D5000 Body
The 12.3-megapixel D5000, featuring Nikon's exclusive EXPEED™ advanced digital image processing system technologies, leverages Nikon's expertise and the innovative technologies found in its pro-level digital SLRs that enable you to capture stunning images and HD movie clips with remarkable ease. The D5000 boasts a versatile 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD monitor that can be viewed in its normal position flush against the camera, or swung out, rotated and/or tilted for a multitude of imaginative shooting angles.
The D5000 produces highly detailed images with smooth tonal gradation, outstanding colour reproduction, and low noise across a wide ISO sensitivity range. Nikon's exclusive EXPEED™ contributes to streamlined handling of advanced imaging features such as Nikon's original Scene Recognition System with Face Detection and Active D-Lighting. Easy one-button Live View activation now features Subject Tracking autofocus (AF), which automatically locks onto a moving subject - even if the subject leaves the frame and returns. Subject Tracking AF also maintains focus, making the D5000 ideal for capturing children and moving pets.
Nikon's exclusive 3D Colour Matrix Metering II, in conjunction with EXPEED™ enables the D5000 to capture brilliant images by instantly evaluating the exposure elements of each scene and comparing it to an onboard database of information from more than 30,000 images. These split-second calculations ensure the right exposure - even if conditions are extreme. Centre-weighted and Spot Metering offer added personal control for extended creativity.
Ease-of-use is a hallmark of Nikon digital SLRs and the D5000 proves this in both form and function. The compact body features an intelligent layout with controls logically positioned for easy operation. With 19 automatic Scene Modes such as Sports, Portrait, Candlelight, Silhouette and more, point-and-shoot convenience and ease is added for beautiful results in a wide variety of challenging shooting situations. Scene Modes even include sample images for each mode to make selection simple and quick.
The D5000 also incorporates a comprehensive set of in-camera editing features to make the most of captured images without the need of a computer. New Retouch features include Soft Filter effect, Perspective Control and Colour Outline. With Nikon's exclusive Picture Control Settings, photographers can quickly select various image appearance profiles, which include Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape settings. With Picture Control you can create and store up to nine user-defined custom profiles to reflect each user's personal preferences for hue, colour saturation and image sharpening.
Extensive playback options allow users to review their photos in groups of four, nine, or 72 thumbnail images. Alternatively, you can select the Calendar View to easily group and select images by date. These playback features can be viewed either on the Vari-angle LCD or an HDTV with HDMI connectivity, available via a dedicated HDMI port on the camera.
The D5000's D-Movie Mode lets you record HD movie clips (1280 x 720) at a cinematic 24 frames-per-second with sound. Compatibility with a comprehensive assortment of AF-S NIKKOR interchangeable lenses provides photographers with the ability to capture perspectives not possible with typical consumer video recording devices. When using any NIKKOR vibration reduction (VR) lens, D-Movie clips benefit from Nikon VR image stabilization, which automatically activates during recording to deliver added sharpness and image stability. VR image stabilization also extends the D5000's performance in low-light conditions.
Combining famous Nikon quality, advanced performance and functionality, the D5000 opens the door to a level of creative expression never before possible in a camera so easy-to-use.
New Vari-angle monitor
The innovative Vari-angle monitor swings down approximately 90° and rotates 180°, allowing users to easily shoot from interesting angles in Live View mode. Featuring a bright 2.7-in. 230,000-dot LCD, the new monitor provides a comfortable view from virtually any shooting perspective. The monitor can also be stowed with the LCD panel neatly tucked against the camera back to protect the screen when not in use.
Nikon DX-format 12.3-megapixel CMOS image sensor
At 12.3 effective megapixels, the D5000 produces high-resolution images with outstanding enlargement capability. The high signal-to-noise ratio results in images with extremely low noise even when shooting at high ISO settings. Normal ISO sensitivity is ISO 200 to 3200. For added shooting versatility, a Hi 1 setting increases sensitivity to ISO 6400 while a Lo 1 setting decreases it to ISO 100.
Specially designed EXPEED image processing system
The D5000 is equipped with Nikon’s exclusive EXPEED image processing system. This leading-edge technology provides the power to process the large amount of data generated by the D5000’s 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor. EXPEED realizes excellent resolution, long tonal scale, and superb colour while also making possible fast processing of the D5000’s advanced imaging functions such as Scene Recognition with Face Detection, Live View AF, and Active D-Lighting — all of which demand tremendous processing capability.
Live View shooting
Nikon’s versatile Live View shooting, now enhanced by the D5000’s Vari-angle monitor, can be accessed with one-touch ease by pressing the Live View button. Autofocus with Live View has been further improved by the addition of Subject tracking AF, which automatically locks onto a pre-selected subject and maintains focus on it even if it momentarily leaves the frame. This mode joins three other contrast-detect AF modes with which the D5000 is equipped: Face priority AF (automatically detects up to five faces in a scene then focuses on the closest face); Wide area AF (offers a large AF area for optimal handheld shooting) and; Normal area AF (provides pin-point focusing accuracy for excellent results when using a tripod).
