Nikon D5000

Overall we like the Nikon D5000, but with several reservations. Most of our performance tests yielded very good results, particularly when it came to image noise (both in stills and video), and it does a nice job shooting in less-than-optimal lighting. It handles high-contrast scenes well too. We tend to be sticklers about image sharpness, though, and here the camera didn’t meet our high expectations.

It’s certainly a fun camera to shoot with. The size strikes a nice balance, compact enough to carry easily but substantial enough to feel good in your hands. What the articulated LCD screen lacks in size (at 2.7 inches) and resolution (an ordinary 230,000 dots), it makes up for in convenience when shooting in Live View. Unfortunately, Live View focus is so slow that it’s only appropriate in a limited number of shooting situations.

If you’re choosing between the two current video-equipped SLRs in the sub-$1000 price category, we’d go with the Nikon D5000 if still image quality is your primary interest, and the Canon T1i if video quality is a high priority. So far, we haven’t seen the camera at this price that does a superb job handling both.

Performance

The Nikon D5000 posted the best image noise performance in our test group, scored very high in our long exposure testing (which combines image noise and color accuracy measurements at shutter speeds from 1 to 30 seconds) and dynamic range. We also found that turning up the high-ISO image noise reduction settings didn’t cause a huge loss of fine detail. We did run into problems with our resolution testing, though. The kit lens handled distortion well, but image sharpness was sub-par (though, it should be noted, not as bad as the Canon T1i).

Video

As for video performance, color accuracy was pretty good, though the colors looked less intense than those in the Canon T1i movies. Video image noise was exceptionally low for both cameras, surpassing results found with consumer camcorders we’ve tested. Recording smooth motion was a problem, though, with noticeable rolling shutter problems (the odd wobble that appears when you pan the camera quickly), and surprisingly in light of its still image low light performance, came up short capturing colors accurately on video in subdued illumination.

Hardware

The D5000 is reasonably well built for a camera in its price range, with a solid feel overall, though the plastic body is a bit hollow and the grip would benefit from a rubberized surface. The articulated LCD screen is innovative in its bottom-hinged design and, while we feel the side hinge arrangement used elsewhere is slightly more practical, the freedom of movement was appreciated (it would have been even better if Live View focus worked at a reasonable pace). The pop-up flash has good range and coverage, and compatibility with Nikon family lenses is always a plus, though it would be even better if the D5000 had a built-in autofocus motor.

Controls

There is something here to appeal to SLR novices and experienced shooters alike, with a good auto mode and a plethora of scene modes compared to most SLRs, plus a nice range of precision settings tweaks and camera customization options. Nikon’s Picture Control system is flexible and easy to use, and the wide range of image editing options will be fun to use while reviewing your travel photos on that long flight home.

Sample Photos

In the following sample images, clicking on the larger image will download the full resolution original. Each photo is accompanied by four actual-size crops.

Landscape Example
				Focal length: 18mm Aperture: f/9 Shutter: 1/250 ISO: 200 Taken in Brightwaters, NY on a sunny spring day, shot in program mode with automatic white balance using the neutral Picture Control setting.
				This image looks sharp enough at small sizes, but the full-size crops at left reveal an overall softness, especially in the corners, where chromatic aberration is also visible.

Waterfront Example
				Focal length: 55mm Aperture: f/10 Shutter: 1/400 ISO: 200 Taken in program mode with the standard Picture Control setting, automatic white balance and center-weighted metering.
				Here the sharpness differences across the lens are clearly shown. The color reproduction is precisely what we saw when shooting.

Noise Reduction Example
	Focal length: 44mm Aperture: f/7.1 Shutter: 1/200 ISO: 1600 To see how much image detail was lost when we cranked up the high-ISO noise filter setting, we shot this graphic in indirect sunlight, with a manual white balance reading, at a consistent ISO 1600. The D5000 has low noise even with noise reduction off, but we were pleased to see that even at the maximum setting, much less detail is lost than with most cameras we test.
	Noise Reduction Off
	Noise Reduction Low
	Noise Reduction Standard
	Noise Reduction High

Close-Up Example
				Focal length: 55mm Aperture: f/14 Shutter: 1/800 ISO: 200 Shot handheld under overcast skies, using the standard Picture Control.
				The exposure is a bit dark, but levels of detail are reasonable, particularly in the center, and the subtle differences in the shell colors were captured nicely.

