Nikon D5000

AlphaMountWorld just produced a very interesting comparative review of three of the most attractive digital SLR photo cameras now on the market:

• Sony Alpha A500
• Nikon D5000
• Canon EOS 500D ou Rebel T1i

Of course, this test is listed in the list of comparisons/reviews attached to the feature page of each of these cameras (follow the links above).

Source: AlphaMountWorld.com Sony Alpha A500, Nikon D5000, and Canon EOS Rebel T1i- Compared

Nikon is giving some explanations about what appears to be a second recall of Nikon D5000 cameras.

First, if you checked the serial number of your D5000 camera with the Nikon online tool, it is necessary to check again. Nikon added some more cameras (the initial list was too limited, more cameras are involved).

Second, it seems that there is a failing electronic component in the power supply part of the SLR photo camera. So, they developed an enhanced preventative maintenance procedure, meaning that some of the people who already sent their camera back may have to do it again (apparently those needing to come back to the repair shop are being contacted directly).

Remember to check your camera serial number.

Complements after talking to Nikon France: Some cameras were not sufficiently protected by the initial repair and need to receive an additional protection to fully avoid the switch-on issue. Nikon directly calls the people who need it; as usual this is a 100% free service and the customer does not have to pay anything for this.

In terms of quantities, French Nikon users are relatively protected: only 20 potentially-failing Nikon D5000 cases are listed in France.

And, even more important, since August 15, all the Nikon D5000 sold in France are fully exempt from the little issue we are discussing here.

In order to complete our previous information about the recall of some Nikon D5000 for an issue of startup lock-down, I want to share with you the data from Nikon Watch. They had the patience to verify full sets of serial numbers to try and find quickly the bad apples (bad serial numbers in need of a free Nikon repair).

Nikon D5000

D5000 Service Advisory Serial Number Range

The list they established is:

3015209 – 3026100: Positive (has the defect, must be repaired)

3023300: Negative

3023400 – 3026200: Positive

3026300: Negative

3026400 – 3029200: Positive

3029300: Negative

3029400 – 3030000: Positive

3030100 – 3030200: Negative

3030300 – 3032200: Positive

3032300: Negative

3032400 – 3048000: Positive

3048100: Negative

3048200 – 3054100: Positive

3054200: Negative

3054300 – 3073600: Positive

3073700: Negative

3073800 – 3084200: Positive

3084300: Negative

3084400 – 3085200: Positive

3085300: Negative

3085400 – 3112300: Positive

3112400: Negative

3112500 – 3114300: Positive

3114400 – 3515500 : Negative- End of run?

In all cases, I heartily recommend that you use this list only as a secondary source of information (a sales-people/shop may print it and keep it at hand under the counter) and to always confirm by checking the primary source, the on-line tool provided by Nikon.

Nota bene: They even provide the source code to their little software program that is doing the check…

We previously learned that some Nikon D5000 were suffering from an unpleasant issue of not start when switched on, even with a fully charged battery. Nikon now has more details to provide.

• According to Nikon France, there are only a dozen cases in France (most of the bodies already sold are fully immune).
• It is possible to easily know if your camera serial number is in the list of defective parts: Bad serial numbers (the same information will be available on the Nikon US web site, from July 23rd).
• Repair will have to be done in the repair department of Nikon.
• Customers will appreciate to learn that Nikon France is offering this repair: No cost to the customer.

Thanks to Nikon France.

Some Nikon D5000 have a serious issue with energy management that may render the camera unusable even if the battery if fully charged. We will soon now what serial numbers are involved.

Notice to users of the Nikon D5000 Digital SLR Camera

The Nikon D5000 is the new entry-lelve SLR photo camera from Nikon. But they don’t want to make it easy for you to find its user manual in a downloadable electronic format. So, I got the D5000 User Manual (PDF document) available for download.

It is now very obvious for everybody that the SLR cameras from Sony do not participate to the general move in direction of the integration of video capture.

