Great Camera. If you are new to the DSLR game (like myself) or you are upgrading and you can fork up the cash, it is definitely worth it. It has a very concise, simple, and easy to use interface, the buttons are very well placed, and the swivel LCD is very nice and useful in certain situations (I really like how it folds inwards to protect the screen). My main purpose for this camera is still photos so the video is a cool bonus and is surprisingly better than I thought (though if you are looking to do serious HD video, I'd go for an HD camcorder or something else instead).

The D5000 is essentially a D90 squeezed into a smaller lighter body (of course it lacks the internal AF motor, doesn't have as good a grip, and has a slightly smaller pentamirror viewfinder instead of the pentaprism in the D90 - all of this amongst a few other things, but hey it's cheaper for a reason - also it is mentionable that the D5000 has an additional live view mode, a few more in camera editing tools, and more scene modes compared to the D90 - all useful for someone new to the DSLR in the sense that you can learn from them or just use them to make your life easier and your photos look great).

So far I love it. It is simple to use and great for those new to the DSLR realm, but it also packs enough punch for those looking to upgrade and will give newcomers much room to learn and grow with it.

Out of the box, my first impression wasn't the best, as camera size and feel are more like my entry level D40 than I expected. Of course there's the movable LCD (which is more useful than I thought) and Live View button, but not too much more to separate the outer look and feel from D40 mode.
Then I spent some time setting things up and shooting - and all of a sudden I'm loving this thing.
- The menus, IMHO, are waaaay better than anything I seen on other Nikons (mostly D40 and D200 experience) ISO adjustments and AUTO decisions all in one place, the access to the Info parameters on screen is really clean, and the LCD clarity is great.
- The high ISO performance for low light is quite good for my purposes. Sure you get some noise, but you get the shot - and if you are getting material for web and simple uses - it's perfect.
- The wiggly LCD screen is helpful for reading the menus and changing settings with the camera, say, in your lap. Also helpful at odd angles to review what you just shot. I use it more for those purposes than the live view.

So what don't I like? The video isn't real useful. Zooming without autofocus isn't much fun. Moving, even a little, creates odd artifacts in the 24p video -so don't think of any zoomed hand-held shots. Tripod, basic static focal length maybe. I don't know whether video editing sw like Final Cut Pro is ready to ingest these video files.

Overall - I really enjoy shooting this camera - and the images are excellent.
I'll try to post a few.

I bought a D5000 locally ten days ago and exchanged it for another one three days ago.

The first thing I did was get out in the early morning light and take some landscape photos with the D5000 and my D40. Over the next few days I continued taking dozens of photos testing various settins on the D5000. I used my old 18-55mm non-VR zoom lens and the new 35mm f/1.8 lens.

Right away, it was obvious that the D5000's image quality greatly exceeds the D40's. First, megapixels DO matter if you want to look at your photos on a big monitor, and they add texture to the details of landscapes. Second, I don't know what processing magic Nikon has rolled into the D5000, but it handles low light with more subtlety and predictability. Caveat: While Active D-Lighting is generally desirable, it may sacrifice contrast that you want to keep in strong lighting situations.

The one problem I have experienced is that many of the photos came with a strong yellow-ochre cast suggesting that the camera was pushing too much amber into the white balance. Green grass would turn chartreuse and blue skies would become pale. This occurred unpredictably, perhaps 75% of the time. The rest of the images would have what look to me like perfect colors--much better and more subtle than the D40, which is pretty good. (I am evaluating these photos on a calibrated color-accurate monitor.)

After fiddling with white balance settings, hue, WB bracketing, turning ADL on and off, etc., etc., I returned the first camera, only to find that the second one does the same thing. Yesterday, however, I stumbled across the fact that if you select "Direct Sunlight" WB instead of "Auto White Balance" (and you actually have sunlight) the problem goes away and the colors are perfect.

A little more research on the internet indicates that the unpredictable behavior of Auto White Balance is a well known problem on many digital cameras. Essentially the camera is trying to guess what lighting conditions apply, but most of the experts who came up in my search strongly recommended manually selecting and/or adjusting white balance. Now, I didn't think that my D40 or the other cameras I owned had this problem, but maybe the other issues they did have were related. For instance, the D40 often put a faint blue cast into shadow areas that wasn't there. A D60 that I briefly owned was worse in this regard.

Like the D40 before it, the D5000's manual recommends Auto White Balance for most situations, but you may want to question that. This is a bit a disappointment, because the way Nikon has intelligently automated so many menu choices is part of the D5000's excitement, but it seems that the Auto White Balance problem is common among DSLRs.

