting conditions retard focus performance somewhat, which is not unexpected, your photos will be clear and distinct. AF points are easily selected and work well, but don’t expect the 3D tracking mode to follow quickly moving subjects. Nikon admits this flaw, but states 3D tracking is still an advantage for focus and recomposing images.

The D5000’s contrast-detect AF is equally flawed, unfortunately, being so slow, as to be a waste of space in the camera. Whenever you’re in live view, or shooting video, the focus is not capable of locking onto high-speed action, but neither do any of its competitors’ cameras. If this is important function for you, then be prepared to spend much more for a DSLR with better video capture.

That being said, the video capabilities of the Nikon D5000 are still quite impressive. It was one of the first DSLRs, with a sensor of its size, to record video. Again, the D5000’s video specs are the same, or similar, as the D90.

  • Sizes: 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps) and 320 x 216 (24 fps).
  • Audio: 16-bit mono, 11 kHz (internal mic only).
  • Format: AVI (Motion JPEG).
  • File size: ~2.3 MB/sec (HD).
  • Running time: 5 minutes in HD, 20 minutes in all other modes.

Even though the D5000’s video output is considerably better than compact cameras, video is, at best, a secondary feature of this camera. It’s probably more of a marketing move because digital photographers upgrading from a compact to the D5000 have come to expect video on any camera they might use. With many entry-level DSLRs, including this one, there are a number of common limitations to video recording.

The sensor accepts the video image as a series of horizontal lines instead of a simultaneous scan of the entire image. When a subject or object moves quickly and the camera movement is just as quick to follow it, some verticals within the image will become distorted into diagonals.
You must set aperture (and the resulting depth of field) prior to selecting live view mode. This means automatic exposure doesn’t change smoothly, but from one distinct position to another.
Auto-focus must also be set before pressing the record button. Once you’re recording, you must focus manually.

On the upside, video from the D5000 reveals plenty of detail and playback is good. The camera’s large sensor is definitely an asset when shooting in low light. Many consumers will like the movie mode on the D5000, but it is not a reason to buy this camera.

As with any of the “upgrade” DSLRs in this category, the Nikon D5000 features and capabilities are all most entry-level DSLR users, and even those advancing from an older, first-time DSLR, will ever need. Sure, it has limitations, but the D5000 is less than $600 with its kit lens, an AF-S DX 18–55mm, so it’s still an excellent value. Purchasing this camera is a matter of how it feels in your hands (and it should feel very good, despite its somewhat strange body design), what kind of digital photography you shoot and the results you expect. With so many of the features of the D90 packed inside the body, you know the innards have proven their quality and capabilities and that alone makes the Nikon D5000 an excellent choice.