Testing the Nikon D5000

I’ve been trying the new Nikon D5000. A camera that I would classify in the middle of the Nikon D60 and the Nikon D90 but with a little bit of “new style” because of the vari-angle color LCD monitor. It is awesome to be able to freely move the LCD monitor in a D-SLR camera!

The first thing I noticed is how light it is, and how compact it is compared to my Nikon D90, it weights only 560 grams. But it has the same sensor as the Nikon D90, it also has 11 focus points and it also can record video. But the LCD monitor quality is much worse, I could notice it in a second, they’ve got rid off the little LCD from the top (Like in the D40 and D60) and it also lack an internal focusing motor (Like the D40 and the D60). The main reason I moved from my D40 to the D90 it was because of the lack of internal focusing that forced me to buy my lenses selecting only among a very reduced number of new models but I could not buy old lenses.

It is a very simple, cheap and light camera, where the quality of the pictures is comparable to the Nikon D90, I find it as the best option for those who are looking for their first SLR. Why do you need a D60 if you can get a D5000?

If you want to read more about this new mini-SLR trend with incredible sensors able to record video continue reading this excellent article by the NYT.