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Nikon D5000

I received this 9-14-2009, exactly 4 years after the Nikon D50, my 1st Nikon d-SLR. Neat.

2009 was a weird year for me. In March I upgraded to a dream camera, the D200, but barely a month later had to sell; I downgraded to a Nikon D60 (same 10mp sensor, smaller body & fewer features, much like the D40x I used to own). I ended up selling that, having only a D40 for a short while, before getting a D60 a 2nd time. At the time I had contemplated this camera, the D5000 (but didn't go for it just yet), as it has the same 12mp CMOS sensor used in the D300 I've lusted for some time, and more features than the D60. In fact it would replace many (although not all) of the features I had liked about my D200.

09-06-2009 I spotted a low-use D5000 (630 shutter firings) at Nikonians for $495, the best price yet, and made the move (thankfully the guy linked to his full-blown website as Nikonians otherwise makes you become a paying member to contact sellers). Again it brings back many (although not all) of the D200 features I had been missing with my D60: 11 AF points, selectable JPEG quality in Raw+Jpeg, ISO 1/3 steps, ISO in viewfinder, option for ½ EV/f-stop steps, auto bracketing mode, and viewfinder gridlines. It also improves over the D200 by using the straight-up image zoom-in during playback review, and has a small-ish (but gripable) body I like. Again, it improved over the D60 & D200 both by giving me access to the newer 12mp CMOS sensor derived from the D300. It also has a tilt-swivel LCD and live view (neither a big deal for me at the time). It doesn't have the direct access to settings or expanded lens compatibility of the D200, but getting the newer sensor, smaller body and straight-up zoom-in for image playback made it a better choice for me.

And for only $195 more than what I got selling my D60, not bad. For more shots of the camera, go here.

Nikon D5000, Tips & Tricks
[ Nikon D5000, Tips & Tricks ]