Nikon D5000 Unboxing & First Impressions [Archive]

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Jason Dunn

10-27-2009, 03:00 PM

Lee Yuan Sheng

10-28-2009, 12:46 AM

Since shooting this video several weeks ago, I've been using the D5000 pretty intensely, and using it for video is a bit disappointing. I knew all of the limitations of DSLR video - most cameras lack auto-focus, or if they do auto-focus it's slow and awkward - but I didn't fully grasp how limiting they'd be. I'll talk more about this when I review the D5000, but DSLR video definitely needs to evolve further in order to become useful to the average consumer.

One reason why I ended up getting a Panasonic GH1. Plus, it's so cute and tiny!

Jason Dunn

10-28-2009, 04:35 AM

One reason why I ended up getting a Panasonic GH1. Plus, it's so cute and tiny!

I finally got some hands-on time with the GH1 at a recent digital photography show in Calgary...quite a nice little camera! So you're saying it does autofocus on videos?

ptyork

10-28-2009, 07:32 AM

I finally got some hands-on time with the GH1 at a recent digital photography show in Calgary...quite a nice little camera! So you're saying it does autofocus on videos?

The entire AF system is contrast-detect since there's no mirror. So you get the same AF performance with video as you do with stills, though I assume you probably still have to "tell" it to re-focus (no subject tracking) which is both good and bad. DSLR's use a phase-detect system using a dedicated sensor, though the newer one's also implement a comparably weak contrast-detect mechanism for live view and video. Supposedly the Micro Four Thirds' AF is pretty darned comparable to entry-level DSLRs in terms of speed and perhaps better in terms of accuracy.

Incidentally, I just got an EOS 7D (woot!!!) and it does allow for real-time AF during video capture. It requires that you press the AF-ON button, it takes a couple seconds (variable between near instant and around 3 seconds depending on the distance between the old and new subject), and if you use the internal mic you can most certainly hear the AF motor seeking (even on the "silent" USM lenses), but it does work and the resulting video quality is truly stunning. It works passably for distant subjects and kind of painfully for closeup ones. It ain't gonna replace the dedicated video camera any time soon for home videos, but since the best (video) camera is the one you have with you... ;)

Regardless, I agree with you that DSLR video needs to evolve. I really don't understand why the contrast detection AF in this thing can't be as good (or better) than the GH1. It's got relatively massive computing power in the DIGIC chips. Maybe a bit of tweaking and a firmware upgrade? More likely a dedicated processor is required, and thus a 7D mkII. Oh well, I got it for the stills...which are a major (I mean MAJOR) step up from my old Rebel, especially in terms of proper lighting (even backlit subjects always seem to come out perfectly exposed) and white-balance. I've got a couple of friends with D300's and I intend to make them jealous (yeah, right, you Nikon folks always find something to feel superior about). :)

Jason Dunn

10-28-2009, 03:33 PM

Incidentally, I just got an EOS 7D (woot!!!) and it does allow for real-time AF during video capture. It requires that you press the AF-ON button, it takes a couple seconds (variable between near instant and around 3 seconds depending on the distance between the old and new subject)...I've got a couple of friends with D300's and I intend to make them jealous (yeah, right, you Nikon folks always find something to feel superior about). :)

FWIW, the D300s has exactly the same type of auto-focus - I initially thought it lacked any, like the D5000, but I finally got some hands-on time with the D300s this past weekend and it's just like the 7D: you press the button, wait a second or two, and it pulls it into focus. Not great, but at least an improvement. What I want is to be able to set a focal point, then let the 3D colour tracking system keep that item in focus. Doesn't seem so hard... :)

Oh, and congrats on the 7D! It looks like a fantastic camera. I'll be curious to see what the noise levels are like north of ISO 800 because that's a lot of megapixels crammed onto the sensor.

Lee Yuan Sheng

10-29-2009, 12:41 AM

Yes, the GH1 will AF in video... and actually that's the annoying part, because it'll AF when I don't want it to!

I still have yet to pick up a shoulder mount and a focus follow, so been doing silly shoots on the tripod only so far!

The main problem with the AF I believe is that the system itself isn't designed with contrast detect AF. Just speculation on my part. Olympus had to update the firmware on their older lenses to do contrast detect AF when they first announced live view.

Jason Dunn

10-29-2009, 05:20 AM

Well, well. I learned something new today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbz6BaT5tMk

...a Nikon spokesperson said the D5000 uses the same sensor as the D300. I had no idea! I knew the resolution was the same, but I didn't bother to look at the details of the sensor. :o

Lee Yuan Sheng

10-29-2009, 07:27 AM

The D300, D90 and D5000 all use a similar sensor. Nikon usually will use a sensor across different cameras, to lower cost.