I bought a D5000 with the 18-55 VR lens from Amazon last Friday (Black Friday). I paid about $200 less than a friend who bought the same camera a few months ago. AND... It is NOT part of the recall! My biggest initial concern was getting caught up in the recall. I am very happy to say that Amazon seems to be beyond those serial numbers - at least with the kit (camera and 18-55 VR lens).

I'm upgrading from a D50 I bought 4 or more years ago. There are a number of reasons why I chose THIS camera. First, I like Nikon over other brands because they are easier to use/better menus for those of us who aren't experts. I also think that Nikon makes the best lenses. Even their cheapest kit lenses have great optics and take great pictures. Not all manufacturers can say that.

The second thing I want to address is this camera's lack of an internal motor to auto focus a lens. In other words, you need Nikon's AF-S lenses with this camera. (Note: almost all of Nikon's lenses work with this camera and auto focus.) I would only think it is a concern for someone who has really old lenses, a non-Nikon lens like Sigma or Tamron without an auto focus motor built-in, or possibly some specialty lens that won't auto focus on its own. For me, I have purchased 4 different lenses over the last 4-5 years. They all work just fine. While it is something to be aware of, I think most people who are looking at this camera will be fine too. The lack of an internal motor means the D5000 is slightly smaller and lighter than the next step up - cheaper too. This makes the D5000 easier to hang around your neck and carry around all day. This camera is not targeted at a pro, though it is very capable of taking pro pictures. Pros are more likely to opt for the D90 or above.

Third - My D50, the D40, D60, D70 and D80 are all Generation 1 cameras. (Actually the D40 & D60, may be called Generation 2, but are more Generation 1.5) Nikon's current lineup, the D3000, D5000, D90 and D300s, are all Generation 2 cameras. What the reviews say is that the Generation 2 cameras take better pictures. They see things more the way the human eye sees things. I am at that point where I am trying to learn more about photography and take better pictures. I did my research. The D3000 is a light camera that you can carry around all day without getting neck cramp. The problem with the D3000 for me was that all the reviews said how much noise (little purple dots that look like film grain) showed up in photos at the higher ISOs. The D90 is a great camera with numerous features that appeal to someone who has some idea what ISO and F stops mean and how they affect the quality of the photo. The D5000's problem, until recently, has been that it was too closely priced to the D90. There was just no reason not to take the extra step up to the D90. Now that Nikon and Amazon have dropped the price of the D5000, it is a much better value. The D90 with the same 18-55 VR lens is about $300 more expensive than the D5000 as of this writing. The D5000 uses the same sensor (and some other parts) as the much more expensive D90 and D300s. It is a newer camera than the D90. I would think, but don't have actual knowledge, that this would have a positive effect on some of the advanced features in the D5000. I say this because the software in the D5000 is newer. It does NOT have the noise problems of the D3000. If you cannot afford the D5000, I suggest you consider the D40 (while supplies last) over the D3000. The D40 takes better pictures and costs less.

Video - Do NOT buy a DSLR to shoot videos. NO DSLR from any manufacturer does this really well. The technology is too new. Video on a DSLR is a goof, something neat/fun to play with and not something to take too seriously. DSLRs are designed to take really good photographs. If you need good video, buy a camcorder!

In my opinion, the D5000 is THE camera for folks new to DSLRs who need something simple, but with great capabilities and those, like me, who want to take a step up in features/capabilities without having to spend over $900 dollars for the D90 and a lens. While Live View has its limitations, the articulating screen (it swivels - very cool feature) on the D5000 will make it easier for me to take those occasional hard to get photos.

I really think I made the right choice and got what I feel is a heck of a deal! I hope this information is useful to those of you who are still trying to decide which camera is best for you.

One last thought... Nikons seem to hold their value. I plan to sell my D50 - AND - there seems to be a market for it. Once I learn what ISO and F stops are (I have some idea, but am still learning.), I will likely sell my D5000 and buy whatever the next step up is. I think this is a great added value to buying a good name brand camera like Nikon. All the best...

**Update 1/3/10** Well, I've had a chance to shoot a few hundred photos with my new D5000. I did a direct comparison with about 150 photos between my old D50 and the new D5000. The output of my old D50 and the new D5000 are remarkably close. These side by side comparisons were shot with the same lens (Nikkor 16-85mm VR and Nikon NC filter), the built in flash and the Nikon SB 800 flash. I took some shots in "Auto" and many shots in "P". I used every ISO and color controll the D5000 had and tried to tweak them up and down (sharpness, saturation and hue). I've decided to return the D5000, and then decided to keep it, and here's why.

