Nikon's D5000 DSLR (and its articulating display) shipping April 27th

Oh, goodie goodie! Merely ten days after the D5000 was formally introduced to the world -- and just hours after Amazon's pre-order page went live -- we're now being told that Nikon's first DSLR with an articulating display will be shipping in three short days. Starting on April 27th, the cam will begin making its way out to those who pulled the trigger early on... at least in kit form. We don't expect the body-only configuration to leave the docks for at least a week or so later, but you can rest assured we'll be giving one a go and letting you know if it's worth the cheddar.

[Thanks, Jonathon]

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 8:06AM]

UK release is 1st May :(

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-D5000-Digital-Camera-18-55mm/dp/B0025KV8Y0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1240574698&sr=8-1

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 8:23AM]

Live rates at 2009.04.24 12:20:38 UTC
850.00 USD = 581.964 GBP [XE.com]

Price: £799.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery [Amazon.co.uk]

Thanks, Nikon :[

[Malcolm Posted Apr 26th 2009 3:35PM]

@PDoc:

You forgot about VAT which adds about £90 to that price (giving £669.26). And if you shop around you can get it for £682 from here: http://www.campkinsonline.com/1356/Nikon-D5000.html for instance, which really isn't that different from the US price at all...

[ecobranon Posted Apr 24th 2009 9:06AM]

On the other hand the Nikon D40 kit is on clearance at Curry's for GBP218 which is a whole lot less than what Amazon US is charging for it.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 11:02AM]

Link?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 9:07AM]

$850, not bad! We're getting a bewildering array of DSLR models these days, but it's always better to have options to choose from.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 9:18AM]

Want.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 9:28AM]

Here's hoping that Nikon adds the articulating display onto all its models that support LiveView. I'm in the market for an upgrade to my current D40X but the D5000 is too small a step-up. With luck they'll add this feature onto the successor to the D300.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 11:06AM]

Too small an upgrade?
Same metering system (3D color matrix metering II x 420) - I'll give you that.
Far superior AF system (Multicam 1000 11-area vs the intentionally crippled Multicam 530 3-area)
Far superior processing enging, the 40x had a crippled version of the D200's 12 bit / 2 channel system whereas the D5000 has the EXPEED engine)
Sensor noise is greatly reduced on the D5000 vs the 40x. The 40x was a noisy MFer, overly dense sensor and really unusable above 800 ISO. The D90 (D5000 = same sensor and processing engine) is a pretty good performer even @ 1600.
Can your D40x do exposure AND white balance bracketing?
The extra FPS is nice if you bracket.
Sensor cleaning / GPS ability / Active D-lighting / Custom Picture Controls.

(If you have the money) I think D40x to D5000 is a no-brainer. It isn't like you have a D80 or D50 even, and are giving up a featues in trade for IQ. (LCD status screen / Dual control wheels / AF screw)

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 11:24AM]

Soap,

I could be wrong, but I don't think the D5000 does exposure bracketing. Only useful improvement to the D5000 is the CMOS chip.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 12:01PM]

Willis,
http://nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-SLR/25452/D5000.html
It has exposure bracketing. Not as many stops (nor steps) as the x00 series, but it has it.

I also really can't stress enough the improvement in the AF system. That was always the weakest part of the 40/40x/60, IMHO. If you absolutely, positively, want to get that unrepeatable shot - Nikon's 3D color matrix metering II is your right hand, and you better hope you have something better than that 3 spot AF system as your left.

But yea, I can't argue if the other stuff doesn't interest someone.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 12:32PM]

While I don't want to get people's hackles up, this is a still an entry-level camera. Yes, it is going to be much better than my D40X but if I spend a bit more money then I could get a D90 and that's much more suitable. You can tell that this is an entry-level camera by way of the missing LCD top plate display, no access to settings like the White Balance, ISO or drive on the body, and damned scene modes that are there for the point-n-shoot crowd. Having spent a couple of weeks shooting with a D200 recently (friend was selling but then decided not to) I am very much ready to trade-up to something that will bring my photography on. Unfortunately, the D5000 isn't that camera but, as I said, I very much hope to see the articulated screen make it into the enthusiast and semi-pro models.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 1:06PM]