Movie clips with D-Movie
In response to user demand for video shooting capability in digital SLRs, the D5000 includes Nikon’s D-Movie function. First available on the Nikon D90, D-Movie gives users the flexibility to shoot Motion JPEG movie clips in different formats at a smooth 24 frames per second. For high-quality playback on HDTVs, the D5000 produces clips at 1,280 x 720 pixels. Users who want to view on standard computer monitors or upload to photo sharing websites can shoot at 640 x 424 pixels or 320 x 216 pixels, respectively. Because the D5000’s sensor is much larger than that of a typical camcorder, movie clips display superior image quality and low noise even when shot at high ISO settings. Additionally, the D5000’s compatibility with NIKKOR AF-S and AF-I lenses opens up a wide range of possibilities for dramatic expression, from fisheye and wide-angle shots to long telephoto scenes and extreme close-ups.
19 Scene Modes
Scene Modes empower users to obtain great looking shots in a variety of situations with point-and-shoot ease. These modes adjust exposure, white balance, Active D-lighting, and Picture Control settings depending on the selected mode. Six commonly used modes can be selected using the D5000’s mode dial, while the remaining 13 are accessed by setting the mode dial to SCENE then simply turning the command dial to make the selection. To assist in determining the best mode, the D5000 displays a sample photo as each mode is selected. Newly added modes are Pet Portrait, Candlelight, Blossom, Autumn Colours, Food, Silhouette, High Key, and Low Key.
Scene Recognition System with Face Detection System
In order to accurately adjust exposure and white balance as well as assist autofocus, the D5000 utilizes a 420-pixel RGB sensor to analyze colour and illumination over the entire scene milliseconds prior to exposure. This allows the D5000 to better evaluate scene content, resulting in improved exposure for better image quality while also boosting autofocus performance. Additionally, the D5000 detects human faces using its Face Detection System.
Active D-Lighting
The D5000 incorporates Nikon’s Active D-Lighting function to vastly improve details in the shadows and highlights of high-contrast scenes. Like the Scene Recognition System, Active D-Lighting utilizes the 420-pixel RGB sensor to analyze a scene then adjust exposure to achieve images that closely resemble what the human eye sees. During processing, this function also restores details in areas of the image that exhibit image loss. There are six Active D-Lighting settings — Auto, Extra High, High, Normal, Low, and Off — along with a bracket mode that allows users to shoot one image with Active D-Lighting and one without.
11-point AF system with Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module
Employing 11-point autofocus driven by Nikon’s Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module, the D5000 delivers fast, precise focus over a wide area of the frame when shooting through the optical viewfinder. Four versatile AF modes are available: single-point AF for stationary subjects, especially ones that are off-centre; dynamic-area AF for moving subjects; auto-area AF when you want the D5000 to automatically determine the proper focus method and; 3D-tracking (11 points) AF for maintaining focus on subjects even if the composition changes.
Picture Control System
The Picture Control System of the D5000 gives users the ability to customize key image capture characteristics to suit personal preferences. Six settings are available — Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, and Landscape — along with the ability to create up to nine custom Picture Control settings.
Photo editing
After shooting, the D5000’s newly expanded photo editing functions allow for in-camera retouching, lessening the need for a computer to enhance or modify images. The D5000 introduces several new editing options under its Retouch Menu, including Soft Filter, Perspective Control (which helps correct distortions in perspective), and Colour Outline (which creates monochrome outlines of objects in images by eliminating colour and tonal gradations). Each editing function is applied to a copy of the image, with the original left unmodified.
Nikon Integrated Dust Reduction System
Dust reduction is handled by Nikon’s Integrated Dust Reduction System. This is a comprehensive solution that reduces generation and accumulation of dust and also provides measures to remove dust. A key element of the solution is the Airflow Control System, which directs dust away from the image sensor. The system also includes an image sensor cleaning function that activates automatically when the D5000 is powered on. This vibrates the low-pass filter (located in front of the sensor) to free it from dust.
Nikon D5000 Additional Features
- On-demand grid lines both when shooting via the optical viewfinder and in Live View mode.
- Extensive playback options that allow viewing of images one at a time or in batches of 4, 9, and 72 as well as Calendar view that organizes images by shooting date and time. A histogram display is also available that shows exposure data for a magnified area of the image.
- Direct HDTV connectivity via built-in HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) connector.
- Highly durable shutter unit tested to 100,000 cycles.
- Compatible with all NIKKOR AF-S and AF-I lenses that have an autofocus motor.
- Built-in flash with a guide number of approx. 17/56 (ISO 200, m/ft., 20°C/68°F) and support for Nikon’s i-TTL flash control.
- Support for the Nikon Creative Lighting System when using SB-900 or SB-800 Speedlights, or the SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander.
- Long-lasting Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9a that provides up to 510 shots per charge. (CIPA standard, with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and flash fired at full power once every other shot.)
- Compatible with the optional ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control. There are two shutter release modes available when using the control: Quick Mode for immediate triggering of the shutter release and Delayed Mode, which delays triggering for two seconds.
- Compatible with the optional GPS Unit GP-1, which automatically appends longitude, latitude, altitude, and time information to the EXIF data of each image.
- Compatible with the optional Remote Cord MC-DC2, which enables remote shutter release and time (bulb) exposures.
- Includes Nikon ViewNX image browsing and editing software, which lets you organize, label, and select images as well as perform NEF (RAW) image editing adjustments and conversions.
- Image data from the D5000 can be used with optional Nikon Capture NX 2 photo-editing software, which features patented U Point® technology and powerful tools for quick and easy photo editing, including enhanced NEF (RAW) Editing.
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (3.0x)