The added megapixels of the D5000 seem to have very little effect in the amount of detail in the photos as compared to my D50. The D50 has a 6 megapixel sensor. (I DID tweak the settings of my D50 to get better output. I will tweak the settings of the D5000 too.) And, the D50 seemed to have a slightly more reliable/consistent meter when shooting in auto white balance. All this really surprised me. I guess I was expecting more of a difference between the two cameras. The D50 probably has one of the most accurate meters in any Nikon digital camera - better than the D40 and D60. In the thousands of photos I took over 4-5 years, it got the white balance spot on every time.

In defense of the D5000, it does have features far beyond those of the D50. It is these features that have made me decide to keep the D5000. The software in the D5000 allows you to adjust many more aspects of how the camera operates and takes pictures than what my D50 had. This allowed me to tweak any settings that I was not completely happy with. It also has numerous preset scene modes for those who want to treat the D5000 more as a really good point and shoot. I guess this camera gives the user enough features where even prosumers could be happy with the creative flexibility the controls give.

The D5000 has a number of other advantages over the D50. The first is a time saver for me. Its auto distortion controll seems to handle lens distortion "in camera" when the pictures are taken. Having the camera address lens distortion saves me from having to fix it after the photos are taken. I shoot quite a bit with a 12-24mm lens that tends to twist things some. I also took several test photos of a very square surface with a 70-300mm lens at different focal lengths. You could see the lens distortion through the view finder. Big bonus... The auto distortion control really seems to work! Additional features include much better low light performance (The D50 and many other cameras will never touch the D5000's low light performance.), ADR (it will capture detail inside shadows rather than just turning the shadow black.), a larger-articulating screen that is much easier to see and read (the D5000 displays the camera settings on the rear screen instead of an LCD on top of the camera.), live view (I recommend using this only for those hard to get photos when you just can't use the view finder. It can take 3 to 8 seconds to focus in live view.) auto focus with 3D tracking for photographing subjects that are moving, and a smaller and lighter form factor than the D50.

The bottom line for me was that my old D50 took really good photos in good conditions. The D5000 takes only slightly better pictures than my D50 in good conditions. In less than perfect conditions, the D5000 seems to take much better photos than my D50. If you're upgrading like me and none of these added features mean anything to you, keep your current camera. Otherwise, while not completely perfect, the D5000 can be a good upgrade or a very capable first dslr that is easy to use AND will give you the room and controls to expand your skills and your creativity as you learn.

I did play with a variety of settings in my new D5000. The "One Change" that seemed to make the biggest improvement in the quality of the photos was to adjust the sharpness settings in the Picture Controls menu. I have turned the sharpness settings way up over the factory defaults. The factory settings ranged from 2 to 4 (on a scale of 1 to 9). I greatly prefer setting the sharpness more in the 5 to 8 range. You can adjust the sharpness for the different modes - 5 for images you want to be softer like portraits, and 6, 7 or 8 for everything else. If you shoot in "auto mode", these changes won't work. You will need to move to "P" or some other setting to take advantage of this. If you try it, I think you will be pleased at how much sharper and how much more detail you get in your photos over the factory settings.

The information I share comes in part from personal experience and in part from reading reviews and information all over the web - not because I'm some pro photographer. For anyone who cares to read more, I recommend checking out Ken Rockwell. You can Google him. He rates ALL of these cameras and provides useful information like tips on how to setup your D5000 once you buy it. Note: The guide to setting up the D5000 is burried in the site. If you click the "Nikon" link, then go down to "Plain English User Guides", you will find it. His guide to setting the camera up is separate from the review of the D5000 on his site. If you follow his suggestions when adjusting the saturation levels (color), you should know that you CAN really get some wild colors - colors that are not natural. I didn't get this the first time and got some really crazy output from the camera. I decided to leave most of the color settings set at the factory defaults. I saved two custom settings with the saturation level turned up one notch for pictures taken outside and in good sunlight. If you screw up the settings on the camera, it is easy to restore the factory default settings. So, don't be affraid to try different things. Ken recommends setting the sharpness settings to 5. As I said before, I prefer to go even sharper and use settings that range from 5 to 8. Ken's only beef with the D5000 was that Nikon started with it too closely priced to the D90. The D5000 shares the same sensor and A LOT of other parts from the more expensive D90. This makes the D5000 a fantastic camera and a great value at its current price point. Amazon lists the link to the DPReview review on the D5000 page or you can Google it. People may want to read the DPReview of the D5000 before reading Ken Rockwells Guide to setting up the D5000. DPReview tells you whats wrong with the factory default settings on the D5000. Ken Rockwell tells you how to adjust the factory settings to get even better photos! I know I'm rambling a bit here. I'm going to so much effort here only because the reviews on Amazon have provided me so much helpful information in the past. I am just trying to give something back. Oh, I DID sell my D50 for $350! I was very happy to get this kind of money for a camera that was 4 or 5 years old. All the best...**End of Update**