Kelmon,
Oh yea, I agree with you 100% - I don't see much of a place for this between the 60 and 90. Raw (pun intented) sensor quality is not what makes great photos - and the D60's processing covers most the important points. How people can live without a top LCD and without easy buttons for ISO / F stop / WB I'll never know.
That being said - in conclusion I think this is a great in-line upgrade over the 40/40x. Moving up-line the D80 should be a very cheap upgrade soon and with the D200 selling @ Best Buy for $600 last I looked moving up in features has not been (in recent history) ever cheaper.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 1:20PM]

To be honest, I keep looking at the deals available for the Fujifilm S5 Pro and wondering if that's worth a try...

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 12:27PM]

I have the d50, and I think the only logical upgrade for me would be the d90. On the other hand, using that money to buy better glass is probably the right thing to do, but If I didn't have the 50 I'd probably get this immediately, but I don't think it's wort the upgrade personally.

This thing doesn't have an AF motor in it, right?

I wonder if there will be a d90x with an articulating display?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 4:36PM]

I was in the same boat. D50 wanting to upgrade to the D90. I took the plunge last Dec. and I do not regret it.

While the D50 is a very capable camera ( much more than the D40, 40x and 60 IMO) my decision was prompted by 3 things:

1. The built in flash of the D50 (as well as the 40, 40x and60) does not have commander mode (or is it command mode?). The built in flashes on the D70 on up can trigger the SB-600 and SB-800 and SB-900 Speedlights which is great if you ever plan to use more than one flash.

2. The availability of an external battery pack/vertical grip. Longer shooting times and better grip when using the camera in portrait mode.

3. Lens motor on the body....i can't believe Nikon cut corners on this.........

Live view and video capability were only secondary considerations. I would have gotten the D80 but the lower noise at higher isos and the extra 2MP of the D90 were worth the few hundred dollars to me. I would have gotten the D300 but I needed the scene modes on the camera for when I hand it over to my wife or mother.......

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 1:11PM]

Cheaper

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=0&shs=nid5000&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=jsp%2FRootPage.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 3:09PM]

That B&H price is for the body only. The kit price is exactly the same as Amazon's.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 1:19PM]

I wonder when the Engadget review comes in, whether it can be compared to a previous gen Nikon (D60?) of some description using the same (kit) lens(es) at various ISOs with similar menu settings. Thanks.

I am mildly interested but don't like Nikon's insistence on getting to basics in a menu, with very little hard-button access to common settings (I can get to all the common AF, ISO, Metering settings far more quickly on an Olympus E-520 and have all the info show up in the optical viewfinder, too).

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 2:51PM]

I wish they would make a d3 type sensor in a DX body although this is close.

[jrocka Posted Apr 24th 2009 3:06PM]

okay this or the canon xti?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 9:53PM]

I got my D5000 today, then I didnt, then I did again.

Best Buy got their initial shipment near me this afternoon, I picked one up so I could have a backup to my D300 that I could leave in the car without feeling completely paranoid about losing $3k+ if I got broken into, but when I got it home and unboxed, er.... the box was empty. Called Best Buy back completely furious, it turns out they had unloaded mine as the floor model, so I ran back and got another copy. Unboxing pics and a few test shots will follow....

Edit: Unboxing shots now up here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kadath/sets/72157617186639099/

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 25th 2009 11:56PM]

I put 7 unedited full size jpgs straight-outta-camera at the tail end of the set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kadath/sets/72157617186639099/

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 26th 2009 9:23PM]

Couple Questions for you Sam. That lens looks different from the package that is included at amazon, is it?
Second, The D5000 records sound in mono, is there an input for external mic?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 27th 2009 4:42PM]

hi, i got my D5000 yesterday at Best Buy. I made an unboxing video here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOIRlqVm1Xc

also here are some pics (sorry for bad quality, photos were taken in a hurry, with a compact point & shoot)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sweetneet/sets/72157617364334206/

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 1st 2009 12:16PM]

WOW! I WOULD LOVE TO OWN THIS CAMERA.
THANKS! FOR THE CHANCE TO ENTER.
THIS CAMERA WOULD COME IN HANDY FOR MY HOBBY!
LOVE IT!, LOVE IT!, LOVE IT!

BECKY