Nikon D5000

Noise Reduction (6.83)

Even with noise reduction off entirely, image noise never rises beyond 2%, and the Normal level keeps noise at about 1% even out to ISO 3200. More on how we test noise.

The Nikon D5000 delivered better image noise performance than any of the other cameras in our comparison group, though the camera-to-camera differences aren’t dramatic.

We test for image noise, the annoying speckles that resemble film grain from days of yore, by shooting the X-Rite ColorChecker chart at all of the official (i.e, not extended range) ISO settings under bright studio illumination, and analyze the resulting images using Imatest software. We shoot at each noise reduction level, all of which factor into the final noise score. While ramping up the noise reduction level inevitably leads to a loss of fine detail, we were pleased to see the D5000 suffered far less of a problem here than many other cameras. To visualize the relationship between higher noise reduction levels and loss of image detail, see the Sample Photos section.

While there isn’t an enormous performance spread here, the D5000 does significantly outperform the Pentax and Rebel T1i across the board, and the tough ISO 1600 level proves to be a sweet spot for this camera.

With noise reduction cranked all the way up the D5000 produces extraordinarily clean images at high ISO settings. If you need to grab available light photos in challenging conditions, you’re going to welcome this polished performance, even if it does cost a bit of fine-line sharpness.

As seen in the score comparison graph below, the Nikon D5000 holds a small overall edge when all noise reduction levels are considered.

ISO Options

As with most Nikon cameras, the D5000 has a range of official ISOs, indicated numerically in the menus, plus additional extended ISO settings above and below. In this case, the official ISOs run from 200 to 3200. The lower extended range settings are Lo 0.3, equivalent to ISO 160, Lo 0.7 (ISO 125) and Lo 1 (ISO 100). On the high side there are Hi 0.3 (ISO 4000), Hi 0.7 (ISO 5000) and Hi 1 (ISO 6400). Why not just treat all the ISO settings equally? Because, as Nikon points out, the Hi settings are subject to increased image noise and color distortion, while the Lo settings have lower contrast.

In addition to the standard controls there is an Auto ISO setting, used in Auto shooting mode and by default in scene modes. When shooting in program, shutter-priority, aperture-priority or manual modes, turning the Auto ISO setting on will only affect exposure if the camera determines that an appropriate exposure can’t be achieved at the ISO setting chosen by the shooter. A maximum allowable value when shooting in Auto ISO mode can be set.

ISO Comparisons
Nikon D5000	Canon EOS Rebel T1i	Canon EOS Rebel XS	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000
ISO Low
ISO 200	ISO 100	ISO 100	ISO 200	ISO 100
ISO 200	ISO 100	ISO 100	ISO 200	ISO 100
Nikon D5000	Canon EOS Rebel T1i	Canon EOS Rebel XS	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000
ISO 200
Nikon D5000	Canon EOS Rebel T1i	Canon EOS Rebel XS	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000
ISO 400
Nikon D5000	Canon EOS Rebel T1i	Canon EOS Rebel XS	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000
ISO 800
Nikon D5000	Canon EOS Rebel T1i	Canon EOS Rebel XS	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000
ISO 1600
Nikon D5000	Canon EOS Rebel T1i	Canon EOS Rebel XS	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000
ISO 3200
Nikon D5000	Canon EOS Rebel T1i	Canon EOS Rebel XS	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000
ISO 6400
Nikon D5000	Canon EOS Rebel T1i	Canon EOS Rebel XS	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000
ISO 12800
Nikon D5000	Canon EOS Rebel T1i	Canon EOS Rebel XS	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000

NOTE: The images above are not used in our testing or scoring, but are included here to show real-world examples of the differences between cameras at the various ISO settings.