D5000 Overview Feature Comparison Press Release
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Nikon D5000 Feature Comparison

The chart below compares the Nikon D5000 with its direct siblings in the current Nikon DSLR line-up. What we've done below is to present something of a hybrid comparison between these three models. A red cell means that a given camera performs below the other two, a green cell means that it performs better than the other two, and a yellow cell means it falls between the other two. In cases where two cameras share a superior capability, both their cells will be colored green. Sharp-eyed readers may find some areas where we haven't chosen to highlight a particular difference. Those cases are simply ones that we don't feel are significant in typical use of the camera.

Nikon D5000 vs Direct Siblings
Manufacturer
Nikon
Nikon
Nikon
Model
D60
D5000
D90
Imaging
System
Sensor Manufacturer
Sony
Sony
Sony
Sensor Type
CCD
CMOS
CMOS
Color Filter Array
RGB
RGB
RGB
Total Megapixels
10.75
12.9
12.9
Effective Megapixels
10.2
12.3
12.3
Effective Sensor Size (mm)
23.6 x 15.8
23.6 x 15.8
23.6 x 15.8
Focal Length Multiplier (approx.)
1.5x
(Nikon DX)
1.5x
(Nikon DX)
1.5x
(Nikon DX)
Ultrasonic Dust Reduction
Yes
with Air-flow Control
Yes
with Air-flow Control
Yes
Image Processor
EXPEED
EXPEED
EXPEED
Viewfinder
Type
Eye-level pentamirror
Eye-level pentamirror
Eye-level pentaprism
Coverage
95%
95%
96%
Magnification
(-1 diopter with 50mm lens at infinity)
0.80x
0.78x
0.94x
Eyepoint (mm)
18
17.9
19.5
Dioptric Adjustment Range (diopters)
-1.7 to +0.5
-1.7 to +0.7
-2.0 to +1.0
Focusing Screen
Type-B BriteView clear matte screen Mark V
Type-B BriteView clear matte screen Mark V, with on-demand grid lines
Type-B BriteView clear matte screen Mark II, with on-demand grid lines
Depth of Field Preview
No
No
Yes
Live View
/ AF modes
No
Yes,
Contrast Detection AF only: Face priority, Wide-Area, Normal-Area, Subject Tracking modes
Yes,
Contrast Detection AF only: Face priority, Wide-Area, Normal-Area modes
Recording
System
Recording Media / Quantity / Slot Type
Secure Digital card
(SDHC compatible)
Secure Digital card
 (SDHC compatible)
Secure Digital card
(SDHC compatible)
Compatible File System
FAT 16 / FAT 32
FAT 16 / FAT 32
FAT 16 / FAT 32
Recording Formats
RAW 12-bit (compressed NEF), JPEG
RAW 12-bit (compressed NEF), JPEG
RAW 12-bit (compressed NEF), JPEG
Maximum Resolution
3872 x 2592
4288 x 2848
4288 x 2848
Reduced Resolutions (JPEG only)
2896 x 1944;
1936 x 1296
3216 x 2136;
2144 x 1424
3216 x 2136;
2144 x 1424
RAW + JPEG Recording
Yes, basic JPEG only
Yes, selectable JPEG resolution / compression
Yes, selectable JPEG resolution / compression
Color Space, Image Parameters
&
White Balance
User-Selectable Color Space
Yes
sRGB (2 variants) + Adobe RGB
Yes
sRGB + Adobe RGB
Yes
sRGB + Adobe RGB
Processing Parameters
(Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, Hue) / # of Increments
7 options each for sharpness and contrast, 4 options for saturation. 7-step hue adjustment.
9 options for sharpening, 7 options for contrast, 3 options for brightness, 7 options for saturation, 5-step hue adjustment.
9 options for sharpening, 7 options for contrast, 3 options for brightness, 7 options for saturation, 5-step hue adjustment.
