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2017-04-14T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Nikon D5000 manual

This is the most comprehensive, easy-to-understand manual ever written. I've had this Nikon SLR since it was first marketed, and I am constantly amazed how easy the manual is to understand. Even now, after all these years, I still can't believe how easily it answers my questions. Whoever wrote this manual has to be the most brilliant person ever born. I used to write computer documentaion, and I sincerely wish I was smart enough to have written a manual like this one. The Nikon D5000 was not only a great piece of technology, but this manual made the Nikon D5000 the best camera ever marketed. THANK YOU NIKON FOR BEING SMART ENOUGH TO HIRE THIS PERSON (OR PERSONS) TO WRITE THIS MANUAL. I am eternally grateful!!!! I had the Nikon Coolpix 5400, and to this day I don't understand a single thing about that camera. Every Instruction manual should read as easily as the manual for the Nikon D5000. The person who wrote it deserved to have his or her name put on this manual.

FromM

2010-05-09T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Outstanding sensor

Excellent alternative to the D90 especially since the two share identical sensors. Excellent buy as a kit on special with the indispensable 70-300mm Nikon VR lens. Ken Rockwell's review influenced my decision and I am very pleased with the results. I would recommend to serious budget-minded photographer. Please see two pictures attached - Original, and after cropping, brightness, contrast, and sharpness slightly enhanced. Pictures was taken in shaded area of porch with diffused daylight reaching the subject. Dove and male companion were in the process of building a nest.

T.K

2010-03-20T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Cole Makes A Basket Shot!

I bought this camera for my daughter and son-in-law, as they are soon having a baby. This is their first real digital camera. But as Brent found out, this is more than just a family camera. It's very fast and can follow his nephews at their sports events due to its great image stabilization and high ISO. The fast shutter speed helps a lot too. The pictures he showed me were crystal clear. Today, I could not not go to Cole's basketball game, but Sarah and Brent went. Brent caught a shot of his nephew, Cole, making a basketball shot at his 6-year old league game! I was able to see it afterall! Now he looks forward to learning more about photography and the Nikon D5000 camera, although I have to say that the photos he has already taken makes him look like a "Pro" already! I think you're always a winner with the Nikon D5000 camera.

FRANCINE R.

2010-02-02T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great pics

Bought this camera for my daughter with the 55-200 lens and her pics look as good or better than mine taken with my D90 with a Tamron 18-270mm lens. She has taken great portraits, great action shots of flying seagulls ( apparently the autofocus will track moving objects if you hold the shutter release button halfway down ). No luck with macro with this lens but a 18-55mm lens is on the way with macro attachments. She is also happy with the movie mode ( which is not available with the D3000 ). I was skeptical at first but the swivel LCD is a very handy option, especially if your using a short tripod. Live view is nice, also not available with the D3000. If your looking for a starter SLR I would definitely recommend spending a little extra for the D5000 ( we tried the D3000 and sent it back because the view finder did not work ). If you need to bracket photos for HDR shots then upgrade to the D90. Adorama had the best prices, and no problems when we had to send back the D3000.

CARLTON D.

2010-01-09T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Nikons Magic

I am into Macro as well as landscapes,I have had the D-60 for about a year but when I saw the D-5000 I had to have it and am getting aquainted with it. I love the fold out view screen. I put my tri pod on the ground and took a level shot of mushrooms using it to view the shot and focus. helps keep the dirt off your face. lol

CHARLES S.

2009-11-06T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

What a great Camera , Thank you Norman

I've only had it about 5 days now but what a blast. I've gotten birds in flight , portraits of grand kids and landscapes too.The scenic mode on this is fantastic. I'll be trying it tonight in my telescope with the swivel monitor and live view .[...] I got the D5000 body with the 18-105mm dx vr lens and I so very happy with the combo . [...]

sudzmonn

2009-09-28T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great camera for the money!!!

Every day use for fun. Great quality pictures and camera easy to use. LCD should be higher resolution.

Kulka

2009-09-01T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Fantastic for people new to DSLRs

Although this has many more controls than the point-and-shoot cameras I've owned before, it has been easy to learn.