This is my first DSLR camera, and I can say right off that it's very easy to use and takes amazing photos. I chose the D5000 because a friend who is a professional photographer recommended it saying I should invest my money in lenses not the body. I believe this is true, but there is a consideration to make when purchasing the D5000, or the other Nikon entry-level cameras such as the D40/D40x/D60/D3000, and that has to do with the auto-focus motor.

The D5000, which tops Nikon's entry-level line, does not include an auto-focus motor in the body, instead it relies on a "silent wave" auto-focus mechanism in the lens (AF-S). This is supposed to be very quiet and fast, though I don't know if that's true compared to the screw-drive motors used in other camera bodies. It's also supposed to be more cost effective and allow for a smaller/lighter camera body, but again I'm not sure if that is quite true or exactly why Nikon chose this option for their entry level line (if anybody knows more about this please feel free to comment). However, this option will limit users who already have a collection of Nikon AF lenses (not AF-S), as well as those purchasing a Nikon for the first time. The AF lenses will work fine but have to be manually focused. That said, more experienced users would probably not be purchasing an entry-level model; a more appropriate starting point would be the D90.

So as far as lens compatibility? The first lens I sought to purchase was a fast prime (FFL) unit for indoor/low-light and portraits. I looked at the low-priced 50mm f/1.8D AF, but the auto-focus is not compatible. Same with the faster and more expensive 50mm f/1.4D AF, as well as the 35mm f/2D AF. Also, no luck with the Tamron or Sigma FFL units, though I did see some Tamron zoom lenses with AF-S compatibility. I became very concerned that my options would be severely restricted, and perhaps I would need to return the camera and upgrade to the D90 or go with the Canon T1i. However, I discovered the 50mm f/1.4G SIC SW, which came out last year, and also the more moderately priced 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX which currently sells for about $200. That unit came out earlier this year (I haven't chosen yet). I also went to the Nikon homepage, and noted that 30 of the 50 current auto-focus lenses listed were AF-S, so while the options are limited, the average non-professional user shouldn't have a problem finding an appropriate lens for the occasion - including many professional level models. I also suspect that Nikon will include AF-S in more if not all future auto-focus lenses. Users will find the least options with Nikon's wide-angel, standard, and telephoto models. Most of the super telephoto, wide-angle zoom, standard zoom, high powered zoom and close up lenses include AF-S.

PROS of the D5000

1. Has virtually the same image sensor as the D90 and D300. This puts the D5000 in good company, and one could argue it's more of a prosumer or mid-level class camera than its entry-level predecessor, the D60. It's almost a D90, but just lacking of a few options and the D90's ruggedness. The difference is about $300.

2. Flip LCD; I considered the Canon EOS Rebel T1i, and while both the Canon and Nikon have their advantages, both are very similar with the exception of Nikon's flip LCD. I consider this more than just a novelty. It not only protects the screen but is practical in some situations, such as shooting photos overhead. The D90 does not have this function either.

3. Easy to use; I got fantastic pictures right off using the auto mode as well as the pre-set scene selections. However, users are not restricted to these options and experienced photographers should enjoy the camera alike. Just like the D90, the D5000 has scene modes on the dial, but it also has 13 additional modes from the menu which adds benefit to novice users. I tried the night landscape and sunset with excellent results.

4. The lens is very good for a kit, and includes Vibration Reduction (VR). The lens by itself currently sells on Amazon for about $185 new, as appose to the model without VR which is currently priced at $110. Users may also want to pick up a fixed lens and/or higher power zoom, but the kit lens should be fine for most users. That said, I'm sure this camera could be taken to another level with the right lens.

5. Long Battery Life

6. Compact / Light weight

CONS

1. Price; the D5000 may be priced a little high for an "entry-level" camera, but again it's $300 less than the D90, and in many ways comparable. It's also slightly less than the Canon EOS Rebel T1i.

2. Ruggedness; some may say it's a little "toyish" with the plastic finish, and being light (which isn't a bad thing), but overall it looks sharp and is well built. I handled the D90 and some of the pro lines, they felt a little more rugged, but of course are designed for more abuse (and cost much more).

