Nikon D5000 Announced

Nikon have announced a new digital SLR, the D5000.
Headline features are a 12.3 Megapixel DX sensor, HD movie recording and a rather unusual swivelly LCD screen.

Recommended prices are as follows: Body Only RRP: £719.99, D5000 + 18-55 VR kit: £799.99.
Available from 1st May 2009.

At this price, and with this sort of gimmicky feature set, I’m not too clear who it is really aimed at.   I mean, really, how often do you take pictures with your DSLR without using the view finder?  If only one of the manufacturers would concentrate on something genuinely useful in the photographic sense, such as a dramatic increase in dynamic range. 

Anyway, enough of my comments.  The Nikon press release has this to say:

Nikon UK is pleased to announce the D5000, its latest digital SLR camera that is perfect for capturing family fun and developing the skills of photography hobbyists. Packed with features that make taking pictures easy and fun, this camera stands out above the competition with its unique Vari-angle LCD monitor, allowing you to shoot easily from almost any angle.

The D5000 inherits the D90’s groundbreaking HD movie capability, Nikon’s proprietary D-Movie function, and extensive in-camera editing features to enhance images. Coupled with the wide choice of scene modes, 12.3MP sensor and high-sensitivity that ranges between ISO 200 and 3200 (which can be extended to ISO 100 and ISO 6400 equivalent) for shooting in a wide range of lighting conditions, this camera makes it easier than ever to take great quality pictures.

Read more here at the Nikon site.

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2 responses to “Nikon D5000 Announced”

  1. DJK Avatar
    DJK

    I use my swivel screen all the time – especially for shots from lower angles, or for more candid shots while engaging my subject with chat (a bit like how you might have used the ground glass screen from the old Twin Lens Reflex cameras:

    http://www.3106.net/photo/cam-tlr.htm ). I also use it to enable high-angle shots above people’s heads in lots of circumstances (took some shots at a wedding recently in this way, of the guests mingling – some very well-received shots taken in this way).

    Video ? Again, yes – my P&S has video, and the occasional sound-and-motion capture of my excited nephew cycling without stabilisers and breathlessly panting at me would have been missed. I got lots of stills, but the flexibility of having video to hand was fabulous 🙂

    So, far from it being “gimicky”, I see it as a useful additional tool to be able to use when the need arises 🙂

    Reply
  2. Keith Morton Avatar
    Keith Morton

    I share your bafflement at the marketing strategy behind the D5000. It is (so far) bundled with a low-end zoom lens but priced up there with the D90. Perhaps this is intended for the better-heeled ‘I must have one of those’ market segment who are maybe not always very critical. That might also explain the add-on gimmicks. Doubtless it will be a fine camera but I can’t quite see the point of it.

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