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14th April 2009
Nikon announces the New D5000

A New Perspective From Nikon With The D5000

Read our Nikon D5000 brief hands-on preview

Body Only RRP: £719.99 / €878.00
D5000 + 18-55 VR kit: £799.99 / €972.00
Sales start date: 1st May 2009

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.

View life from a different angle
The D5000’s 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD monitor offers a whole new perspective on photography, allowing you to take pictures easily from any angle. Its flexible, moving screen allows you to position the camera perfectly to suit the angle or shot you’re trying to take - so whether you’re at a concert and you want to get a clear view above the crowd for your shot or you want to take a picture from ground level, you can adjust the Vari-angle monitor to give you the best view of your subject. Close it to protect the monitor or place it in the standard position for regular shooting using the viewfinder. You can even reverse the monitor for effortless, perfectly-framed self-portraits. Thanks to Nikon’s ergonomic design values and the downward opening direction of the screen, it will never get in your way, and you’ll be able to maintain a steady grip on the body which will prevent camera shake. The choice is limitless.

D-Movie and Live View
Shooting movie clips with a DSLR will allow you to get really creative. For example, you can change the lens for a new perspective and enhance the emotional impact of your movies using the Picture Control settings before you even start shooting. The D5000 offers D-Movie (with audio) - high-definition movie capture which is perfectly compatible with the latest television screens and an HDMI output for easy connection. The single button access to the Live View function allows you to view and compose your shot or movie on the Vari-angle LCD monitor for optimal framing. When taking still shots, the camera offers four types of contrast AF (wide area, normal area, face detection and new subject tracking) to make capture as easy as possible. In subject tracking AF mode, the camera will even restart tracking the subject once it leaves the frame and then returns, so your target will always be in focus. 

Setting the Scene
With a total of 19 scene modes, you don’t have to know the ins and outs of digital photography to take great pictures. Simply turn the dial to ‘scene’, choose the appropriate scene mode setting and the camera will do the rest for you. The camera will even display a sample scene to make the scene selection easier for you. Another easy-to-use feature is the camera’s extensive range of built-in editing function, with which you can edit your pictures and create visual effects in-camera, before you even get to a computer.

There’s more
In addition to all these features, the D5000 is a high quality camera in its own right. With its high-sensitivity 12.3 effective megapixel CMOS image sensor, Nikon’s innovative EXPEED high-speed image-processing system, fast and precise 11-point AF system and highly-durable, high-performance shutter, it is also perfectly suited to those with a higher level of photographic knowledge. Image quality is guaranteed further by the image sensor cleaning mechanism with airflow control system, Active D-Lighting and Picture control. It feels good to handle, too, with Nikon’s typically ergonomic design in a compact, light-weight body. Those who shoot pictures in quieter settings will appreciate the new Quiet shooting mode and, the built-in pop-up flash which will automatically detect when the flash is needed. For those on the move, GPS-compatibility with Nikon’s GP-1 unit will come in handy when pinpointing shooting locations as will the HDMI output when you finally want to present your great shots to your family and friends. The Nikon D5000 is compatible with a wide variety of AF-S and AF-I NIKKOR lenses.

