Verdict

There’s no doubting the abilities of this camera to produce stunning still images ? and moving images ? but it does sit against some tough competitors, including some of Nikon’s own models. The vari-angle LCD screen is a hugely impressive feature that I’m sure will soon become a common sight amongst future models but currently gives this camera a unique selling point.

In some areas, such as the movie mode and the LCD screen, I felt that it could have been a little more impressive but this would cause the D90 to immediately look out of date. I feel overall the D5000 is a victim of the price increases and had the camera been launched £150 cheaper, setting it halfway between the current D60 and D90 street prices, there would be no questioning of its merits. However, it is unfair to measure new model launch prices against street prices on established models, as prices within the first few months can change rapidly and this camera was never meant to be a competitor for the D90. Price issues aside this is a stunning piece of kit. It’s worth scouring for a good price but you should definitely have this camera on your shortlist.