Picture Control System
No
Yes
Yes
Active
D-Lighting
Yes,
On/Off
Yes
4 levels + Auto
Yes
4 levels + Auto
Adjustable High ISO NR
Yes,
On/Off
Yes,
4 levels
Yes,
4 levels
Preset WB Settings
Six presets with fine tuning, one Manual preset
Six presets with fine tuning, one Manual preset
Six presets with fine tuning, Color Temperature, one Manual preset
Manual Color Temperature Setting Range
No
No
2,500 ~ 10,000K in increments of roughly 10 mired
WB Adjustment Range
6 steps in 1-step increments
5 mireds per step,
6 steps in 1-step increments
5 mireds per step
6 steps in 1-step increments
5 mireds per step
Autofocus
System
Type
TTL phase detection by Nikon Multi-CAM530 autofocus module
TTL phase detection by Nikon Multi-CAM1000 autofocus module
TTL phase detection by Nikon Multi-CAM1000 autofocus module
# of Focusing Points (Focusing Point Type)
3 points (1 cross-type, 2 vertical-type)
11 points, (1 center cross-type, 2 horizontal-type, 8 vertical-type)
11 points, 1 wide or normal center point (1 cross-type, 2 horizontal-type, 8 vertical-type)
Superimposed Focus Point Display
No
Yes
Yes
AF Working Range
EV -1 ~ 19 (ISO 100)
EV -1 ~ 19 (ISO 100)
EV -1 ~ 19 (ISO 100)
AF Servo Modes
AF-S (single one-shot), AF-C (continuous tracking),
AF-A (for auto selection of AF-S or AF-C modes)
AF-S (single one-shot), AF-C (continuous tracking),
AF-A (for auto selection of AF-S or AF-C modes)
AF-S (single one-shot), AF-C (continuous tracking),
AF-A (for auto selection of AF-S or AF-C modes)
AF Area Modes
Single area, Dynamic area, Dynamic area with closest subject priority
Single area, Dynamic area, Auto area, 3D tracking (11-points)
Single area, Dynamic area, Auto area, 3D tracking (11-points)
AF-assist Beam
Yes
Bright incandescent lamp
Yes
Bright incandescent lamp
Yes
Bright incandescent lamp
Fine-tune Focus Adjustment
No
No
No
Exposure
Control
Shooting Modes
12 - Program, Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual, Auto, Auto with flash off, Portrait, Landscape, Close up, Sports, Child, Night Portrait.
13 - Program, Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual, Auto, Auto with flash off, Portrait, Landscape, Close up, Sports, Child, Night Portrait, SCENE (accesses 13 additional scene modes).
11 - Program, shutter-priority AE, aperture-priority AE, Manual, Auto, Auto with flash off, Portrait, Landscape, Close up, Sports, Night Portrait.
Metering Zones
420
420
420
Metering Modes
1) 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); Color Matrix Metering II (other CPU lenses); metering performed by 420-segment RGB sensor.
2) Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8mm dia. circle in center of frame.
3) Spot: Meters 3.5 mm dia. circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on active focus area.
1) 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); Color Matrix Metering II (other CPU lenses); metering performed by 420-segment RGB sensor.
2) Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8mm dia. circle in center of frame.
3) Spot: Meters 3.5 mm dia. circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on active focus area.
1) 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); Color Matrix Metering II (other CPU lenses); metering performed by 420-segment RGB sensor.
2) Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 6, 8, or 10 mm dia. circle in center of frame.
3) Spot: Meters 3.5 mm dia. circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on active focus area.
Metering System Working Range
1) EV 0 ~ 20 (Matrix or center-weighted metering)
2) EV 2 ~ 20 (spot metering)
(ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F)
1) EV 0 ~ 20 (Matrix or center-weighted metering)
2) EV 2 ~ 20 (spot metering)
(ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F)
1) EV 0 ~ 20 (Matrix or center-weighted metering)
2) EV 2 ~ 20 (spot metering)
(ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F)
ISO Range / Extended
100 ~ 1600 / 3200
100 / 200 ~ 3200 / 6400
100 / 200 ~ 3200 / 6400
Exposure Compensation
+/- 5EV in 1/3EV increments
+/- 5EV in 1/3EV increments
+/- 5EV in 1, 1/2 or 1/3EV increments
Automatic Exposure Bracketing
No
3 shots, 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps
2 or 3 shots, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV steps
Shutter Speeds,
Frame Rate, Shutter Lag
Shutter Type
Electronically controlled mechanical
Electronically controlled mechanical
(rated to 100K actuations)
Electronically controlled mechanical
Shutter Speed Range
1/4000 ~ 30 sec. in steps of 1/3 EV, bulb
1/4000 ~ 30 sec. in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV, bulb
1/4000 ~ 30 sec. in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV, bulb
Maximum Frames Per Second / Buffer depth
3.0 fps / >20 JPEG large/fine or 6 RAW frames
4.0 fps / >20 JPEG large/fine or 10 RAW frames
4.5 fps / >20 JPEG large/fine or 10 RAW frames
Shutter lag, full AF (sec.)