3. AF-S auto-focus (see above)

Bottom line, if you're looking for a great camera with the ability to produce real quality photos, but you don't want to spend a small fortune, the D5000 is a great choice.

I decided to upgrade to a DSLR a few months ago because I wanted to learn to take the fabulous pictures that I had come to associate with DSLRs. After I made the decision, the next choice was Cannon or Nikon. My current point and shoot camera was a Cannon PowerShot, so I thought I would stick with Cannon until I saw the specs on the D5000. It had everything that I liked about my Cannon and was worried about giving up--video, a rotating screen with Live View--all in an affordable DSLR package, so I decided to take the plunge and go Nikon.

After a month of using the camera in different situations--a trip to New York, a wedding, a bridal shower, a kid's birthday party--I couldn't be happier. I'm very much a beginner when it comes to operating a DSLR, but all of the pictures I've taken with the D5000 have been excellent. The camera was easy to pick up and start using, but it is also easy enough to learn to start customizing your shots for different situations. I'm impressed by the camera's ability to help a beginner by auto-selecting some settings while allowing the photographer to manually select other things. The kit lens is a good starter lens, and works for most of the situations I've shot in so far. I'm still learning what this camera can do, and I'm excited to know that the D5000, with its advanced features, can grow along with me as I develop as a photographer.

In terms of size, I have small hands and I feel like I can comfortably carry around the D5000. Yes it is bigger and heavier than a point and shoot, but it's not so big that its cumbersome for me to carry. Which is a good thing, because I've started carrying this camera everywhere because I always want to be able to capture that perfect shot!

If you're transitioning from a point and shoot to a DSLR and you want something with great features that still is easy to use, this is the camera for you. I couldn't be happier with my D5000--when you get that crisp shot of a kid opening presents or a beautiful bride coming down the aisle, it's so worth it to have made this investment!

Well, it's crunch-time in Nikonville. We get to see what Nikon management is made of. So far, I have to say, it hasn't been all that pretty. For those of you who haven't noticed, Nikon is recalling D5000s for a problem with the power control chip. On the internet, this has come to be known as "Sudden Death Syndrome" or SDS. Based on the anecdotal public evidence available, it appears that the vast majority of affected units are not showing the symptoms (at the moment, at least), but that Nikon is taking the conservative path of replacing all the power chips. So far, so good. Beyond that, things are pretty bad.

One major problem is that Nikon is being very close-lipped, and therefore not allowing customers to know the extent of the problem. Based on the publicly available information, I SPECULATE that there are about 120,000 units affected. Further, I guess that roughly 80k units have been sold to customers, and 40k units are in various stages of the inventory pipeline.

So, retailers are going to take a bath. I'm sure that those retailers with generous return policies are seeing *a lot* of D5000s bounce back. I, for one, am very curious what will happen to those units.

Most importantly, it currently *appears* that Nikon is Stonewalling, refusing to publish the range of serial numbers affected. Instead, at least thusfar, Nikon appears to be trying to force this flawed inventory to be sold as "new" (which it is) and "good" (which it is not) and then shipped by the customer back to repair centers for chip replacement when the customer discovers that he bought a lemon. Whatever the ethical arguments, I consider this to be very poor customer relations strategy, in that Nikon is attempting to dupe the customer into becoming an unpaid member of their value delivery system, taking on at least some liability for a product which is bad enough to have provoked a recall.

Beyond that, this process will produce an enormous number of units which are for all practical purposes "refurbs", i.e. customer returns which have been reworked. It is one thing for a customer to buy a unit and then suffer a random failure. In such case, a warranty repair loads the majority of the burden on the manufacturer. But, the customer is still left with a reworked and repaired unit, and the quality and life expectancy of such a unit is simply not as high as that of a good, "factory fresh" unit. In the case of a random failure, this is the luck of the draw. So be it.

In the current case, the wave of returns will result in a huge number of "gray" units, which will either be sold (correctly) as refurbs, or palmed off as new units.

I have some (fairly small) amount of sympathy for Nikon. I personally have been in the business of chip design and vertically integrated electronics manufacturing for 35 years. This problem is probably a subtle one generated either in a subcontracting design house or an Asian wafer fab. If you're Nikon, you've just been screwed. But, of all the people NOT to blame, the customer is highest on the list. I, the customer, didn't do anything wrong, other than the (apparent) mistake of buying a Nikon.

In the long run, such behavior will only erode a leadership image that has taken decades to create. Such behavior will cost Nikon in the long run, compared to taking the path of shielding the customer from Nikon's internal mistakes. In the long run, the only beneficiary of the decisions will be Canon.

***Update Aug 31, 2009. It appears that the to-do regarding the recall is over, and that defect-free product is hitting the shelves. Personally, I would make very sure that any D5000 I bought is over ser # 3168***, but that's just me. Assuming you're just now starting to shop, I think the D5000 is an excellent entry-level dSLR. Having owned both a D5000 and now a Canon T1i, I can say that they both take excellent pix. Nikon strengths: the kit lens is a bit better optical quality than the Canon, I think. Reviewers claim the D5000's low light performance is better. The digital signal processing feature set is richer (more options on exposure bracketing, for example...) I have the impression that the Nikon is aimed at a younger crowd with less SLR history and more inclination to text. The Nikon is laid out to have both thumbs pounding away at the menu choices. Nikon weaknesses: the articulating LCD is a mixed blessing. It is good for taking that odd shot with camera held over your head or between your legs, but, seriously, how often do you want to do that? With the hinge on the bottom, you can't use it tripod-mounted for self-portraits. And I fear that the LCD electrical connection through the hinge is one more delicate piece to quickly break. I also thought the mini-usb connector was delicate. Canon strengths: again excellent pix. Canon has "dumbed-down" the interface and tried to make it more like a classical SLR. You can still do almost all the "gee-whiz" stuff, but it is segregated into a "creative zone" setting. The Canon LCD is much nicer looking. No hinge. To me, this is a plus. The usb and battery connector and covers seem more robust. The Canon bundled software is much, much better. The Nikon requires you to spend $130 extra to buy these features a la carte.

In the end, discounting the whole recall fiasco, I could be very happy with either model. One last word to old SLR geezers like myself who think they're upgrading. Both cameras have fairly dim "penta-mirror" viewfinders. Manual focus is a chore at best. To me this is the strongest argument to toss another $300 and get the D90. Also, both cameras have approx 16mmx24mm sensors, meaning you're throwing away half the image compared to 35mm slide film. Both kits lenses are a serious compromise. Both sensors are much better than the kit lenses. If you're upgrading from point and shoot, you will be deliriously happy. If you've ever owned a real SLR or a Hasselblad, you'll still be happy, but you will constantly be aware that these are "entry-level" cameras.

The announcement of Nikon D5000 in April 2009 is quite unexpected for many people. D5000 is quite different than other Nikon beginner cameras (D40, D60), and it also does not resemble Nikon D90, a mid-range Nikon DSLR line.

Nikon D5000 is an unique camera in Nikon line. It has swivel LCD screen (None of other Nikon DSLR has this feature), and it has movie mode (the second camera that has this feature in Nikon line after D90). Along with Nikon D3000, Nikon hopes that D5000 will be a huge success in this holiday season. D5000 will compete against Canon T1i / 500D.

BODY & HANDLING

Nikon D5000 weights 588g (with card and battery). The dimension is 127 x 104 x 80 mm which is a bit bigger and taller than D3000. From the top, Nikon D5000 looks exactly the same as Nikon D3000. It has info button, exposure compensation, shutter button and shooting mode ring.

Nikon D5000 has a thumb dial which you can use to change aperture or other settings. It also has AE-AF lock button, live view button, four-way controller button, playback button, menu button, trash bin button, magnifying buttons (+ and -) and info button. On the left side, you have self timer (function) button which could be customized. I usually customized it to ISO setting.

The layout and available buttons are very similar to Nikon D3000. If you are coming from higher end Nikon D80-D90 line, you might miss the image quality button, ISO button, AF release mode button, and White Balance button.

BUILT QUALITY & ERGONOMIC

D5000 like all other Nikon beginner camera up to Nikon D90 has rugged plastic interior with textured "rough" finish. I like the textured finish more than smooth finish (like in Canon T1i camera).

Ergonomically, it is good to hold, but the space between lens mount and the grip is pretty tight. If you mount bigger lens or if you have big hands, then you might not feel comfortable. However, I feel D5000 has slightly better ergonomic because it has a taller grip than D3000 or D60, so all of my fingers can rest on the grip, instead of hanging loose.

LCD SCREEN

D5000 has unique vari-angle LCD screen. This swivel LCD is a little bit awkward because it swivel to the bottom not to the side like many other digital cameras. You can swivel the lcd screen down to 90 degree and then rotate it to left o right up to 270 degree. It is quite versatile for overhead or low angle shot. It is also very helpful when you are in live view mode or movie recording mode. However, I personally prefer if the lcd swivel to the side rather to the bottom, but I can understand why Nikon design it that way. Nikon tries to keep the layout / body interface as similar as other Nikon beginner cameras.

