Nikon announces new consumer DSLR

The new Nikon D5000 DSLR is a mid-range enthusiasts' model.

It features a versatile 450-degree vari-angle LCD monitor that can be viewed in normal position flush against the camera back, or swung out and rotated and/or tilted.

When not in use, the monitor can be stowed with the LCD panel facing the camera back, essentially becoming its own cover.

The D5000 features a 12.3 effective megapixel APS-C format (DX) CMOS sensor. It offers continuous shooting as fast as 4 frames per second, advanced 3D Colour Matrix Metering II for outstanding exposure accuracy, 11-point selectable autofocus, and four Live View AF modes, along with automatic exposure and white balance bracketing functions.

There is also a new Quiet Shooting mode that reduces mirror cycling noise for quieter shooting in environments where minimal noise is desired.

The D5000 follows the D90 in offering video capabilities, shooting Motion JPEG movie clips in different formats at 24 frames per second. Playback on HDTVs is at 1,280 x 720 pixels.

Because a DSLR sensor is much larger than that of a typical camcorder, movie clips display superior image quality and low noise even when shot at high ISO settings. The D5000's compatibility
with NIKKOR AF-S and AF-I lenses opens up a wide range of possibilities for dramatic expression, from fisheye and wide-angle shots to long telephoto scenes and extreme close-ups.

Nikon has adopted advanced in-camera editing functions in the new DSLR under its Retouch Menu,
including Soft Filter, Perspective Control (which helps correct distortions in perspective), and Colour Outline (which creates monochrome "line drawings" by eliminating colour and tonal gradations). Each editing function is applied to a copy of the image, with the original left unmodified.

The Picture Control System of the D5000 gives users the ability to customise key image capture characteristics to suit personal preferences. Six settings are available - Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, and Landscape - along with the ability to create up to nine custom Picture Control settings.

RRP of the D5000 (body only) is $1499, $1699 for body and 18-55mm lens, and $1999 with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lens,

New wide zoom lens

Nikon also announced a new AF-S DX Nikkor 10-24mm f3.5-4.5G ED lens with built-in Silent
Wave Motor (SWM) for Nikon DX-format digital SLR cameras.

It's compact and lightweight, and features a 2.4x zoom with a focal length range of 10 to 24mm (equivalent to a focal length of 15 - 36mm in 35mm format cameras).

This lens is suitable for diverse scenes from small rooms, architecture and panoramic landscapes to distinctive portraits with exaggerated perspective. The newly-developed optical system features two ED glass and three aspherical lens elements.

RRP for the the new Nikkor AF-S DX 10-24mm lens is $1799.