Nikon D5000

	Video: Low Light Performance Summary
Comprehensive video testing and analysis by Jeremy Stamas and the staff of
• Low light sensitivity is good, but not amazing • Low light color accuracy was strong, more saturation than in our bright light testing • Noise levels were minimal in low light testing—far better than the average camcorder would produce
	Video: Motion & Sharpness	Page 14 of 21	Video Features

Video: Low Light Sensitivity (6.30)

Like all DSLRs the Nikon D5000 has a huge CMOS image sensor that is far larger than what you get on a consumer HD camcorder. This large sensor should, in turn, give the camera a significant boost in low light situations. Surprisingly, however, the D5000 didn't do as well with low light sensitivity as we expected. The camera wasn't bad, it needed only 11 lux of light to reach 50 IRE on our waveform monitor, but this isn't the kind of performance that is really noteworthy. Numerous consumer camcorders had better low light sensitivities than the Nikon D5000, especially when using alternate frame rates like a 24p or 30p mode. Click here for more on how CamcorderInfo.com tests low light sensitivity.

The low light sensitivity on the Nikon D5000 is essentially the same as we saw on the Nikon D90, which needed 10 lux to peak at 50 IRE. We should reiterate that this isn't a bad score for the camera, but it is disappointing considering the large size of its CMOS sensor. More shocking is the Canon Rebel T1i's horrendous 26 lux performance in our sensitivity test, which is far worse than even an average consumer HD camcorder is capable of. Remember, however, that the low light sensitivity results for DSLR cameras can definitely be altered depending on what type of lens is being used to record video. A faster lens with a wider maximum aperture should allow more light to hit the CMOS sensor, in turn improving the camera's low light sensitivity.

Video: Low Light Color Performance (8.46)

The Nikon D5000 had a very good low light image and it was arguably better than the camera's bright light video. Its colors were just as accurate as they were in bright light, measuring a color error of 4.07, and the low light image had a saturation level of 96.84%. Since the D5000's bright light image appeared a bit too bright, it makes sense that its darker low light image would look more pleasing. Click here for more on how CamcorderInfo.com tests low light color performance.

Video: Low Light Color Performance
Color Test Chart (above), Color Error Map (right)
The Nikon D5000 produced a color error of 4.07 and a saturation level of 96.84% in our low light video testing. (The map on the right is a diagram of the color error. The length and direction of each line indicates how the camera processed each particular color while capturing video.)

Again, the camera had most of its trouble getting the green/yellow colors on our test chart correct. Certain blue patches were spot-on and most of the reds were very accurate as well. The Nikon's brighter-than-average image helps it out significantly in low light testing, and it is significantly brighter than the rest of the models used as comparisons below.

Video: Low Light Comparison
Nikon D5000	Canon Rebel T1i
Canon HF S100	Sanyo VPC-HD2000

Notice how much darker the Canon Rebel T1i is compared to the Nikon D5000 in the test images above. The Canon HF S100 and Sanyo VPC-HD2000 are also both significantly darker than the Nikon. Still, despite its darker image, the Rebel T1i had more accurate colors than the Nikon in this test, as did the Sanyo VPC-HD2000. The Nikon D5000 is a very good overall low light performer, however, and its low light noise scores (see below) were some of the best we've ever seen.

Video: Low Light Color Score Comparison

Video: Low Light Noise Performance (12.29)

The Nikon D5000 rounds out its solid low light performance with an excellent low light noise score. The camera measured only 0.6025% noise in our low light test, which is nearly half as much as the Canon Rebel T1i and significantly less than your average HD camcorder. This terrific score is no surprise when you consider how well the camera did with our bright light noise test. Click here for more on how CamcorderInfo.com tests low light noise performance.

Video: Noise at 60 lux Auto
Nikon D5000 100% Crop	Canon Rebel T1i 100% Crop	Canon HF S100 100% Crop	Sanyo VPC-HD2000 100% Crop

While the D5000 has exceptionally low noise levels in its video, the crops above do point out the camera's glaring weakness. Its image is not nearly as sharp as the full-HD offerings from the Canon Rebel T1i, Canon HF S100, and the Sanyo VPC-HD2000. These crops open up the question of which is more important: clean, noise-free video, or a sharp, detailed image?

Video: Low Light Noise Score Comparison