Canon PowerShot G12 Camera: Nikon D5000 Review

Here’s a review of the new Nikon D5000 from Richard Butler of DPreview. I personally prefer the D90 or D300 over this one, but you cannot argue with value, and this cameras has it, without compromises.

The Nikon D5000 aims to be a lot of things to a lot of people - stepping in above the D60 as an offering designed to attract upgraders from older entry-level DSLRs, as well as lending a welcoming hand-up to DSLR ownership for compact camera users looking to get more involved in their hobby. The features and technologies passed down from the D90 make it a very capable camera but the difference in feature set - low-res LCD, smaller viewfinder, single control dial, fewer direct-access buttons, smaller battery and more limited lens compatibility - should mean it doesn't tread on its big-brother's toes too much.

"Overall performance is quite good and the camera always feels snappy and responsive. Processor power and buffering have, compared to the Nikon D60 which itself wasn't a slouch, been further improved making the D5000, especially in the continuous shooting department, one of the fastest cameras in the 'entry level' segment. Even in raw mode the Nikon D5000 rarely gets in the way of the action."

Nikon D5000 Features:

12.9 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor (effective pixels: 12.3 million)
2.7" tilt and swivel LCD monitor (230,000 dots)
Movie capture at up to 1280 x 720 (720p) 24 fps with mono sound
Live View with contrast-detect AF, face detection and subject tracking
Image sensor cleaning (sensor shake)
11 AF points (with 3D tracking)
IS0 200-3200 range (100-6400 expanded)
4 frames per second continuous shooting (buffer: 7 RAW, 25 JPEG fine, 100 JPEG Normal)
Expeed image processing engine
Extensive in-camera retouching including raw development and straightening
Connector for optional GPS unit (fits on hot shoe)
New battery with increased capacity
72 thumbnail and calendar view in playback

UserManualDownload.com has the user manual you can download.

Accessories: