Nikon D5000

The Nikon D5000 is an APS-C DSLR released in 2009, built around a 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor and Nikon's F DX lens mount. Framing happens through an optical pentamirror viewfinder, which gives a direct, through-the-lens view of the scene.

That combination fits stills-first photographers covering family pictures, travel and everyday subjects. The F DX mount also leaves room to grow, since the body accepts different lenses as your interests develop.

The body measures 127 x 104 x 80 mm and weighs 590 g without a lens, so it carries comfortably in a shoulder bag. There is no built-in wireless, so photos cannot travel to a computer over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

At the heart of the camera sit a 12.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and Nikon's Expeed processor. That resolution handles prints and web sharing comfortably, and the moderate file sizes keep cards and hard drives from filling too quickly.

Sensitivity runs from ISO 200 to 3200. Daylight and overcast scenes sit in the comfortable middle of that range, while dim interiors push towards the top, so plan on flash or steady support when the light fades. The built-in flash gives you a simple fallback indoors.

The camera shoots at up to 4 fps and offers a 1/4000 s maximum shutter speed. That pace suits gentle movement such as children playing or slow wildlife, without promising sustained fast-action sequences. Focusing is handled by an array of eleven autofocus points.

There is no stabilisation inside the body, so avoiding camera shake at slow shutter speeds depends on holding technique, a support or a stabilised lens. Framing happens through the optical pentamirror viewfinder, which shows the scene directly without running a display.

The D5000 offers video recording alongside its stills, but that capability is modest, with a score of 49 and a placing in the bottom 19% of cameras in our database for video. Recording tops out at Standard HD resolution, the maximum frame rate is 24 fps, and clips are saved as Motion JPEG files.

The built-in timelapse mode is the most creative option. It builds a moving sequence from a series of frames, turning slow scenes such as drifting clouds into a short clip without extra equipment.

For a stills shooter, the video side is fine for occasional family clips. Anyone planning to film regularly will run into the resolution ceiling quickly.

The features package is limited, scoring 34, and the screen explains much of that. The 2.7-inch LCD carries 230,000 dots, enough for framing and menus but coarse for critical focus checks. There is no touchscreen, so everything runs through physical buttons.

The flipping screen is the highlight. Combined with live view, it lets you hold the camera overhead or low to the ground and still compose clearly, which saves crouching and stretching for awkward angles.

Flash is well covered for a camera of this age. A built-in unit handles fill light and dark rooms, and the body also accepts external flash units for stronger, more controllable lighting.

There is no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPS, and the body is not weather sealed. Transferring photos therefore needs a physical connection, and rain or dust calls for care rather than protection built into the camera.

Storage and battery provision is limited, scoring 27. A single SD/SDHC slot takes one card at a time, so longer shoots mean carrying spare cards rather than relying on a second slot for overflow or backup.

The EN-EL9a battery is rated at 510 shots per charge. That rated figure offers a guide when planning shoots, though actual endurance will vary with how you use the camera.

The camera cannot charge over USB, so there is no topping up from a laptop or power bank. Charge the battery before a shoot, and consider a spare for longer events or heavy shooting days.