Henry

2009-08-08T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Functions As I Expected It To

I am quite satisfied with the performance of my D5000. Most of the photos I have attempted have come out very well. We have 5 dogs in our family; so they are a prime subject for my camera. The results have been most satisfying. It was disappointing that I had to return the camera to Nikon for a recall; hence, the 4 Stars rather than 5.

Mark

2009-07-22T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Love my new Nikon D5000!

I am a former owner of both the Nikon D40x and D80. Loved them both as well. Why did I get the D5000? Well, my Nikon D40x was a bit small, but great for travel. My Nikon D80 with battery grip was awesome, but more heavy for travel, hiking, etc... So I went for the D5000 for it's larger and heavier than the D40x, but lighter and smaller than the D80. And of course, it has the ability of the D90, in a more cost effective, smaller camera. I also insisted on having the grid lines and bracketing for HDR. The D5000 is a perfectly capable camera that can match the big boys in most catagories.

Darren B.

2009-06-24T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Nikon D5000; great for nature closeups!

mounted on a copy stand, with a 100mm macro + Canon closeup lenses, it makes great macros of tiny insects, plant parts, and ancient coins

Cobra

2009-06-24T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Very good value for a very good camera

Have other Nikon's including a D80 so I wanted an alternative to the D90. This was it. Very pleased with the body. Great value with the bag and extra battery.

DONALD S.

2009-05-31T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Very pleased with this camera

I bought a Nikon D40 back in December '08 and started learning about digital photography. The D40 is a great camera, but I quickly discovered its limitations. For example, the D40 has no grid in the viewfinder, and I'm especially prone to taking photos with a slight tilt to the right. When the D5000 came out, I saw that it has all of the features I missed in the D40 but was still reasonably priced. The D5000 has the lens grid, bracketing, faster continuous shooting, Live View, and a lot more control in the software. The biggest advantage is the tilt screen. As I kept trying new shots on the D40, I was annoyed that I always had to use the viewfinder, which required some uncomfortable body contortions. However, the flip screen makes all of those shots easier. The resolution of the flip screen isn't great enough to do really tight focusing, but I can usually trust the AF for that. As for the video, that affected my purchasing decision very little. If I want to take videos, I'll use a real video camera. On the D5000, video is just a nice-to-have feature. The D5000 is probably not the last camera I'll ever buy, but right now, while I'm still low on the digital-photography learning curve, it's exactly what I need. In fact, for beginners who want to progress quickly, I would skip over the D40 and get a D5000.

JOHN T.

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Nikon D5000 12.3 Megapixel DX-Format Digital SLR Camera Body Specifications

  • Image Sensor Format

    DX

  • Image Sensor Type

    CMOS

  • Sensor Size

    15.8 x 23.6mm

  • Total Pixels

    12.9 million

  • Effective Pixels

    12.3 million

  • Image Area (pixels)

    DX-format
    (L) 4288x2848
    (M) 3216x2136
    (S) 2144x1424

  • Top Continuous Shooting Speed

    4 frames per second at full resolution

  • Continuous Shooting Options

    DX-format
    CH: Up to 4 frames per second
    CL: Up to 4 frames per second

  • LCD Monitor Size

    2.7 in. diagonal

  • LCD Monitor Type

    Vari-angle color LCD monitor

  • LCD Monitor Resolution

    230,000 Dots

  • LCD Monitor Angle of View

    170-degree wide-viewing angle

  • LCD Monitor Adjustments

    Brightness,7 levels

  • Shutter type

    Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane

  • Slowest Shutter Speed

    30 sec. in steps of 1/3
    1/2
    1 EV

  • Fastest Shutter Speed

    1/4000 sec. in steps of 1/3
    1/2
    1 EV

  • Bulb Shutter Setting

    Yes

  • Lowest Standard ISO Sensitivity

    200 in steps of 1/3
    1 EV

  • Highest Standard ISO Sensitivity

    3200 in steps of 1/3
    1 EV

  • Lowest Expanded ISO Sensitivity

    Lo-1 (ISO 100 equivalent)