Overhead Shot Example
				Focal length: 55mm Aperture: f/6.3 Shutter: 1/160 ISO: 800 Shot using spot metering in Live View mode, on an overcast day with lens stabilization turned on.
				The articulated LCD was the key to getting this shot. The cat was in a raised window, so we held the camera overhead with the screen tilted down and got the framing we wanted.

Long Exposure Example
				Focal length: 40mm Aperture: f/11 Shutter: 3 seconds ISO: 1600 Taken in a very dark room, with only indirect sunlight through curtains for illumination, using a manual white balance reading in shutter priority mode, with high ISO noise reduction at normal setting.
				The D5000 did a fine job on this long exposure shot, with good detail, minimal noise and spot-on colors.

Nikon D5000 Specs
Type	Compact SLR / System
Focal Length Minimum	18.0 mm
Focal Length Maximum	55.0 mm
Still Pixel Count (gross)	12.9 megapixels
Still Pixel Count (effective)	12.3 megapixels
Sensor Size	APS-C
Sensor Type - New	CMOS
Aspect Ratios	3:2
Frame Rate(s)	24p
Original Price	729.95 $
Height	104.14 mm
Width	127.0 mm
Depth	78.74 mm
Weight	561.33 g
Model Colors	black
Display Type	LCD
Display Size	2.7 in.
Display Resolution	230000 pixels
Viewfinder Type	optical
Viewfinder Magnification	0.78 x
Viewfinder Coverage	95.0 % coverage
Diopter Adjustment - New	-2.0 to +1.0m^-1
Media New	SD/SDHC
Connectivity Options	USB, A/V, miniHDMI, hot accessory shoe
Battery Type	removable lithium-ion
Battery Model Number	EN-EL9
Mirror Technology (Interchangeable Lens)	DSLR
Waterproof	No
Manual Controls	manual focus, aperture priority mode, shutter priority mode, full manual exposure, custom white balance, ISO control
ISO Options	200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, Extended ISO
Minimum ISO	200
Maximum ISO	3200

Nikon D5000 Scores
Rating	Score	Weighting
Color Score	15.21	9.0
Color Modes Score	4.0	1.0
Long Exposure Score	11.38	4.0
Noise Score	6.83	9.0
ISO Options Score	6.0	1.5
Sharpness Score	6.07	6.0
Chromatic Aberration Score	8.69	3.0
Picture Options Score	8.85	0.5
Dynamic Range Score	7.93	6.0
Stabilization Score	4.48	5.0
Auto White Balance Score	10.35	4.0
Custom White Balance Score	8.39	2.0
White Balance Features Score	9.0	0.5
Playback Mode Score	10.0	1.5
In-Camera Editing Score	13.0	0.5
Software Score	5.0	0.5
Direct Print Features Score	3.5	0.5
Sensor Score	2.5	1.0
Viewfinder Score	7.25	1.5
LCD Score	6.15	2.5
Flash Score	7.5	1.0
Lens Mount Score	9.5	1.5
Battery Score	7.0	1.0
Memory Score	3.0	1.0
Connectivity Score	4.5	1.0
Other Hardware Score	0.0	0.5
Shooting Modes Scores	10.0	1.0
Live View Score	2.75	2.0
Scene Modes Score	5.5	0.5
Picture Effects Score	4.5	0.5
Focus Score	16.5	1.5
Exposure Score	6.0	1.0
DOF Preview Score	0.0	0.5
Metering Score	8.5	1.0
Shutter Speed Score	10.0	1.0
Self-Timer Score	9.5	1.0
Other Controls Score	0.0	0.5
Handling Score	7.0	2.5
Controls Score	8.5	2.5
Menu Score	7.25	2.0
Manual Score	9.0	1.0
Shot to Shot Score	4.0	3.0
Drive and Burst Modes Score	5.25	1.0
Video Color Score	8.43	1.25
Video Sharpness Score	9.34	1.25
Video Motion Score	5.95	0.63
Video Noise Score	13.33	0.63
Video Controls Score	3.75	1.2
Video Low Light Sensitivity Score	6.3	0.95
Video Low Light Color Score	8.46	0.78
Video Low Light Noise Score	12.29	0.78
Video Compression Score	6.0	0.95
Video Audio Score	0.25	0.3
Video Handling Score	4.5	0.73
Color Other Features Rating	0.0	0.5
Noise Other Features Rating	0.0	0.5
Playback Other Features Rating	0.0	0.5
Resolution Other Features Rating	0.0	0.5
Design & Handling Other Rating	0.0	0.5
Total:	776