Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD (Body Only)

Buy Cheap Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD (Body Only)

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A remarkable blend of simplicity and highly advanced D-SLR capabilities, the compact and powerful D5000 offers breathtaking 12.3-megapixel image quality, along with a flexible, Vari-angle, Live View monitor for fresh picture-taking perspectives. Nikon's EXPEED image processing further enhances performance, contributing to split-second shutter response and continuous shooting at up to 4 frames-per-second to capture fast action and precise moments perfectly.
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Technical Details

- 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor
- Body only; lenses sold separately
- D-Movie Mode with sound; record 720p HD movie clips
- Vari-angle color 2.7-inch LCD monitor; one-button Live View
- Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
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 "Excellent camera for the beginner to advanced" 2010-02-10
By Tech Mologie
I just recently purchased the D5000 and have had this camera for over two months. I've been searching for a digital SLR to replace my SLR (Nikon N90) and fill the gap from my point and shoot (Canon IS970). I have been doing photography as an amateur for 20 some years now and have to say that the D5000 fills what I need perfectly. I was a bit perturbed about the reports in this forum about the problem with the Nikon and further still about support from Nikon in reporting the problem. In the past I have not had any problems with Nikon products (maybe lucky?) and they have had great support from their dealers for any questions that I had. If you have a problem with a Nikon product, you have a wealth of choices in terms of support - you can go to a local Ritz or Penn Camera in the Mid-Atlantic if you are not satisfied otherwise. There are a couple of things I was surprised about:



1) While I can use my older Nikon Lenses, they no longer work in AF. You need the new lenses that support the new style of DSLR AF.

2) You cannot use the older Flashes - it flashes too strongly for the CCDs/CMOSes and are not compatible with the new mounts. You will need to buy one specifically for these DSLRs.



Either of the above is not a problem since purchases should be forward compatible from here on out...



My buying thought process was the following:

1) Quality pictures

2) Quality build and company support

3) Compatible with old lenses (to save money)

4) Ease of use



#1 was readily solved. This camera is excellent in picture quality - I've been very satisfied with the pictures from high to low ISO with some understandable graininess at 3400 ISO. The CMOS sensor used in the D5000 is the same one as in the D90. Also, the 11 AF points are the same as the D90 and not the 3 point in the D60... The build is excellent. It is smaller than the D90, about as light as the D60, and feels solid. The past issue with the lockup is long done, I think. I've taken about 2000 pictures so far and no lockups and on a single battery with the builtin flash (but not continuous - probably about 20% with flash). I had a bunch of old lenses from my N90 that I really wanted to save money with. I can still use them but not with autofocus. I went ahead and bought new lenses anyway except for my 75-300mm Tamron Zoom lens. It's just a great form factor for that lens (light and small with a minimum barrel length of 2.5inches). The camera is also incredibly easy to use - it reminds me of how easy my N50 was. The learning curve on the N90 was a little steep which I suspect the D90 is as well. I can use the D5000 as easily as I can use the Canon IS970, which I think says a lot - and without having to use the manual. For getting the right depth of field using Aperture priority, I did need to look that up in the manual...



I think the D90 is a great camera and there are more features to it than on the D5000, but the D5000 hit the right spot in what I needed - a really good DSLR that is easy to use, light, and give me enough options to take some serious photography when I want to.



So 1,2,and 4 outweighed 3 - I could live with 3 since the only thing I lost was AF. Buy this camera and rememeber to buy a decent flash - if you are a beginner, you will run into the lens barrel shadow that all SLRs/DSLRs have with anything beyond an 18-50mm lens...

 "Nikon D5000 D-SLR body" 2010-01-23
By Steven G. Oliver (Tacoma, WA USA)
I bought it in Dec 2009 at Best Buy as a "kit" with 2 lens & camera bag (which was good quality; however, I found this bag could not hold enough when I added a separate flash: SB-600).

The 12.3 MP gives good quality. The built in flash always pops up in Auto mode; however, there is a way to turn it off (the Mode dial should be set to the "lightning bolt" icon with a slash through it).

I have only used the AF-S 18-55 mm lens and have taken over a thousand photos at this setting: family, Christmas decorating and Christmas Eve family gift exchange, New Years party, & grandchildren. All the photos have been good: clear detail and enlargable. I shoot at the full 12.3 MP setting (large). This allows for cropping with no grainy appearance.