We thought so, but it has now been confirmed by the senior general manager AMC division of Sony’s Digital Imaging Business group, Toru Katsumoto: The inclusion of video will only happen when it will be bringing that feature to the level of existing Sony Handicam video cameras.

So, this is not (only) because the Sony Alpha 230, 330 and 380 are based upon a relatively old technology (but well used) that Sony most SLR cameras are not competing against Nikon D5000 and Canon EOS 500D.

Source: CNet.

Have a look at the LCD screen of a Nikon D5000.

Nikon D5000 - LCD

The Nikon engineers obviously are working at making it look good (much better than the competition). And you can upload a background image, too.

Nikon D40

I hear that Nikon is discontinuing its the Nikon D40: 6.1 millions of pixels since November 2006, that’s quite a success.

While stoppping its manufacturing, Nikon officializes firmware updates for the Nikon D40 and D40x.

Nikon D40

Download firmware v1.12 (Windows)

Download firmware v1.12 (Mac)

Nikon D40x

Download firmware v1.01 (Windows)

Download firmware v1.01 (Mac)

Now, in Nikon photo camera range, there’s an entry point made out of the only two Nikon D60 and Nikon D5000. Both are good cameras that are more than able to attract customers at the lowest cost.

Already 10 tests and previews for the Nikon D5000. From all over the world. There are even some photo samples to judge of image quality.

Finally, with the Nikon D5000, the yellow brand did not announce a successor to the D300 but a new entry-level SLR photo camera with a tilt-and-swivel LCD display.

The Nikon D5000 is going to rock the competition a little. The screen probably comes from the success of the Sony Alpha 300/350, but the features are clearly Nikon quality:

• 12.3MP CMOS image sensor
• Sensitivity: 200-3200 ISO (ext. 100-6400 ISO)
• Exposure metering using 420-pixel color matrix
• Exposure compensation: ±5EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
• Continuous shooting at 4 frames per second
• 11-point Autofocus system
• Movie modes: HD 1280 x 720/24 fps VGA 640 x 424/24 fps QVGA 320 x 216/24 fps
• D-Lighting and D-Lighting bracketing for high contrast subjects
• Viewfinder: 95% coverage (with 0.78 magnification)
• 2.7″ LCD display (230,000 pixels)
• Tilt-and-swivel LCD screen, with LiveView mode
• In-Camera Image Editing, including RAW processing
• Built-in Flash
• Compatible with EF-S lenses (with built-in autofocus motor)
• Memory cards: SD/SDHC format
• 560g

Missing features from the Nikon D5000:

• No depth-of-Field control button (even on an entry-level, this is a pity)
• No Flash-sync terminal (not a problem if you do not use external flashes, or if you use them in wireless mode)

Nikon D5000 - LCD screen

All reviews for the Nikon D5000.

(more…)

One participant to the forums of Somethingawful otained a full collection of pictures taken in Croatia during the shooting of a commercial where we can see a guy handling an SLR camera. On some images, it is possible to notice that it’s a Nikon and that it has a tilt-and swivel LCD display.

Tiltable LCD?

If the photos are usually quite clean and do not look like “discreetly stolen”, it is difficult to say if this is an accidental leak, an organised leak or a sophisticated hoax.

Or, was it the shooting of a commercial film for the upocming Nikon D400, Nikon D5000 or Nikon D65 (or anything else)?

Beware: I only provide the more interesting picture. The others are provide more information about the actor than about the camera.

The nearly-arrived new entry-level SLR camera from Nikon would not be named Nikon D65, but Nikon D5000. This is what seems to become the common consensus. It would be a strong contender with:

• 12.3 MP (possibly the same sensor that comes with the Nikon D300 and Alpha 700, in its simplified version)
• No built-in AF motor
• A new built-in flash
• A tilt-and-swivel type of LCD screen (possibly the feature that everybody will be showing this year)
• Video mode(s)
• LiveView

Along with it, people expect to see the Nikon D400 that we discussed several times here on YLovePhoto.

And a price list from Nikon Japan shows the existence (soon to be official) of a possibly great new lens: AI AF Zoom-Nikkor ED 80-200mm f/2.8D. Nice!