0.26
0.28
0.21
Shutter lag, prefocus (sec.)
0.093
0.085
0.067
Approx. startup time (sec.)
~0.5
~0.4
~0.3
Flash
Built-in Flash / Guide Number (m) at ISO 100
Yes
(12, manual 13)
Yes
(12, manual 13)
Yes
(12, manual 13)
Max flash x-sync speed. (sec.)
1/200
1/200
1/200
Flash Exposure Compensation
-3 to +1 EV, 1/3 EV steps
-3 to +1 EV, 1/3 EV steps
-3 to +1 EV, 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps
Slow-sync Flash
1st or 2nd curtain
1st or 2nd curtain
1st or 2nd curtain
PC Sync Terminal
Hot shoe only
Hot shoe only
Hot shoe only
Nikon Advanced Wireless Lighting Support
No,
Requires mounted SB-900, SB-800 or SU-800 as controller
No,
Requires mounted SB-900, SB-800 or SU-800 as controller
Yes, camera can act as wireless controller with multiple groups, modes and channels
Playback
System
LCD Size / Pixel Count
2.5 in LCD / 230,000 pixels
2.7 in LCD / 230,000 pixels
3.0 in LCD / 920,000 pixels
Enlarged Playback / Scroll
1.1 - 25x for large images, 19x for medium images, or 13x for small ones / Yes
1.1 - 25x for large images, 19x for medium images, or 13x for small ones / Yes
1.1 - 27x for large images, 20x for medium images, or 13x for small ones / Yes
Calender View
No
Yes
Yes
LCD Monitor Brightness Adjustment Range
7 steps
7 steps
7 steps
Automatic Rotation for Vertical Shots
Yes
Yes
Yes
Video Out
Analog NTSC/PAL
Analog NTSC/PAL, HDMI
Analog NTSC/PAL, HDMI
Other Features
Computer Connection
Yes, USB 2.0 High-Speed, PTP-compliant
Yes, USB 2.0 High-Speed, PTP-compliant
Yes, USB 2.0 High-Speed, PTP-compliant
Direct Printing (PictBridge-compliant printers)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Menu Languages
15 (Japanese, German, English, Spanish, Finnish, French, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean)
16 (Japanese, German, English, Spanish, Finnish, French, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Norwegian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean)
16 (Japanese, German, English, Spanish, Finnish, French, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Norwegian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean)
Camera Default Reset
Yes
Yes
Yes
Custom Functions
(Quantity)
Yes (11)
Yes (23)
Yes (41)
Multiple Exposures
No
No
Yes
(2~3 shots)
In-camera Image Retouching
Trim, D-Lighting, Color Balance, Image Overlay, Filter Effects, Small Pic, Monochrome, Stop Motion, Red-Eye Correction
Trim, D-Lighting, Color Balance, Image Overlay, Filter Effects, Distortion Control, Monochrome, Stop Motion moves from stills, Color Balance, NEF (RAW) processing, Quick Retouch, Straighten, Distortion Control, Fisheye, Small picture, Red-eye correction, Perspective control, Color outline
Trim, D-Lighting, Color Balance, Image Overlay, Filter Effects, Monochrome, Color Balance, NEF (RAW) processing, Quick retouch, Straighten, Distortion Control, Fisheye, Small picture, Red-eye correction
Remote Control
Optional, ML-L3 wireless remote
Yes, accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 wired remote, or ML-L3 wireless remote
Yes, accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 wired remote, or ML-L3 wireless remote
Info LCD Panel / Illumination
No / n/a
No / n/a
Yes / Yes
(power switch)
Number of Command Dials
1
1
2
Optional GPS Support
No
Yes, via optional GP-1
Yes, via optional GP-1
Programmable function button
Yes
Yes
Yes
Lateral C.A. Correction