This was a much camera as I could afford, costing about $700 in the "Kit". I wanted the Nikon D700, but could not afford it ($3,000 body only); however, the lenses and flash would work with the D700 when I am able to afford it. Avoid the D300 (poor photo quality according to reviews).

The D5000 uses SD cards & I use an 8 GB one. Some grandkid motion is too fast for the auto-focus to follow; but with my previous Minolta DiImage A2 (long obsolete) could not catch that motion either.

When my Minolta died, I tried some other D-SLRs: Kodak Z980, Canon PowerShot SX20 and SX120. None compare to the D5000 (but they are less expensive).

 "Very nice" 2010-01-14
By Clay Olmstead
I've had my D5000 for about a month. I'm upgrading from film SLRs and compact digitals. This is a whole new world. It looks like Nikon has done a good job of including features from their higher-end cameras (like the sensor, that being the whole point). It's taken me a little time to get used to all the features and settings and to get them where I want them. I'm about ready to take it out on the road and see what it's like to shoot pictures in the real world. I can't wait.

 "Excellent - Compact SLR" 2010-01-13
By James J. Pupo
Excellent compact SLR that has all the essential components of the D90 and performs much like the D90. Image quality is outstanding. A great FIRST SLR. A great TRAVEL SLR. A great BACK UP SLR. Excellent compliment to the D700.

 "Awesome!!" 2010-01-12
By Contributing Author
I did a lot of research before I decided to go with D5000 - including going to BestBuy and other camera stores and handling the camera to make sure it feels right. In the end I got the best deal through Amazon (even though a D5000 kit at Costco had an unbelievable deal). I choose not to buy a kit because I wanted specific lenses with the camera. I wanted one lens that I can travel with without the need to change lenses and another that I can use primarily in doors in low light conditions. I got the Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras and Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras lenses. I also got a Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras and an Eye-Fi 4GB Pro SDHC Wireless Flash Memory Card EYE-FI-4PC to wirelessly upload pictures to my laptop (D5000 has built in support for Eye-Fi SDHC cards). Last week Eye-Fi came out with Eye-Fi 8GB Pro X2 SDHC Class 6 Wireless Flash Memory Card EYE-FI-8PC that has more features and almost the same price (bummer!). I also got UV filters for both lens to protect the expensive lens glass.



The cameras I compared before buying were, Nikon D90, D60, Canon Rebel iTL, xTi, etc.



I have used it for two weeks now with great results. Camera is very easy to use, I still have not looked through the manual and have been able to find advance setting easily. The auto-focus with both the lenses is very fast (faster if using the view-port than using LiveView). I still have not been able to find a camera case that I feel good with - that is compact enough to easily carry around and I can get my essential accessories in.



One big factor for me for selecting this camera was the swivel lens. Being a big guy, I run into scenarios where I do not have clear line of sight to the subject I am capturing and have always wanted the ability to move the camera higher or away from my body to take great shots and the swivel LCD does a great job at it. My tipod mount has not had any problem with restricting the swivel movement, but I have seen it at a store, where the tripod mount was huge and restricted the LCD movement.



Again - overall highly recommended camera.






Images Product

Buy Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD (Body Only) Now

Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Buy Cheap Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Buy Low Price From Here Now
This 5.8x zoom, designed exclusively for use with Nikon's DX-format, features Nikon's VR image stabilization and is perfect for portraits and action. The wide-ratio 5.8x zoom
Compact, versatile and ideal for a broad range of shooting situations, ranging from interiors and landscapes to beautiful portraits--a perfect everyday zoom. Vibration Reduction is engineered specifically for each VR NIKKOR lens and enables handheld shooting at up to 3 shutter speeds slower than would otherwise be possible, assuring dramatically sharper images.
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Technical Details

- Includes - LC-67 67mm snap-on front lens cap; LF-1 rear lens cap; HB-32 Bayonet lens hood, CL-1018 Flexible lens pouch
- Vibration Reduction is engineered specifically for each VR NIKKOR lens and enables handheld shooting at up to 3 shutter speeds slower than normal.
- Aspherical lens element virtually eliminates coma and other types of lens aberration, further improving image integrity.
- Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) enhances light transmission and offers superior color consistency and reduced flare.
- Close focusing to 1.48 feet - Creative close-up photography is possible throughout the entire zoom range.
See more technical details

 "Serious flaw in materials used for mount" 2010-02-10
By Mark Alsip (Kentucky, USA)
Of the dozen or so Nikon lenses I've owned, this is the first I've been unhappy with. Features vs. price isn't a problem, but quality of materials has turned out to be a huge issue. To save money or weight (or both) Nikon has used thin, cheap plastic instead of metal for the bayonet mount. I didn't notice just how thin and fragile this plastic was until shooting in 28 degree weather last month, when the lens literally fell off the camera body as I was zoomed in on a subject.