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Specifications and features


Type Single-lens reflex digital camera
Lens mount Nikon F mount (with AF contacts)
Effective picture angle Approx. 1.5 x lens focal length (Nikon DX format)
Effective pixels 12.3 million  
Image sensor 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor
Total pixels 12.9 million
Dust-reduction system Image Sensor Cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 required)
Image size (pixels) 4,288 x 2,848 [L], 3,216 x 2,136 [M], 2,144 x 1,424 [S]  
File format NEF (RAW)
  Picture Control System Can be selected from Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; storage for up to nine custom Picture Controls  
  File system DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif 2.21 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras), PictBridge  
  Viewfinder Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder  
  Frame coverage Approx. 95% horizontal and 95% vertical  
Magnification Approx. 0.78 x (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1)  
  Eyepoint 17.9 mm (-1.0 m-1)  
  Diopter adjustment -1.7 to +0.7 m-1  
  Focusing screen Type B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark V with focus frame (framing grid can be displayed)  
  Reflex mirror Quick-return type  
  Lens aperture Instant return, electronically controlled  
Compatible lenses AF-S and AF-I NIKKOR: All functions supported  
  Shutter type Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter  
  Shutter speed 1/4,000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV, Bulb, Time (with optional ML-L3 Remote Control)  
  Flash sync speed X = 1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/200 s or slower  
  Release modes Single-frame, continuous, self-timer, delayed remote, quick-response, quiet  
  Frame advance rate Continuous high speed: up to 4 fps (manual focus, manual or shutter-priority auto exposure, 1/250 s or faster shutter speed; other settings at default values and memory remaining in memory buffer)  
  Self-timer Can be selected from 2, 5, 10, and 20 s duration  
  Exposure metering TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor  
  Exposure method Matrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses)  
  Exposure range (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F) Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0–20 EV  
  Exposure meter coupling CPU  
  Exposure modes Auto modes (auto, auto [flash off]), Advanced Scene Modes (Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close up, Night portrait, Night landscape, Party/indoor, Beach/snow, Sunset, Dusk/dawn, Pet portrait, Candlelight, Blossom, Autumn colors, Food, Silhouette, High key, and Low key), programmed auto with flexible program (P), shutter-priority auto (S), aperture-priority auto (A), manual (M)  
  Exposure compensation ±5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV  
  Exposure bracketing 3 frames in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV  
  Exposure lock Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button  
  ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) ISO 200 to 3200 in steps of 1/3 EV. Can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.7, or 1 EV (ISO 100 equivalent) below ISO 200, or to approx. 0.3, 0.7, or 1 EV (ISO 6400 equivalent) over ISO 3200, ISO sensitivity auto control available  
  Active D-Lighting Can be selected from Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, or Off  
  Active D-Lighting bracketing 2 frames  
  Autofocus Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including 1 cross-type sensor) and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5–3 m/1 ft. 8in.–9 ft. 10 in.)    
  Detection range -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100 equivalent, 20°C/68°F)  
  Lens servo Autofocus: Instant single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status (AF-A)  
  Focus point Can be selected from 11 focus points  
  AF-area modes Single-point AF, dynamic-area AF, auto-area AF, 3D-tracking (11 points) AF  
  Focus lock Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (Single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button  
  Built-in flash Auto, Portrait, Child, Close-up, Night portrait, Party/indoor, Pet portrait modes: Auto flash with auto pop-up P, S, A, M, Food: Manual pop-up with button release  
  Guide number (m/ft.) at 20°C/68°F At ISO 200: Approx. 17/56, 18/59 with manual flash  
  Flash control TTL: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR using 420-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash, SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-400 (when combined with matrix metering or center-priority metering)    
  Flash modes Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, fill-flash, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye correction, and rear curtain with slow sync  
  Flash compensation -3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV    
  Flash bracketing 2 or 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1, or 2 EV    
  Flash-ready indicator Lights when built-in flash or SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-80DX, SB-28DX, or SB-50DX is fully charged; blinks for 3 s after flash is fired at full output in i-TTL or auto aperture modes  
  Accessory shoe Standard ISO 518 hot-shoe contact with safety lock    
  Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with built-in flash, SB-900, SB-800, or SU-800 as commander. Flash Color Information Communication supported with built-in flash and CLS-compatible flash units    
  Sync terminal Hot Shoe Sync Terminal Adapter AS-15 (optional)  
  White balance Auto (TTL white-balance with main image sensor and 420-pixel RGB sensor); 12 manual modes with fine-tuning; preset manual white balance, white balance bracketing  
  White balance bracketing 3 frames in steps of 1    
  Live View AF modes Face priority AF, wide area AF, normal area AF, subject tracking AF  
  Live View focus Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face priority or subject tracking AF is selected at the time of Live View shooting)  
Movie clips image sizes (pixels) 1,280 x 720/24 fps, 640 x 424/24 fps, 320 x 216/24 fps    
  Movie clips file format AVI  
  Movie clips compression format Motion-JPEG, with monaural sound  
  LCD monitor Vari-angle type, 2.7-in., approx. 230k-dot, low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD, approx. 100% frame coverage, 170° viewing angle, and brightness adjustment  
  Playback function Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, movie playback, stop-motion movie playback, slide show, histogram display, highlights, auto image rotation, and image comment (up to 36 characters)  
  USB Hi-Speed USB  
  Video output Can be selected from NTSC and PAL; images can be displayed on external device while camera monitor is on  
  HDMI output Type C HDMI connector; camera monitor turns off when HDMI cable is connected  
  Accessory terminal Remote Cord MC-DC2 (optional)  
  Supported languages Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish  
  Battery One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9a  
  Battery pack Six R6/AA-size alkaline, Ni-MH, lithium or nickel-manganese batteries (Battery Holder MS-D200 is required when using R6/AA-size batteries.)  
  AC adapter AC Adapter EH-5a (optional; requires EP-5 power connector)  
  Tripod socket 1/4 in. (ISO 1222)  
  Dimensions (W x H x D) Approx. 127 x 104 x 80 mm / 5.0 x 4.1 x 3.1 in.  
  Weight Approx. 560 g / 1 lb. 4 oz. without battery, memory card, or body cap  
  Temperature 0–40°C / 32–104°F  
  Humidity Less than 85% (no condensation)  
  Supplied accessories Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9a, Quick Charger MH-23, Eyepiece Cap DK-5, (may differ by country or area) Rubber Eyecup DK-21, USB Cable UC-E4, Audio Video Cable EG-D2,
Camera Strap AN-DC2, Accessory Shoe Cover BS-1, Body Cap, Software Suite CD-ROM  
 
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