Nikon Announces New D-5000 DSLR with HD Video, Swivel Screen, and More!
The rumor mill was right on the money—-today (as expected) Nikon did introduce a new entry-level DSLR—the Nikon D-5000 (shown above; photos courtesy of Nikon), which includes the ability to shoot HD video (like the D90), but it also includes a new swivel Vari-angle screen on the back, along with “Subject Tracking autofocus which automatically locks onto a moving subject.” Plus, according to Nikon, “The D5000’s D-Movie Mode allows users the exciting ability to record HD movie clips (1280 x 720) at a cinematic 24 frames per second with sound.”
Although the big buzz will be about the video features (your video writes to an SD card), the camera itself is no slouch, at 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, 11-point auto focus, 19-scene modes, built-in self cleaning function, ISO up to 6400 (no word yet on noise levels), 4 fps continous shooting, blah, blah, blah—-you can read all tech nuts and bolts over at Nikon’s site (here’s the link). By the way, it lists for just $729 (body only), and it’s expected to ship in late April. Sweet!
At the same time, Nikon also intro’d a new DX format lens: The Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5 – f/4.5 zoom lens. It’s pricey. More than the D-5000 camera itself. $899. Expected sometime in May, 2009. Here’s the link for more info.
The rumors are aways right
Let’s see when we will get the D400 with some FX lenses, maybe we will even get your custom wide angle lens in mass production
Nikon, stop it with the DX lenses already, the FX line is lagging behind big time.
Is it just me, or is there no ISO button? Does this mean ISO settings will be hidden in a menu? It is also missing the front dial wheel, which is kinda disappointing. Anyways, still exciting to see at this price point, can’t wait to see more details
That is consistent with the D40/60 which don’t have dedicated ISO buttons or front wheels. I didn’t expect this to have those features.
Any idea why the went with 5000 and not a two-digit number like previous entry-level Nikons? Before this it was very simple: single-digit was pro level, double-digit was entry-level and triple-digit was semi-pro/serious amateur. This just throws that whole naming system out the window. Is there anything so revolutionary about this camera that it warrants a whole new, four-digit naming category?
well dxxxx dxxx and dx is at least in order now (the lesser the numbers the more pro)
plus, they had a d40 d60 d80 d90, seemed like they were running outta dxx’s
and i forgot about the older d50 and d70. so correcting myself, they completely ran outta dxx’s unless they wanted to go backwards (d30, d20, d10) which on a marketing standpoint, would make no sense.
well by that logic wouldn’t a d90 be more ‘pro’ than a d700?
But it`s cheaper than Nikon d3. Why? Nikon d3 is worse than d5000.
Does it seem silly to develop a 10-24 with the 12-24? I would much rather see a few lenses similar to Canons FF L f4 series.
I really like the rear flip which also closes. As for the nuts and bolts, we will have to see what Scott does for a review. It is getting confusing with the number sequence now. Unless they will be making a new line of 5XXX cameras as the video camera features.
Thx, Glenn N
I find the 10-22 lens more interesting than the body – video/photo convergence is no surprise or need for excitement anymore, we all know that’s the trend, whether photographers need it or not. The 10-22 lens though – that is a direct slap at Canon because until now, Canon was the only one with a wide angle that went that far out w/out going fisheye. Nikon has stepped up to address practically everything Canon does, and is doing it better…when is Canon going to step up their game?
So is Nikon phasing out the D60 for this camera. The D5000 seems to be a melding of the D60 and D90 for the entry level photographer?
wow my name is Brad Jolly as well. Jus hollern at my self
my name is brad jolly too… kinda weird
Scott, this model is nearly twice the cost of the D40, so I wouldn’t call it “entry-level.” It’s their highest-priced consumer model. This leaves the D40 as a 2.5-year-old entry-level model that’s in need of replacement. I was hoping they’d announce a new entry-level model, but that didn’t happen.
Why ANOTHER entry-level DSLR from Nikon!? It seems like they just came out with the D90 and D60… it seems like that market is covered, doesn’t it?
Bring out more FX lenses! FX DLSR users like me are craving for more!
The consumer end is where most of the money is so the churn factor has to be higher. For the time being, FX users are a tiny percentage of overall users so I think Nikon is actually being prudent overall.
I agree the number of DX sales are higher, but you can use an FX lens on a DX camera with no downside. The converse is not true. The crop factor of a DX lens on the FX body makes it not an option for me (D700).