Inside the body I found a tiny shard of black plastic that turned out to be all that ever held the lens on the body. Comparing the shard to the remainder that had NOT broken off the lens, I was shocked to see just how thin this very important of plastic had been on the day the lens left the factory -- what I mean is, I wasn't looking at a mount worn thin by repeated use: this was original material and workmanship with no signs of abuse or wear in the 10 months since I'd purchased it new.



The lens is on its way to Nikon repair now but the only thing I fear more than them NOT fixing it for free is that they'll replace it with another poorly-made lens that's going to fall apart on me in the middle of an important shoot. I don't "baby" my equipment but I do take care of it and I expect it to last for years as a result. This used to be what Nikon stood for and I'm still using Nikon lenses purchased over 20 year ago. Corners were obviously cut to produce this lens cheaply and in looking at how it's made, I'm not surprised it fell off the camera body and into a snow bank during normal use. This lens does NOT represent a commitment to quality. Unless you plan on never removing it from the camera body, I would look elsewhere...

 "enjoy the lens" 2010-02-06
By Jeffrey I. Turkel (North Pole, Alaska, USA)
I got this as the kit lens when I purchased my Nikon D90. It's a good all around lens with very convenient focal range. Fast focusing with the D90 and the vibration reduction works as advertised. Ocassional the photos are a little soft, but easily fixed with software. Doubt I'd pay the full price for this as an "additional" lens but perfect as a kit lens. As far as the plastic lens mount, just be careful.

 "Definitly better than its reputation on expert sites!!" 2010-01-14
By Cheap-n-Easy (Triad, NC)
I got this lens with my D90 kit. I am also a fan of Ken Rockwell, his reviews and deep expert knowledge about cameras, film and digital. Especially his expertise with Nikon over the past 30 or so years helped me a lot to be smarter about equipment and take better pictures. Ken is not the biggest fan of this AF-S 18-105 VR lens and that would naturally lead many people to caution. I have done my own comparison and truly believe he is too negative about this lens.



What I have:

Nikon D90 (SOLD - great cam but I am eventually getting the D300s - Need a better/faster autofocus system to capture fast moving kids)

Nikon D40 (My all around favorite - For everyday "grab-it-and-go" use as well fast flash photography)

AF-S 35mm f/1.8 prime (you MUST get this one)

AF-S 18-105 VR (This review - I actually kept this lens when I sold the D90 body because I like it so much)

AF-S 18-55 VR D40 kit lens

AF-S 55-200 VR (My travel zoom)

AF-S 70-300 VR (Tripod wildlife shots and similar)



What is good about the AF-S 18-105 VR:

- Very versatile! Great zoom range for most of your photography needs.

- Better AF "hit rate" than the AF-S 18-200 VR

- Sharp, well exposed pictures with really great colors all the time.

- Still "relatively" portable for the zoom range it provides.

- Probably the best bang for the buck AF-S DX VR lens!



What could be better:

- The plastic lens mount is my biggest complaint and the only reason I gave it 4 stars. Nikon has to cut somewhere, I get that ... but the lens mount? C'mon ... this is a real goof by Nikon and in my book inexcusable.

- The lens has a good bit of barrel distortion at 18mm, but then again all super zooms have this issue. Correct in Photoshop is easy if you must. Pincushion distortion is there but much less noticeable.

- No distance range scale/window on lens. Not a must but would really be nice.