Unfortunately, unlike D90, the LCD screen resolution is limited to 230k (the same as D3000). So you will be never able to check if your photos are in focus or not. Additionally, there is no top LCD screen like Nikon D90.

LENS COMPATIBILITY

Nikon D5000 comes with Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens. This lens has a plastic mount, but the image quality and the light is recommendable. It never get super sharp like pro grade lens, but pro grade lens might costs more than ten times, so 18-55mm VR is one of the best value lens out in the market.

The lens has image stabilization feature which is called Vibration Reduction (VR). It works well and quietly up to 3 stops. If you hold the camera tight and still, you can shoot up to a quarter second without motion blur.

Unfortunately, D5000 does not have built in focus motor in the camera. Therefore, it can't auto focus older lenses such as the venerable Nikon 50mm f/1.8 or the legendary Nikon 85mm f/1.4D. If you need AF function, you need lens that has auto focus motor in it (AF-S lenses). If you are looking at third party lenses, look for HSM (Sigma lens) or motorized Tamron lenses.

IMAGE QUALITY & ISO

Nikon D5000 employs 12 megapixel sensor which is very similar to the one with Nikon D90. It produces better image quality than other Nikon beginner camera up to date.

In low light situation, D5000 delivers clean image up to ISO 1600, and usable image at ISO 3200 if you expose it correctly. Image quality in high ISO setting is very satisfactory.

Like other Nikon DSLR cameras, D5000 also has Auto ISO limiter. You can effectively limit the ISO and minimum shutter speed. The Auto ISO works very well and accurate most of the time. My favorite way to use this is to set the camera to Auto ISO, and then use Aperture mode and let the camera adjust the rest for me.

AUTO FOCUS AND RELEASE MODE

D5000 has the same AF system as D3000 and D90. This AF system are quite reliable for everyday use. It comes with dynamic tracking and 3D tracking which is great for moving objects and sports. The auto focus is very fast and responsive. D3000 has 4 frame per second continuous shooting. It is neither fast or slow. For sports, dances or plays you might hope for faster burst.

Quiet release mode: This is a new release mode unique to Nikon D5000 and later D300s. When you shoot in Q mode, you can full press and hold the shutter button to keep the mirror up. Then, when you release the shutter button, the mirror will flip down. I don't think this feature is quite useful because it does not really make the shutter release quieter, it just divides the shutter release into two steps. The beep sound that indicate the auto focus lock will be automatically turn off when you use this mode.

INTERFACE

Despite the lack of dedicated buttons for many important setting such as ISO, release mode, white balance etc, It is relatively easy and quick to change those setting. What you need to do is hit the INFO button twice and toggle to setting that you want to change and change it with the main thumb dial. It is not the most efficient interface around. (The best interface will be Olympus super control panel), but Nikon is showing some progress.

MOVIE RECORDING MODE

Movie recording in D5000 is quite basic and easy to activate but tough to handle. To activate, you need to press lv (live view) button once, and then after you focus (you can half press the shutter button or manual focus) then you pres OK button to start and end recording. Them, you can now record the movie up to 5 minutes. The countdown will be displayed in the screen.

It is tough to handle because there is no built-in stabilization so in order to stabilized the video you need a tripod. You will need to focus manually too to keep track of moving object because live view contrast-based auto focus is very slow and unreliable.

However, compare to a regular camcorder, the movie mode are excellent in low light condition and able to create a very shallow of depth of field. You can also switches lenses to create different effects.

COMPETITORS

Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
Canon T1i is D5000's arch rival in 2009. It has high-res fixed LCD screen, 15 megapixel image resolution, compatible with all Canon EOS lenses, and bigger viewfinder. It can record movie up to 18 minutes. For direct comparison, check out [Canon T1i vs Nikon D5000]

Pentax K-x 12.4 MP Digital SLR with 2.7-inch LCD and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Lens (Black)
Pentax Kx is the best value camera in 2009. With only $550 this holiday season, you can get full featured beginner camera with movie recording mode, built-in image stabilization, and solid image quality. Check out our Pentax kx review and Pentax kx vs competitors.

Sony Alpha A380L 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization and 18-55mm Lens
Sony A380 has a very good image quality especially in bright light situation, fast AF in live view mode, tilt-able LCD screen and built-in image stabilization but no movie recording mode.

Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP Live MOS Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization and 2.7 inch Swivel LCD w/ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 ED Zuiko Lenses
Olympus E-620 is the smallest beginner camera that has built-in image stabilization, swivel LCD screen, back-lit buttons but no movie recording mode, smaller image sensor and has smaller viewfinder. Check out our own Olympus E-620 review.

Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens
If you are interested in Nikon camera, you might want to consider D3000 too. It is cheaper, lighter and smaller, more user-friendly but has inferior image sensor, no live view and no movie recording mode. Check out our own Nikon D3000 review.
CONCLUSION

Nikon D5000 is a feature-packed Nikon beginner camera that sits in the middle between beginner and advanced Nikon camera. It is a solid product with excellent image quality. The swivel LCD screen could be helpful for many situations. From features and image quality stand point, it matches Nikon D90. What hold D5000 back is its body interface and lack of built-in AF motor. Overall it is a good camera for your money. But before you get one, you need to check out its limitations especially about its lens compatibility and movie mode.

Subjective Rating - Relative to entry level DSLR cameras 2009
Image Quality : 5/5
Features : 5/5
Performance : 5/5
Body and Handling : 4/5
Value for Money : 4/5

For sample images, ISO comparison and camera body pictures, please visit my blog. You can find the link from my profile. Thanks for reading

My research boiled down to a face-off between the D5000 and Canon T1i. Initially, I was leaning toward the T1i but when I went to the local electronics retailer and compared them side by side the D5000 won out. There were just a few features that were not obvious to me from the written reviews that tipped the balance in favor of the Nikon. Before we get into the details, just let me say that I'm not a pro - just an amateur, but have used a DSLR for a couple of years, and film SLRs prior to that.

Layout/Design: The D5000 seems to have a better grip and button/control layout. For example, the index finger can operate the on/off switch, and reach nearby buttons while resting on the shutter button. The thumb can manipulate the command dial to select desired values for factors such as ISO, Exposure Compensation, etc. - all while you keep the finger on the shutter button. On the T1i, you must remove your finger from the shutter button, select a setting button (e.g. ISO), and then move the command dial with your index finger. This just doesn't seem as good a design to me.

Shooting Info/Status Display LCD: On the Canon, I noticed a lot of "white" space where no information was displayed and the values seemed to have random pattern. Indeed, if you compare the exposure info layout to the predecessor XSi you will see several differences. I also noticed that the T1i does not show several items on the main info display: Flash Mode (except in Creative Auto mode where it is ~apparently~ important enough to be displayed), Bracketing Mode, and Focus Points that are available on the Nikon. Exposure Compensation is shown, but is less than obvious (its a small hash mark under the exposure meter). To me, flash mode (on/off/red-eye, etc.) is pretty important and should be always visible. On the Nikon, every key bit of exposure info is displayed on the single shooting info display. The layout is very uniform - the key settings are in the main area, and the less often used info is on the right and bottom borders. The layout is nearly identical to other recent Nikon models.

Auto/Scene Mode Flexibility: I discovered that the Nikon, unlike the Canon, allows one to modify many exposure settings even in the automated Scene (Digital Vari-Program) modes. These include ISO, white balance, Auto Focus Mode, AF Area, AF Point, etc. The only adjustment possible on most scene modes on the T1i is image size/quality (check the Function Availability Table). I think this is quite a limitation, I think the ability to tell the camera that I'm taking a portrait but also override ISO, or auto white balance if I choose offers much more flexility and control.

Auto Focus: Some reviews mentioned this but it may not be obvious to newbies. In low light the DSLR needs to use a assist light to focus quickly and accurately. The T1i requires the flash to be deployed for this to happen, while the Nikon has an independent focus assist lamp which is always available (unless manually disabled). Most find this lamp to be less annoying than the Canon's flash strobe.

Built-in Help: When you are attempting to change an exposure setting, or menu option and forget what the functions does, etc. the D5000 has a help button that provides a pop-up explanation on the LCD display. This is great for new to SLR users and even seasoned photographers when facing a menu option you haven't used in a while. The Canon does not have anything like this.

So, there are a few features that sold me on the D5000. I've had it for about two months now and am very happy with it. The easy of use, speed, and picture quality has been superb in my opinion. Hope this helps!

Every product has a market and trying to criticize the D5000 for slightly lower quality pictures when using ISO at 1600 or above when compared with more expensive cameras or talking about the fact that the continues shooting speed is more like 3 than 4 and not as fast as the D90 or higher models makes no sense.
The sensor is the same as the d300, a camera 1000 dollars more expensive, even it autofocus is not available when filming, the simple fact that high res video recording is available is great for a camera at that price range.
I have taken amazing photos with this camera, there is enough settings to play with to get great details and colors in different environment.
If you don't need a camera for professional reason there is no need to spend one more dime than what this camera cost to get beautiful photos.