I think Nikon should start giving FX lenses separate specs for both DX and FX bodies. Since most of the quality issues with lenses happen at the edges, an FX lens on a DX body is cropping most of the marginal quality issues out of the image sensor.
Making more FX lenses would make everyone happy.
Nikon keeps making me happy that I spent almost $2000 to buy a D-300 BODY when it came out and then they release the D90 at half that cost and essentially the same system but with HD Video! Now at $750+ they release a D-5000 and devalue my investment even more!!! I love my D-300 and it is in constant use, so I guess I paid for the early capability. Yeah, I paid dearly as it turned out……..
Has the 5DMk.2 checkmated Nikon??
Maybe I have to wait until the review comes out but if I compare the specs of the d90 with the d5000 they are 99% identical. The d90 however has a bunch of extra buttons (that on the d5000 surely will be available via the menu). Why is there almost 300$ price difference?
Some of the features of the D90 over the new D5000 are:
* Commander mode using built in flash
* LED info screen on top
* Internal motor drive using lenses that don’t have a built in focusing motor
* Depth of field preview button
* dedicated buttons for changing ISO, WB, Quality eliminating the need to navigate menus to make these changes.
* 2 command dials vs. 1 on the D5000
* 3″ high resolution vs. 2.7″ low resolution LCD screen
* 41 custom settings vs. only 23 on the D5000
* longer lasting battery life (approx. 66% longer – however this might be misleading if you factor in flash usage as the D5000 built in flash is more powerful that the D90)
* Available battery grip for the D90 none for the D5000
* Ability to run live view via Capture Control software not available on the D5000
* No flash bracketing on the D5000
* And speaking of bracketing if you are an HDR shooter then you’ll what to look at making the jump to the D300. While the D300 is in need of a refresh (D300s) to add some of the features that are now on these lower priced cameras it still has a far superior bracketing feature. At least Nikon did add bracketing in some form as this was completely missing from the D40, D40x, and D60. Now if only Nikon will fix the bracketing so as to allow 2 stops between shots (currently 1 stop is the max.) the way that Cannon does then they will have HDR shooters covered.
When comparing the price for value between the D90 and the D5000 it looks to me like the D90 is still the better deal. The D5000 is priced at least $100 too high.
I think one of the biggest differences is that the D90 has a built in focusing motor allowing the camera to use older lenses that do not have a built in motor for auto focus, while the D500 does not.
Is that worth the extra money? I don’t know, it would depend on how many older lenses you have.
As for the FX / DX lens thing, I think that since the FX sensor is a tiny segment of the market and there are a great many fantastic older Nikon lenses that were made for the F series of cameras, that the focus on DX lenses seems justified.
There are only 3 FX cameras in the Nikon lineup and the cheapest is still $2500. It is cheaper to make DX lenses and with a much wider user base, it makes sense.
Man, they are just all over the map with these model #’s……seemingly, alot messier than my messy desktop…..I feel so much better…
carry on folks
I thought Scott was joking about a “D5000″. My wife finds his humor funnier than I do.
I guess the joke is on me.
A very transparent attempt by Nikon to capture more market share. Although another writer said this isn’t entry level at this price point, it actually is: what did a D70 cost when it first came out?
I’m waiting for some clearly “pro” series lenses from Nikon. The Canon “L” series is a clear winner because it is differentiated from the normal lenses, when is Nikon going to join them? Of course you don’t capture market share directly when you address the smaller pro niche, but you do by indirectly attracting all those pro-sumers who have aspirations to go pro (admittedly like me). Oh, and as a D300 user, I really don’t care if the lenses are DX or FX; but guess what my next camera will need?
nice to have the zoom lens at ultra wide, and the new video availability camera, which means Nikon is working tales off….so where is he 600mm telepoto lens that seemed to appear for the Olympics and disappear as the stadiums were dismantled. The zoom wide would have been wonderful for wandering around in China temples and streets and more usable than the tele which weighs 11lbs.
Would be nice if Nikon folks would tell we faithful about the 600mm
Dick
Wow, what a camera. I still love my Nikon D300, though.
Susan
Over at “Raisin Toast”
http://raisintoast.typepad.com
I just bought this camera and can’t figure out how to zoom in or out when taking a picture. Please explain.
Thanks!