- For my liking this lens already on the heavy side of the range, while probably still considered "light" for these now so popular "all around" wide range zooms. Weight is the enemy when it comes to photography. It really changes the dynamics of handling the camera and your entire photography when you have one of these fat primadonnas mounted (they actually handle better on heavy bodies like the D300s than lighter bodies like the D40 since the lighter cams get very "front heavy"). I can only imagine how it might affect your photography when you put the even much heavier AF-s 18-200 VR on you D body. This is also a reason I prefer the D90 over the D300s. I however will need the D300s for its better autofocus capabilities since I you shoot fast moving objects (= kids!). Now if you don't shoot fast moving objects ... by all means get the D90! It does really everything the D300s does IF speed (AF and FPS) is not the issue. So as you can see that personally I am not a big fan of heavy super zooms and, when needing a zoom, prefer to shoot as much as I can with the super light AF-S 18-55 VR which has also a better optical and image quality than both the AF-s 18-200 VR and this AF-s 18-105 VR. If more zoom is needed I take out the AF-s 55-200 VR which is an excellent lens while still very light. When travelling I take my D40 body (super light!) with the AF-s 18-55 VR and the AF-s 55-200 VR most of the time (these two lenses together weigh less or no more than a single AF-s 18-200 VR!). When indoors I try to use the 35mm prime because it is much, much faster than the zooms and has excellent image quality.

- Front lens cap is a bit fiddly to put on as others have noted here, but that's not a biggie.



Bottom line: For those of you thinking about dropping three times as much or more on the (in my opinion) overhyped and very heavy AF-S 18-200 VR ... THINK HARD ABOUT IT and try the AF-s 18-105 out first if you need a super zoom.

I would not pay the huge premium for the AF-S 18-200 VR for several reasons:

- When I compared, and contrary to Ken Rockwell's comments, I find the image quality with the AF-s 18-200 VR poorer than the AF-s 18-105 VR and all other lenses I have (above). Other technical online reviews such as dpreview also support this observation. The AF-s 18-200 has a fuzzier image and more distortion which (contrary to the AF-s 18-105 VR) is also present across a wider zoom range.

- In addition ... think of it this way: With a little shopping you can get the AF-S 18-105 VR, the AF-S 70-300 VR and the must-have AF-s 35mm f/1.8 for the same or just a little more money than a single AF-S 18-200 VR lens. Even better! If you substitute the excellent but a bit pricey AF-s 70-300 VR with the fantastic and ultra cheap AF-s 55-200 VR you'll pay actually less for this entire kit than you will for a for a single AF-s 18-200 VR lens. Almost a full DX system for the price less than one AF-s 18-200 VR lens to which I would only add a super wide angle such as the fantastic (but pricey) Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX.

Unfortunately the AF-S 18-105 VR is often underrated and therefore cheap on the used market as people flock to the AF-s18-200VR. I cannot duplicate the concerns around softness in the corners or fuzziness Ken Rockwell is noticing on this lens. It is an excellent budget lens for a do-it-all if you need that and a real bargain. The only real drawback being the plastic mount. Give it a try before you disregard it or get my budget Nikkor DX "system suggestion" above which is still better than either of these (AF-s 18-55 VR plus a AF-s 55-200VR). I think you'll agree with the other lens owners here!

 "Super People Shooting Lens" 2010-01-04
By Tiffany Ann (Black Diamond Bay)
If I know I'm going to be shooting people, you know, a wedding, bar mitzvah, baptism, birthday party, especially one with children and clowns, then this is the lens I use. If I take both bodies, I'll have a wide angle on the other one, so I can get good group shots inside. The 16-85mm range of the camera translates to 24-127mm in real world photography and that'll give you good wide angle shots and allow you some pretty good closeups from across the room or yard, plus the 80 to 120mm range is perfect for portraits.



This lens isn't all that expensive and you're buying better than excellent optics, Nikon quality (the build on this lens is as good as you'll find on any lens made today) and VR that works (it's almost like going a couple stops lower).



You might wonder why I'd opt for this lens for people shooting events over the very nice Nikon 18-200mm or the Tamron 18-270mm, well this lens weighs less, focuses faster, takes sharper photos and I've never ever wished I'd had a longer lens at an event, well once, when I shot a wedding in Huntington Beach. It was a beach side condo and there was some good surf action going on, great waves, but that had nothing to do with the wedding.



If you want a longer range than the kit lens, this could be a good walkabout lens and there have been days when I've used it for that, though I prefer the more compact Nikon 18-55mm for everyday use and one of the above mentioned wide to long telephotos for vacations. Still if you shoot a lot of people or are planning to, you'll find this lens will serve you well.