  • Highest Expanded ISO Sensitivity

    Hi-1 (ISO 6400 equivalent)

  • Expanded ISO Sensitivity Options

    Lo-1 (ISO 100 equivalent) in steps of 1/3 EV
    Hi-1 (ISO 6400 equivalent) in steps of 1/3 EV

  • Storage Media

    SD
    SDHC

  • Storage System

    JPEG: JPEG-baseline-compliant; can be selected from Size priority and Optimal Quality
    AVI
    Compressed 12-bit NEF (RAW)

  • File System

    Compliant with DCF 2.0
    DPOF
    EXIF 2.21

  • Exposure Modes

    Programmed Auto (P) with Flexible Program
    Shutter-Priority Auto (S)
    Aperture-Priority Auto (A)
    Manual (M)
    Auto
    Auto (flash off) Advanced Scene Modes

  • Advanced Scene Modes

    Portrait
    Landscape
    Close-up
    Sports
    Night Portrait
    Night Landscape, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Pet Portrait, Candlelight, Blossom, Autumn Colors, Food, Silhouette, High Key, Low Key

  • Exposure Metering System

    420 pixel RGB sensor D Color Matrix Metering II
    Center-weighted
    Spot

  • Metering Range

    1) 0 to 20 EV (Matrix or center-weighted metering); 2) 2 to 20 EV (Spot metering) (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, at 20 degrees C/68 degrees F)

  • Exposure Meter Coupling

    CPU

  • Exposure Compensation

    +/-5EV in increments of 1/3
    1/2
    1

  • Exposure Lock

    Yes

  • Exposure Bracketing

    Yes
    2 or 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV

  • Shutter Release Modes

    Live View [LV] mode
    Self-timer mode
    Continuous [C] mode: 4 Quiet mode

  • Movie Modes

    Movie with sound
    Stop motion movie
    D-Movie
    HD 1280 x 720/24 fps VGA 640 x 424/24 fps QVGA 320 x 216/24 fps

  • White Balance

    Sun
    Shade
    Fluorescent
    Incandescent
    Flash
    Preset
    Auto
    Auto (TTL white balance with 420-pixel RGB sensor) Seven manual modes with fine-tuning; Sun Shade Fluorescent Incandescent Flash Preset Fine Tune by Kelvin Color temperature setting

  • White Balance Bracketing

    Yes

  • D-Lighting Bracketing

    2 exposures

  • Live View Shooting

    Yes

  • Playback Functions

    Full frame
    Thumbnail (4, 9, 16 or 72 segments)
    Zoom
    Slideshow
    Histogram
    Shooting data
    Highlight point display
    Auto image rotation
    Sound playback
    D-Movie playback
    Calendar
    D-Movie playback Thumbnail (4, 9, 72 segments)
    Calendar

  • Interface

    Hi-speed USB
    NTSC
    HDMI

  • Lens Mount

    Nikon F bayonet mount

  • Compatible Lenses 1

    AF-S or AF-I: All functions supported.
    Type G or D AF NIKKOR without built-in autofocus motor: All functions except autofocus supported. IX NIKKOR lenses not supported.
    Other AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D color matrix metering II. Lenses for F3AF not supported

  • Compatible Lenses 2

    Type D PC NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and some shooting modes.
    AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D color matrix metering II.
    Non-CPU: Autofocus not supported. Can be used in mode M, but exposure meter does not function. Electronic rangefinder can be used if lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster

  • Picture Angle

    1.5

  • Viewfinder

    -2.0 to +1.0 m-1

  • Viewfinder Frame Coverage

    Approx. 95%

  • Viewfinder Diopter Adjustment

    (-2.0 to +1.0 m-1)

  • Viewfinder Eyepoint

    17.9

  • Reflex Mirror

    Quick-return type

  • Focusing Screen

    Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark V screen with focus frame (framing grid can be displayed)

  • Interchangeable Focusing Screens

    No

  • Viewfinder Magnification

    Approx. 0.78

  • Depth-of-field Control

    No

  • Autofocus System

    Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including 1 cross-type sensor) and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5-3 m/1 ft. 8 in.-9ft.10 in.)

  • Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points

    11

  • Autofocus Sensitivity

    -1 - +19 EV (ISO 100, 20°C/68°F

  • Focus Modes

    Single-servo AF (S)
    Continuous-servo (C)
    Manual (M) with electronic rangefinder
    Live View autofocus; Face-priority, wide area, normal area and Subject tracking

  • Single-point AF Mode

    Yes

  • Dynamic AF Mode

    Yes

  • Auto-area AF Mode

    Yes

  • Focus Lock

    AE-L/AF-L button
    Half press of shutter-release button (single-point AF in AF-S)

  • Picture Control

    Standard
    Neutral
    Vivid
    Monochrome
    Nine User-customizable settings
    Portrait
    Landscape

  • In-Camera Image Editing

    Trim
    D-Lighting
    Color Balance
    Image Overlay
    Filter Effects
    Distortion Control
    Monochrome
    Stop Motion
    Color Balance
    NEF (RAW) processing
    Quick retouch
    Straighten
    Distortion Control
    Fisheye
    Small picture
    Red-eye correction
    Perspective control Color outline

  • Built-in Flash

    Yes

  • External Flash Shoe

    Yes

  • Built-in Flash Distance

    56 at ISO 200 ft.17 at ISO 200m

  • Dust-Off Reference Photo

    Yes

  • Save/Load Camera settings

    No

  • Nikon Creative Lighting

    System Compatibility: Yes
    Built-in Commander mode not available

  • Flash Sync Speed

    up to 1/200

  • FP High Speed Sync

    up to 1/4000

  • Flash Sync Modes

    Front-curtain sync (normal)
    Slow sync
    Rear-curtain sync
    Red-eye reduction

  • Flash Control

    1) i-TTL: TTL flash control by 420-pixel RGB sensor, built-in flash, SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash
    2) AA (Auto Aperture-type) flash: Available with SB-900 and SB-800 used with CPU lens
    3) Non-TTL Auto: Available with Speedlights such as SB-800, 28, 27 and 22S
    4) Range-priority manual flash; available with SB-900 and SB-800

  • Flash Sync Terminal

    No

  • Accessory Shoe

    Yes

  • Self-timer

    2, 5, 10, 20 seconds duration

  • World Time Setting

    Yes

  • Date and Time

    Yes (Includes Daylight Savings Time Settings)

  • Battery Type

    Rechargeable

  • Battery / Batteries

    EN-EL9 Lithium-ion Battery
    EN-EL9a Lithium-ion Battery

  • AC Adaptor

    EH-5a AC Adapter

  • Battery Charger

    MH-18a Quick Charger

  • Image Comment

    Yes

  • Battery Life (shots per charge)

    510 shots (CIPA)

  • Tripod Socket

    1/4/2020

  • Supported Languages

    Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish

  • Supplied Software

    Software Suite CD-ROM

  • Approx. Dimensions

    Width 5.0 in. (127mm)
    Height 4.1 in. (104mm)
    Depth 3.1 in. (80mm)

  • Approx. Weight

    19.8 oz. (560g)

  • Warranty

    Nikon 1 year limited warranty

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About Nikon D5000 12.3 Megapixel DX-Format Digital SLR Camera Body

FEATURED REVIEWS

Outstanding sensor

By T.K

Excellent alternative to the D90 especially since the two share identical sensors. Excellent buy as a kit on special with the indispensable 70-300mm Nikon VR lens. Ken Rockwell's review influenced my decision and I am very pleased with the results. I would recommend to serious budget-minded photographer. Please see two pictures attached - Original, and after cropping, brightness, contrast, and sharpness slightly enhanced. Pictures was taken in shaded area of porch with diffused daylight r...

View full Review

Love my new Nikon D5000!

By Darren B.

