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Introduction
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01.Sample Photos
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02.Design
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03.Product Tour
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04.Hardware
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05.Durability
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06.Photo Gallery
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07.Image Quality
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08.Sharpness
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09.Color
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10.Noise Reduction
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11.Dynamic Range
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12.Low Light
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13.Distortion
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14.Video
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15.Usability
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16.Ease of Use
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17.Handling
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18.Controls
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19.Speed
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20.Features
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21.Extras
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22.Video Features
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23.Specs & Ratings
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24.Conclusion
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25.Comments
Nikon D5000
Previous:
IntroductionNext: Page 2
DesignSample Photos
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 | ||||
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Focal length: 18mm Taken in Brightwaters, NY on a sunny spring day, shot in program mode with automatic white balance using the neutral Picture Control setting. |
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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 | ||||
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Focal length: 55mm Taken in program mode with the standard Picture Control setting, automatic white balance and center-weighted metering. |
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Here the sharpness differences across the lens are clearly shown. The color reproduction is precisely what we saw when shooting. |
| Noise Reduction Example | |
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Focal length: 44mm 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. |
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Noise Reduction Off |
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Noise Reduction Low |
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Noise Reduction Standard |
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Noise Reduction High |
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| Close-Up Example | ||||
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Focal length: 55mm Shot handheld under overcast skies, using the standard Picture Control. |
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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 | ||||
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Focal length: 55mm Shot using spot metering in Live View mode, on an overcast day with lens stabilization turned on. |
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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 | ||||
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Focal length: 40mm 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. |
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The D5000 did a fine job on this long exposure shot, with good detail, minimal noise and spot-on colors. |
Still Life Examples
In the following sample images, clicking on the larger image will download the full resolution original.
| Still Life Comparisons | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon T1i | Canon XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO Low | ||||
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ISO 200
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ISO 100
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ISO 100
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ISO 200
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ISO 100
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon T1i | Canon XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO 200 | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon T1i | Canon XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO 400 | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon T1i | Canon XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO 800 | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon T1i | Canon XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO 1600 | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon T1i | Canon XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO 3200 | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon T1i | Canon XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO 6400 | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon T1i | Canon XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO 12800 | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon T1i | Canon 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.
Noise Examples
The following are 100% crops taken from the still life photos above. You can click on the thumbnails above to view a full-size version of the entire photo.
| Noise Comparisons | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon EOS Rebel T1i | Canon EOS Rebel XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO Low | ||||
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ISO 200
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ISO 100
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ISO 100
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ISO 200
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ISO 100
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ISO 200
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ISO 100
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ISO 100
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ISO 200
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ISO 100
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon EOS Rebel T1i | Canon EOS Rebel XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO 200 | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon EOS Rebel T1i | Canon EOS Rebel XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO 400 | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon EOS Rebel T1i | Canon EOS Rebel XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO 800 | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon EOS Rebel T1i | Canon EOS Rebel XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO 1600 | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon EOS Rebel T1i | Canon EOS Rebel XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO 3200 | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon EOS Rebel T1i | Canon EOS Rebel XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO 6400 | ||||
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| Nikon D5000 | Canon EOS Rebel T1i | Canon EOS Rebel XS | Nikon D90 | Pentax K2000 |
| ISO 12800 | ||||
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| 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.
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