 "A great upgrade and overall excellent lens" 2009-12-26
By Weston Powers (Pennsylvania)
I want to say that when I first got this lens for Christmas I was utterly disappointed, not because it wasn't a good lens, but I had my heart set on a prime lens. Well, I pushed my sadness aside and mounted it on my D60. The first thing I noticed about it was the size, it was significantly larger in every way possible over the 18-55mm kit lens that came with the D60. The only thing that didn't change was the f-stop. It was sort of heavy mounted on the D60's tiny body but that is something that is easily overcome. The picture quality and the overall use of the lens is where it started to win me over.

I was shooting inside all day with f/3.5, ISO 800 and shutter speed of 1/6 of a second. The pictures came out crisp and clear with the aid of the vibration reduction, whereas my 18-55mm would be a hit-or-miss. I found it great that I could go from shooting wide angle shots to mid-range telephoto shots without having to switch between lenses. I began to see a difference between the quality of my old 18-55mm and the 18-105mm. The 18-105 is the older brother of the 18-55mm kit lens, and it is more useful/ The focusing ring on the lens can override the auto focus. If you are someone in my situation with a three point AF D60, then this comes in handy considering that the focus isn't always where you want it to be. The feel of the lens was different. It felt like it was made of plastic and rubber on the outside, which isn't bad and doesn't inhibit the ability of the lens to do its job, it just feels sort of cheap if you are obsessed with having the best built thing possible. The feeling of cheapness, isn't something to be concerned about, so long as you realize that the lens is meant for picture taking and not groping. The sheer portability of the lens doesn't seem to be an issue, it is just bulkier then the 18-55mm, especially on the puny D60.

The lens is the kind you want to have if you enjoy having versatility in your range but don't want to put more money towards the 18-200mm lens. I look forward to using this lens a lot more and seeing what it can do. Like everything else, it's flaws are just something that the user will have to learn to overcome. But if you are looking at buying D40, D60 or D5000 I strongly suggest buying the bodies only and buying this lens.


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Buy Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Now

Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens and 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD

Buy Cheap Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens and 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD

Buy Low Price From Here Now
A remarkable blend of simplicity and highly advanced D-SLR capabilities, the compact and powerful D5000 offers breathtaking 12.3-megapixel image quality, along with a flexible, Vari-angle, Live View monitor for fresh picture-taking perspectives. Nikon's EXPEED image processing further enhances performance, contributing to split-second shutter response and continuous shooting at up to 4 frames-per-second to capture fast action and precise moments perfectly.
Readmore

Technical Details

- 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor
- Outfit includes the 3x AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens with image stabilization
- D-Movie Mode with sound; record 720p HD movie clips
- Vari-angle color 2.7-inch LCD monitor; one-button Live View
- Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
See more technical details

 "AWESOME DSLR!!!!!! GET YOUR MONEYS WORTH!" 2009-12-06
By Sophea Polson (long beach, ca)
I was looking at the Canon T1i and this. I ended up buying the D5000 because I heard image quality was better. This camera is much cheaper than the T1i by like 70-80$. That's great if your on a budget! The video is pretty good for 720p but the mic is bad, cause it does mono audio, which sounds horrible. I don't know why they didn't add on a external mic jack. Video to me was just the extra, also theirs no continuous focus during video recording mode. I really like the vari-angle screen, its very useful and fun to play with when taking self portraits. Also the 4 frames per second is great when taking action shots. Overall I really like the D5000, it's a great camera for 1st time DSLR owner and I think you will definately love it!

 "Better than I had expected!" 2009-12-02
By Dustin Face (Michigan, USA)
There are many features to what this camera can do, and I was a little hesitant when I started to read all of the reviews on Amazon about this camera. I stepped away from Amazon.com and started going through what real professionals thought about this camera. I started at [...]. This website goes through each of the cameras settings, gives you an in-depth detail of the camera, what the Pros & Cons are, how to use it, what type of pictures it can take, compares it to other cameras and so much more. This website really helped me decide because reading some of these reviews on Amazon.com scared me quite a bit.



After I got the camera I was playing with it for hours trying to figure out if I could recreate some of the issues these people had. I found an issue that I read earlier in one of these postings about the Autofocus feature turned off. There is actually a setting that I personally changed that affected the camera's autofocus even when the AF was switched to on, on my lens. After reading the book I had it fixed in just a couple of seconds!