No
Yes
Yes
Geometric Distortion Correction
No
Yes
No
D-Movie
No
Yes, 3 modes:
HD 1280x720 (16:9 ratio) VGA 640x424 (3:2 ratio) QVGA 320x216 (3:2 ratio)
with monaural audio
Yes, 3 modes:
HD 1280x720 (16:9 ratio) VGA 640x424 (3:2 ratio) QVGA 320x216 (3:2 ratio)
with monaural audio
Intervalometer
No
Yes
No
Articulating LCD
No
Yes
No
Auto Dimming LCD (eye-detect)
Yes
No
No
Body Structure
Body Cover/Chassis
Largely Polycarbonate
Largely Polycarbonate
Largely Polycarbonate
Environmental Seals
No
No
No
Power System
Battery Compatibility
EN-EL9 / EN-EL9a
EN-EL9 / EN-EL9a
EN-EL3e,
optional MB-D80 battery pack
Rated Shooting Capacity
(shots)
CIPA: 500
(with EN-EL9)
CIPA: 510
(with EN-EL9a)
CIPA: 850
(with EN-EL3e)
Dimensions & Weight
Dimensions (WxHxD, mm)
126 x 94 x 64
127 x 104 x 80
132 x 103 x 77
Weight (body only)
495 g
560 g
620 g
Operational
Environment
Operating Temperature Range
0 ~ 40°C
0 ~ 40°C
0 ~ 40°C
Operating Humidity Range
< 85%
< 85%
< 85%
Kit Lens
Focal Length / Aperture
18-55mm
f/3.5-5.6G VR
18-55mm
f/3.5-5.6G VR
18-105mm
f/3.5-5.6G VR
Lens Compatibility
Meter Coupling
CPU
CPU
CPU
In-body AF Motor
No
No
Yes
Lens Mount / Compatibility
  1. DX Nikkor: All functions supported;
  2. Type G- or D-AF-S Nikkor: All functions supported;
  3. Type G- or D-AF Nikkor: All functions supported except autofocus;
  4. Other AF Nikkor (excluding lenses for F3AF): All functions supported except autofocus, 3D Color Matrix Metering, i-TTL balanced Fill-Flash for digital SLR;
  5. AI-P Nikkor: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering, i-TTL balanced Fill-Flash for digital SLR and autofocus;
  6. Some non-CPU lenses can be used in exposure mode M only, with no metering, autofocus or TTL flash control; electronic range finder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster.
  7. IX Nikkor lenses cannot be used.
  1. DX Nikkor: All functions supported;
  2. Type G- or D-AF-S Nikkor: All functions supported;
  3. Type G- or D-AF Nikkor: All functions supported except autofocus;
  4. Other AF Nikkor (excluding lenses for F3AF): All functions supported except autofocus, 3D Color Matrix Metering, i-TTL balanced Fill-Flash for digital SLR;
  5. AI-P Nikkor: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering, i-TTL balanced Fill-Flash for digital SLR and autofocus;
  6. Some non-CPU lenses can be used in exposure mode M only, with no metering, autofocus or TTL flash control; electronic range finder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster.
  7. IX Nikkor lenses cannot be used.
  1. DX Nikkor: All functions supported;
  2. Type G- or D-AF Nikkor: All functions supported;
  3. Micro Nikkor 85mm F2.8D: All functions supported except some exposure modes;
  4. Other AF Nikkor (excluding lenses for F3AF): All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering, i-TTL balanced Fill-Flash for digital SLR;
  5. AI-P Nikkor: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering, i-TTL balanced Fill-Flash for digital SLR and autofocus;
  6. Non-CPU: Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function; electronic range finder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster.
  7. IX Nikkor Lenses cannot be used.

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D5000 Overview Feature Comparison Press Release
Navigate Review Jump to review page...