I am a former owner of both the Nikon D40x and D80. Loved them both as well. Why did I get the D5000? Well, my Nikon D40x was a bit small, but great for travel. My Nikon D80 with battery grip was awesome, but more heavy for travel, hiking, etc... So I went for the D5000 for it's larger and heavier than the D40x, but lighter and smaller than the D80. And of course, it has the ability of the D90, in a more cost effective, smaller camera. I also insisted on having the grid lines and bracketing f...

View full Review

The Nikon D5000 Dx-Format Digital SLR Camera features an innovative Vari-angle monitor for an exciting new take on photographic expression. It adds a flexible dimension to Live View shooting, which vividly shows your subject in real-time. Now with this freely adjustable monitor, taking great shots and movie clips with Live View is easier and more enjoyable than ever.

Nikon's Dx-format CMOS sensor with 12.3 effective megapixels records all the details of the original scene for breathtakingly lifelike photos. Shadows and highlights reveal exceptional details while a remarkably high signal-to-noise ratio vastly reduces noise - especially important when shooting at high ISO settings.

The D5000 enhances Live View shooting by giving you a choice of different display views. Minimize displayed camera settings when you want an uncluttered view of the scene, or show vital information at a glance for situations requiring a comprehensive readout of settings.

Different types of photos require different focus strategies and the D5000 has the right Live View autofocus mode for any occasion. Whether it's a unique expression, dynamic action, or a small object in a big composition, the four easily selectable modes help you stay focused for sharp results.

The D5000 makes it point-and-shoot simple to acquire clear, tack-sharp photos when composing via the bright, informative optical viewfinder. Whether your subject is off-center, moving fast, or completely unpredictable, the D5000 has the right autofocus solution.

The D5000's normal ISO range of 200 to 3200 can be expanded to cover ISO 100 to 6400, letting you capture the natural ambience of a warmly lit room or vibrant street scene when the use of flash or tripod isn't an option. The extended sensitivity is also ideal for shooting sports, allowing fast shutter speeds to freeze action.

Nikon D5000 12.3 Megapixel DX-Format Digital SLR Camera Body Features

  • 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor: Coupled with Nikon's EXPEED image processing and NIKKOR optics, breathtaking picture quality is assured.
  • D-Movie Mode with sound: Record 720p HD movie clips enhanced by NIKKOR interchangeable lens quality and versatility.
  • Vari-angle color LCD monitor: Position the 2.7-inch monitor freely for fresh shooting perspectives. Screen flips inward for safe keeping.
  • 19 Auto-exposure Scene Modes: Capture stunning photos in challenging picture-taking situations including Sunsets, Candlelight, Silhouette, Portrait, Landscape, Beach/Snow and more.
  • One-button Live View: Easy Live View access offers 4 autofocus modes, including Face-priority AF.
  • Continuous shooting as fast as 4 frames per second: Combined with fast power-up and split-second shutter response, decisive moments are captured easily without annoying shooting lag.
  • Low noise ISO sensitivity from 200 to 3200: Engineered for exceptional low-light shooting.
  • Built-in image sensor cleaning: Effective 4-frequency, ultrasonic sensor cleaning keeps images spot free.
  • 11-point Autofocus System with 3D Focus Tracking: Fast and accurate autofocus delivers razor sharpness.
  • Auto Active D-Lighting: Restores lost shadow and highlight detail in high contrast exposures-Selectable and Auto modes available.
  • In-camera Retouch image editing: Creative in-camera image editing, featuring Soft Filter, Straighten, Color Outline Effect, Perspective Control, Red-eye Correction, Image Overlay, Monochrome and more-all without a computer.
  • Picture Control Settings for personal image control: Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape and 9 customizable settings.
  • Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II: Nikon's renowned 420-pixel RGB 3D Color Matrix Metering II, teamed with the exclusive Scene Recognition System, evaluates each scene for unmatched exposure accuracy.
  • Durable, high precision shutter: Testing to over 100,000 cycles assures precision and long shutter life.
  • GPS Geo-tagging: GP-1 GPS unit (optional) automatically identifies and records every image's latitude, longitude and altitude, with satellite time-of-day.