I then compared the camera to a Cannon RebelXLT that I had purchased a couple of years ago. I know the technology has changed, but when I was on the hunt for a new digital camera I wanted to look at all angles of brands. One of the first things I liked compared to the Cannon was the view finder. I'm not too sure why but my eyes always had a hard time trying to Manual Focus with the Cannon. With the Nikon the viewfinder is tinted slightly and that is just enough tint for my eyes to recognize what is focused and what isn't. Not only did the Nikon beat the Cannon in the focusing arena but more so in photography studio shooting as well. I work for a company that manufactures aftermarket parts for the Hot Rod & Street Rod Industry. I have been using the old Cannon for all of my shots until I received my Nikon. I took one shot of our products with both cameras and the Nikon by far and hands down took a better more clearer picture.



I am very pleased with my purchase and I can't wait to try all of the other lenses that are made for this camera. If your having issues with your camera my best advice is to read the book and possibly purchase another book about the camera so you can learn the in's and out's of what this Nikon D5000 is capable of.

 "$800 down the drain. Nikon does a switcheroo to customers" 2009-12-01
By Nikon Lover (Boston, MA USA)
If you buy your Nikon online you may not be able to have it serviced. They may tell you it is 'grey market' and not honor the warranty. I always thought grey market meant that you bought it off the back of someone's truck or in some other sort of illegal way. NOT SO! If you buy your Nikon online, you have no way of knowing where the seller purchased the camera. If they purchased it outside the US (for example, from a Japanese wholesaler with lower prices than in the US which is the case) their profit is greater/camera cost is lower to them. However NIKON will NOT service that camera for you! They call them "Grey market". Nikon obviously makes less money on these cameras and won't service them. My husband paid $799 for my camera and it is money lost.

It gets worse...I sent my "grey market" camera in for repair and not only did they call it grey market, they switched it with another customer's "Sigma" branded cheap product and sent it to me. Can you believe that?? They must not have an investory control system and someone else has my Nikon camera. 6 months into this, I have sent them the serial number, pictures of the box, original receipt, etc. and they keep saying my camera was a different brand (Sigma, which I had never even heard of). I got someone else's ugly, cheap camera sent to me by Nikon and they won't take responsibility for it.



I suggest you take a look at comments about Cannon and how they stand behind their products. Lots of people onlne/blogs, etc. are complaining that Nikon does not.



Be careful when making such a significant investment. This is criminal behavior on Nikon's part. And we thought Wall Street was a problem???



I never got my camera back from Nikon and they won't respond to my repeated requests to have it returned to me! $800 down the drain! If you go online you will see tons of complaints about the Nikon service. Nikon seems to make good products, but does not stand behind them whatsoever.

 "Better than I hoped!" 2009-12-01
By flamdrag8
I did a ton of research before buying this camera, and I am really happy I did. It does everything really well. It takes beautiful still photos and great video. Video is manual focus only. Some people consider that to be a disadvantage, but feel that is a big advantage if you want interesting video. Once you get the hang of the focus, it can be really exciting to control focus, and depth of field. I highly recommend a video light for this camera if you are interested in using video, in anything but direct sunlight. The in-camera retouching features are quite fun, and build quality of the camera is good. The articulating live view is quite handy for odd angle compositions. Great Camera!!

 "A great family DSLR for beginners and amatuers who like more control." 2009-11-30
By Andrew W. Johnson (Saint Paul, MN)
We purchased this from another site. Sorry amazon, but Costco has a great deal right now. 2 lenses, camera bag plus SD card for 825.

Anyway, my wife loves this camera. I have taken photography classes and my wife just wanted something with a faster frame rate, our toddler does not pose for us. This camera is amazing, so much it can do if you want it too and so much it can just do for you. My wife does not have the time to learn about all the things one can really do with this camera, but that's fine, since the auto and scene settings seem to do a pretty stellar job anyway. But for me, having the manual modes and ability to tinker, just like on my old analog SLR, is fantastic. Seriously. For those who always wanted a dark room in their own house, but can't afford the chemicals and supplies, getting a mid entry-level DSLR like the Nikon d5000 is the next best thing. An instant digital darkroom is at your disposal once you transfer the pictures over to your computer. But with a DSLR,you can really fine tune your image before you even take a picture, not just in Photoshop. I love being able to adjust the depth of field, white balance, film speed etc. It really makes even digital photography, something that is becoming less and less blasphemous to the photo purists thanks to great cameras like the D5000, a much more creative venture.

