Holidays With The Nikon D5000

This holiday season has few better DSLR options than the Nikon D5000. It is that rare device that manages to pack a ton of performance at an extremely competitive price.

With 12.3 megapixels, the D5000 is capable of resolutions greater than any non-professional photographer would likely need. Additionally, the bundled 18-55mm lens has built-in image stabilization and is a great starter lens for anyone just getting into DSLR photography.

The D5000 features a particularly competent automatic mode that will allow you to get your DSLR bearings. As you gain experience with the device, there are a slew of manual settings that will allow you to tweak your images to professional levels. Settings like ISO and white balance, for instance, are extensively adjustable.

It also includes a handful of smaller features that make it stand out in the category. The D5000 is capable of 720p HDSLR video. Sure, it requires a tripod to effectively shoot the video, but when you get it right, it'll look amazing. The swiveling LCD display is also a decent little flourish that is particularly useful when shooting video, as it allows clear views from various angles.

At its core, though, the only D5000 feature that really matters is the quality of pictures. And in that category, it's unparalleled by anything we've tested with similar costs.

It's important to consider that all DSLR cameras are essentially lens systems. As you grow as a photographer, you can expand your camera with new lenses and when you outgrow the capabilities of the D5000, those lenses will carry over with you to your next Nikon.

In the end, if you feel like your mobile device isn't quite right for shooting every occasion, and you want to take pictures that look amazing, DSLR is the way to go. At just $650 with a lens included, we feel that there is no better entry-level option than the Nikon D5000.