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Nikon D5000 Analysis: Initial Thoughts and ISO Samples

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Posted by Patrick on Sep 24, 2009 in Cameras, Reviews

Nikon D5000 Analysis: Initial Thoughts and ISO Samples

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I’ve just got my hands on the Nikon D5000, a camera that sits above the entry-level D3000, but below the Nikon D90, and will be giving it a thorough going over in the month ahead. I did want to share some initial reactions to it, and even better have included a series of ISO examples to give you an indication of just how capable this camera is.

Where to Buy

We recommend getting the Nikon D5000 and all your gear at B&H Photo Video. Reliable, respected, and staffed with folks who really know cameras, there’s a reason why B&H is the “professional’s choice”.

Specifications

Camera	Nikon D5000
Max resolution	4288 x 2848
Low resolution	3216 x 2136, 2144 x 1424
Effective pixels	12.3 million
Sensor photo detectors	12.9 million
Sensor size	23.6 x 15.8 mm (3.72 cm_)
Sensor type	CMOS
ISO rating	Auto, 200 - 3200 (plus 6400 with boost)
Image stabilization	No
Auto Focus	Nikon Multi-CAM1000
Manual Focus	Yes
White balance override	12 positions, plus manual and Kelvin
Min shutter	30 sec
Max shutter	1/4000 sec
Built-in Flash	Yes, pop-up
Flash range	17 m
External flash	Yes, hot-shoe
Flash modes	Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow
Exposure compensation	-5 to +5 EV in 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps
Metering	3D Matrix metering II, Center weighted, Spot
Aperture priority	Yes
Shutter priority	Yes
Focal length multiplier	1.5
Lens thread	Nikkor AF / F-mount, D-Type
Continuous Drive	Yes, 4 fps
Movie Clips	Yes
Remote control	Yes, Optional (ML-L3)
Self-timer	Yes, 2, 5, 10 or 20 sec
Timelapse recording	Yes, by USB cable and PC
Orientation sensor	Yes
Storage types	SD/SDHC card
Storage included	None
Uncompressed format	Yes, RAW
Quality Levels	Fine, Normal, Basic
Viewfinder	Optical (Pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.78x magnification)
LCD	2.7 ", flips out
LCD Dots	230,000
Live View	Yes, With contrast-detect AF, face detection and subject tracking
USB	USB 2.0 (480Mbit/sec)
HDMI	Yes
Environmentally sealed	No
Battery	Nikon EN-EL9e Lithium-Ion battery
Weight (inc. batteries)	590 g (20.8 oz)
Dimensions	127 x 104 x 80 mm (5 x 4.1 x 3.2 in)

Initial Thoughts

Build quality is very solid, and as I’ve come to expect, the Nikon D5000 delivers superb ergonomics. They’ve done a good job at keeping a comfortable grip, and shutter and button placement are just excellent, though some folks will wonder where the dedicated ISO button might be? The camera body is small, but beefy, and features some “styling” but nothing to extreme.

The biggest surprise for me thus far has been the LCD. The 2.7 inch display checks in at 230k, which on paper seems like a disappointment, but the reality is the display is really quite nice. Further, I had been skeptical of the hinge placement, on the D5000 the LCD is hinged at the bottom, rather than off to the side like the Olympus E-620. Again, I have to say there’s something to be said for this placement, as flipping the LCD down turns out to be ideal for live view duties and shooting movies.

Finally, the interface for the D5000 is really slick, the info screen is just so well done, with a lot of information laid out in a completely logical and intuitive way. For example, dominating the info display is a graphical representation of aperture and shutter speed settings. Open up the aperture and you see it reflected graphically, while a segmented ring surrounding it indicates changes in shutter speed. Get to a low enough shutter speed and the D5000 just tells you “subject too dark”. I also love the subtle way Nikon has added help for photographers possibly new to the DSLR experience with easy to grasp photo representations of various camera settings, a waterfall at ISO 100 and a jet ski at ISO 400 for instance. The images they’ve selected are just uncannily perfect for each setting, and far more useful than the usual cartoon-ish graphics normally used for these duties. Of course if all else fails, there’s a handy help button that lets you know exactly what each setting does.

ISO Performance

The Nikon D5000 features the same sensor technology found in the D90 and the new Nikon D300s. Not surprisingly, ISO results are largely in line with those cameras, and yes this level of performance comes at quite the cost savings. Expanded, the D5000 covers a range of 100-6400, with 1600 being totally usable, ISO 3200 standing a good chance of being usable, especially at smaller print sizes, and ISO 6400 showing respectable image quality, again especially at smaller print sizes. It is nearly impossible to complain about this level of ISO performance at this price point, and confidence at using ISO 1600 with few consequences should tell the whole story. The shots below were all taken at 34mm (50mm equivalent) using f/8. The first group was shot in normal lighting conditions, the second group under darker conditions.