Yes, the rear LCD display is a smidge smaller than other models and hard to see in sunlight, but same is true of the larger screens with better resolution in the sunlight. I like the ability to turn it around and protect the screen. When your done with your day of shooting, just use the LCD indoors to delete the blurries etc, before you transfer to your computer. You really would have to do the same with any other DSLR when shooting outdoors anyway. The price is great and you essentially get the technology from the higher-end D90 in a slightly smaller and more economical package. Save your money for another lens, like a wide angle, which is on my wishlist now for sure. In conclusion: A high quality DSLR camera for a budget-minded family with users of different abilities and interests. Nice work Nikon!


Images Product

Buy Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens and 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD Now

Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Buy Cheap Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

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35mm f/1.8 standard lens * designed for Nikon DX SLR cameras * ideal for everyday use * minimum focus distance: 12 in. * minimum aperture: f/22 *
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Technical Details

- Engineered for Nikon DX-format digital SLRs - Optical formula optimized for use with Nikon DX-format digital SLRs
- Aspherical lens element - Minimizes coma and other types of lens aberrations, further improving image integrity
- Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) - Enhances light transmission efficiency and offers superior color consistency and reduced flare
- Exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM) - Enables fast, accurate and quiet autofocus
- Close focusing to one foot for creative perspectives and versatility
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 "Great portrait lens" 2009-11-22
By H. Li (Arlington, MA USA)
This is a excellent lens for portrait. It works great in low light. I love it!

 "Great lens at a great price" 2009-11-18
By L. Villalobos (Los Angeles, CA)
I'm a beginner at photography and I bought this lens for my Nikon D60 camera. This is my first prime lens and I purchased it mainly for taking pictures in low light situations. This lens is working great with my camera and the pictures come out excellent. This lens exceeds what you would expect for the price.

 "35mm is my new favorite lens" 2009-11-16
By Patrick G. Parker (Antioch, TN United States)
I was looking for a low light lens, this one fits the bill perfectly. The depth of field is exceptional, and has really added a nice look to my indoor shots. I am using it on a D5000 so it acts closer to a 50mm lens which is perfect for indoor shots in my opinion. The only thing with the lens, I wish it had a shorter focal distance, but that is very minor. Awesome lens, the best AF-S prime lens you can get for the money I think.

 "My first prime lense." 2009-11-13
By A. Rybalnik (Framingham, MA USA)
This is a great lense, especially for DSLR beginners. I use this lense with my D80 and I am not planning on removing unless I need to do some zoom shots. The focus is not as fast or quiet as other lenses, but that does not bother me one bit. I was able to take a shot of the Halloween decorations in my neigborhood without flash or tripod and still get a crisp, beautiful shot!

 "A great lens for the price!" 2009-11-11
By Michele Brodbeck (Chicago, IL)
Great low light lens. I haven't own anything this bright before so I'm getting used to the depth of field at f1.8 but really love the results. I recommend this lens to anyone with a couple bucks laying around and a Nikon DSLR. It is a must have!


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Buy Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Now

Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

Buy Cheap Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

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Fusing 12.3-megapixel image quality inherited from the award-winning D300 with groundbreaking features, the D90s breathtaking, low-noise image quality is further advanced with EXPEED image processing. Split-second shutter response and continuous shooting at up to 4.5 frames-per-second provide the power to capture fast action and precise moments perfectly, while Nikons exclusive Scene Recognition System contributes to faster 11-area autofocus performance, finer white balance detection and more. The D90 delivers the control passionate photographers demand, utilizing comprehensive exposure functions and the intelligence of 3D Color Matrix Metering II. Stunning results come to life on a 3-inch 920,000-dot color LCD monitor, providing accurate image review, Live View composition and brilliant playback of the D90s cinematic-quality 24-fps HD D-Movie mode.
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Technical Details

- 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS imaging sensor
- 5.8x AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens included
- D-Movie Mode; Cinematic 24fps HD with sound
- 3-inch super-density 920,000-dot color LCD monitor
- Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
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 "Nikon D90 Digital SLR Very very cool" 2009-11-23
By Carla M. Goodhart (Tucson, Az USA)
just got my D90, received 2 days after purchasing, day 4 cant put it down .LOVE IT!!!! Lots to learn, as this camera offers quite a bit of pre and post pic enhancing, with multiple multiple features.

