The Nikon D5000 - Great Starter Camera
The Nikon D5000 is a great starter camera in the under $1,000 range. It has the electronics of the much more expensive D90 but it is far superior to the older D60.
Nikon uses a CMOS sensor instead of the CCD it’s been using in its entry-level models. This is the same sensor that is used in the much more expensive D90. It has a flip-down-and-swivel LCD which allows stowing the panel to prevent damage while at the same time allowing easy visibility regardless of the angle of the shot.
The auto-focus system is the same 11-point AF system as in the D90 with a newer version of the Expeed image processor (includes the Auto Active D-Lighting and face-priority AF, plus enhanced Live View AF) along with a GP-1 hot shoe GPS. It can also upload over wireless with the Eye-Fi card.
The D5000 is available in two configurations from the factory: body only and a kit with a 18-55mm lens. This is the same lens that ships with the D60 kit. The D90 kit comes with a much better lens, but that’s one of the reasons for the price differential.
For a “low-end” camera, it sure feels solid to hold, and it has the same feel as the other D-line Nikons. It has no top-mounted display, but that is not really a problem due to the swivel display design. The display is very vivid and bright, even in full daylight. It is not as high-resolution as the D90, but it is much brighter. The colors are also very sharp.
The graphical user-interface is great. The layout is very intuitive and the system will alert you if you are missing your SD card, if the subject is too dark, image quality level, ISO, white-balance, focus-mode, image size, exposure, f-stop and much more. Like all DSLR’s, navigation of the controls takes some training, but with this model it is mostly intuitive.
The internals of the D5000 are the same as the D90. 12.3 megapixel sensor in both, 11 area TTL auto-focus on both, ISO 200 - 6,400 on both. There is no focus motor on the D5000 but the image quality from the D5000 is very close to the D90.
This camera shoots video, but it won’t auto-focus in video mode and it won’t shoot video for more than five minutes. This means it is relatively useless for video. If you are looking for video, don’t consider this camera - get a real video camera.
Bottom line, this is a great first camera for the neophyte. If you just want to take some good pictures, this camera will be all you need. If you are going for portraits and landscapes and multiple lenses, spring for the D90.
See this camera reviewed at Shopper Select
Top 10 Best Sellers for Asus Eee Pc White
 |
Top #1 ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-MU27-WT 10.1-Inch White Netbook with Kindle |
|
Review by David Wolf (U.S.) 2010-08-29 " A few months ago I received one of those alternatives 1005PE this netbook, and has been quite impressed with it. What has happened to me is important for potential buyers of the current theme, so good. Bear with me as any potential buyer must be aware of what can happen, there should be d... " | |
 |
Top #2 ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1001P-PU17-WT 10.1-Inch White Netbook (Up to |
|
Review by G. Inman (USA) 2010-08-08 " I wish that he paid $ 100 and got a normal laptop. This child is too small. You look like an idiot in public, trying to read the fine print. And I mean small. The battery is about 8-10 hours and that is good. RAM with the little man in more than fast enough. BUT ... The characters used for a... " | |
 |
Top #3 ASUS Eee PC 1015PED-PU17-WT 10.1-Inch White Netbook - Up to |
 |
Top #4 Asus Eee PC 1001P-MU17-WT 10.1-Inch Intel Atom Netbook Computer (White) |
|
Review by South Texan (TEXAS) 2010-08-10 " Wife and I bought the Asus Eee PC-1001P-BK MY17 used primarily as a word processor on-the-road Internet access for the customer when the evaluations by various companies. We bought it in April 2010 and now August. It worked very well for this purpose. It 's the format of Excel... " | |
|
|
Top #5 ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-MU17-WT 10.1-Inch White Netbook (Up to |
|
Review by A. Nathanson (COLUMBUS, OH) 2010-06-27 " My battery to 88% at this time 10hr shows the remaining battery life, as I write this review. I use this netbook yesterday I had to reload. Without doubt, this notebook is the biggest feature is the battery life phenomenal. I upgraded to 2GB of RAM, shortly after the purchase, and also... " | |
 |
Top #6 ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-VU1X-WT 10.1-Inch White Netbook - 8.5 Hour |
|
Review by M. R. Hughes (USA) 2010-07-20 " While he was working was Netbook end - I bought in July 09 - started to freeze in April 2009 - I tried to reinstall XP - the machinery of death - I'm netbook remix on it and I got to work so long contact ASUS - said he needed to reflash the BIOS - Windows would still Insta... " | |
 |
Top #7 Asus Eee PC 1005HA-MU17-WT 10.1-Inch Intel Atom Netbook Computer (Pearl |
|
Review by CFH (BLUE RIDGE SUMMIT, PA USA) 2010-08-31 " ASUS 'Eee PC 1005HA Netbook-MU17-BK "is exactly what I was looking for a highly portable PC. I work full time zone is always available (often forced to work off hours or on weekends \ Holidays), so I must always have access to a PC, especially when traveling. My work issued... " | |
 |
Top #8 ASUS Eee PC 1000HA 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel ATOM |
|
Review by Harry J. Steinman (BOSTON) 2010-04-13 " The gadget works fine, but the service is a joke. I called the three numbers in service. It was very nice. Each call I was told that the matter requires superior technology ... and promised a call back. Not a single call nobody back! Also, my AC power fails. A request for RMA on March 30.... " | |
 |
Top #9 ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1008HA-MU17-WT 10.1-Inch White Netbook - 6 |
|
Review by M. Small (WAIKOLOA, HAWAII USA) 2010-02-16 " I bought the ASUS EEPC 1 1 / 2 years ago. I went immediately to Europe. When I worked for wireless intermittenly. I discovered that it would only wireless networks unprotected. If I had a password that would not work. When I got home, I tried to house my son and myself from... " | |
 |
Top #10 ASUS Eee PC 1008HA Seashell 10.1-Inch Pearl White Netbook - |
|
Review by Michael Diamant (USA) 2010-08-18 " After only 8 months of occasional use, the keyboard does not work correctly. To fix, I must pay for shipping (both ways), keyboard and work. All this is over 50% of what the unit cost of origin. Buyer Beware. You are getting what you pay for, do not last long.... " | |