 "Don't discount the lens mount error" 2009-11-08
By D90 Owner
The D90 was my first step into DSLR and I chose Nikon because of 20+ years of good past experience with a rock-solid (and very basic!) N2000 and later the digital Coolpix 950. I bought my D90 in June 2009 and for several thousand images it fell in the category "you shouldn't ever feel this close to an inanimate object". I like the way it feels in my hand and its weight isn't a problem for me, although I've seen a few negative comments about that. I'm happy with the bright display. The batteries have lasted well. The controls are where they should be for a Nikon. It was solid: you can easily freeze the hummingbird in the air and the water droplets falling from a dolphin at its apex. It had the kind of responsiveness that you'll recall if you've worked with plain old SLRs (and minus the "lag" of the older non-SLR Coolpix!).



It'd be safe to say I love almost everything about the camera...*except* that I've recently run into the F-- lens mount error. I'd read Amazon reviews before buying the camera, but blew off what people had written



You can read more about the problem (and 18-135 lens kit) here:



[...]



and in the results of a Google search of "d90 lens error" or similar.



I've removed the lens, cleaned the contacts, etc. but quite often now I'll be squeezing a shot and nothing...sometimes jiggling the lens or remounting fixes the problem. Even slight pressure on the side of the zoom can correct the problem.



All I can really say about the problem is that if you don't have it, you'll probably love the D90. If you *do* have it, it's really a deal breaker. In any situation with a moving/changing subject, you almost never have a second chance once you've nudged the lens a bit and tried to clear it. And having that confidence in your equipment that it will work reliably when you need it is unspeakably important.



Without the lens mount/electrical contact error, I'd give the camera the highest rating. As is, I now have to figure out what the Nikon terms are on servicing the camera, determine where to send it, etc. All I really want now is to have this camera back working correctly because I think it's a beautiful piece of technology when working.

 "Great camera for the enthuisiast." 2009-11-05
By personaV
I got this camera for my wife because she has an unexplored interest in photography, and she absolutely loves it. She went from not knowing the difference between iso and aperture to being able to fine tune the camera to get the image she wanted. The shots are far from perfect but they definitely have a beautiful professional look to them.



I work in video and film production and so i have a great appreciation for the tremendous level of control the camera gives you. Huge iso/shutter ranges, it would be nice to have a quicker lens though. We have figured out a majority of the controls thanks to the easily accessible manual and quick manual and good old fashioned playing around.



The best part we've found is that even without painstakingly setting manual settings the camera takes beautiful pictures on it's automatic settings. Our real gems up to this point have come from manual settings, but that just means we have lots of room to improve.



An SDHC card is a good addition for quick read/write functionality.



This is a fantastic camera to help the photography enthuisiast or professional to create stunning photos well above it's price.

 "Getting F-- ERROR on my D90 camera..." 2009-11-04
By sacramento78 (sacramento USA)
Over all the Camera is good. it takes great pics and the quality is good. But my camera is just 2 months old and it already started acting up. The most annoying was, I see the error F-- very often right in the middle of taking pictures.. i went through all online blogs and tried everything and the problem still persists.. I think lot of people are having this issue, Is Nikon aware of it and doing anything about it?.

 "Great shooter" 2009-11-02
By Nick A. Spang (Seattle, WA USA)
This is a great camera. I've been shooting with point-and-shoots for years, opting for the Canon Digital Elph line of cameras. The limitations of the point-and-shoots in action sequences, low light, or difficult lighting became too frustrating, so I finally made the plunge and bought a D-90. The camera is beautifully capable of handing all the situations I find myself in, for example hiking, at parties, cycling, and for portraits. The ability to shoot at 4.5 fps, take photos in low light, and adjust any function on the fly to try different approaches have made my experience of photography much more gratifying.


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Buy Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens Now

Nikon D5000 12.3MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7 inch Vari-angle LCD, 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens, 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens, SB-600 Speedlight Flash, En-EL9a Li-Ion Battery, and Nikon School DVD

Buy Cheap Nikon D5000 12.3MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7 inch Vari-angle LCD, 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens, 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens, SB-600 Speedlight Flash, En-EL9a Li-Ion Battery, and Nikon School DVD

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Technical Details

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Buy Nikon D5000 12.3MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7 inch Vari-angle LCD, 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens, 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens, SB-600 Speedlight Flash, En-EL9a Li-Ion Battery, and Nikon School DVD Now