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CNET editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 09/24/2009
- Released on: 08/24/2009
While many shooters are making the leap from a point-and-shoot to a dSLR, manufacturers are still in the experimental stage when it comes to determining the appropriate design and operational characteristics that define a camera for that audience. Thus far, Nikon seems to have gone the furthest with its attempts; the D3000 targets newbies by implementing an entire show-me-how-it's-done shooting mode without sacrificing the traditional manual controls one expects on a dSLR. For whatever reason, be it an attempt to simplify or straightforward cost cutting, the D3000 also bears the most stripped-down feature set I've seen so far in this class, but at least it doesn't sacrifice performance and photo quality as well.
For the most part, the D3000 looks, feels, and operates like a typical low-end dSLR. It's a little heavier than its classmates, but not significantly so, and feels well made and solid, with a nice grip. A programmable Fn button--you can set it to control the self-timer, release mode, image quality, ISO sensitivity, white balance, or Active D-Lighting menus, as well as to toggle a grid display in the viewfinder--lies under your left thumb, though it's a little hard to differentiate from the flash pop-up/compensation button that sits above it by feel alone. Behind the shutter button circumscribed by the power switch are the exposure compensation and info buttons; the latter toggles the back display.
| Nikon D40 | Nikon D60 | Nikon D3000 | Nikon D5000 | |
| Sensor (effective resolution) | 6.1-megapixel CCD | 10.2-megapixel CCD | 10.2-megapixel CCD | 12.3-megapixel CMOS |
| 23.7mm x 15.6mm | 23.6 mm x 15.8mm | 23.6 mm x 15.8mm | 23.6mm x 15.8mm | |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 200-ISO 1,600 | ISO 100-ISO 1,600/3,200 (expanded) | ISO 100-ISO 1,600/3,200 (expanded) | ISO 100 (expanded)/ 200-ISO 1,600/3,200 (expanded) |
| Continuous shooting | 2.5fps n/a |
3fps n/a raw/100 JPEG (medium/fine) |
3fps 6 raw/100+ JPEG (medium/fine) |
4fps 9 raw/100 JPEG (medium/fine) |
| Viewfinder magnification/ effective magnification |
95% coverage 0.80x/0.53x |
95% coverage 0.80x/0.53x |
95% coverage 0.80x/0.53x |
95% coverage 0.78x/0.52x |
| Autofocus | 3-pt AF n/a |
3-pt AF n/a |
11-pt AF center cross-type to f5.6 |
11-pt AF center cross-type to f5.6 |
| Metering | 420 segment RGB | 420 segment RGB | 420 segment RGB | 420 segment RGB |
| Flash sync | 1/500 sec | 1/200 sec | 1/200 | 1/200 sec |
| Live View | No | No | No | Yes |
| Video | No | No | No | 720p at 24fps |
| LCD size | 2.5 inches fixed 230,000 dots |
2.5 inches fixed 230,000 dots |
3 inches fixed 230,000 dots |
2.7 inches articulated 230,000 dots |
| Shutter durability | n/a | n/a | 100,000 cycles | 100,000 cycles |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | 470 shots | 500 shots | 500 shots | 510 shots |
| Dimensions (inches, WHD) | 5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 | 5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 | 5.0 x 3.8 x 2.5 | 5.0 x 4.1 x 3.1 |
| Body operating weight (ounces) | 18.5 | 19.4 | 18.8 | 21.6 |
| Mfr. Price | $499.95 (with 18-55mm non-VR lens) | n/a (discontinued) | $599.95 (with 18-55mm VR lens) | $729.95 (body only) |
As usual, the top mode dial is segregated into the scene, PASM (Program, Aperture- and Shutter-priority, and Manual), and full auto modes. Nikon adds a twist here, a Guide mode that provides various levels of step-by-step help for a limited number of common shooting scenarios. There's Easy operation, which, like Auto, provides access to a limited number of options, as well as an Advanced mode, which describes the appropriate settings for the chosen scenario and then allows you to change the settings yourself. For instance, in Easy Operation/Distant Subjects it puts you into the Sports scene mode--the camera tells you what it's doing, which is really nice--then optionally provides you with the option to adjust flash, release mode, and AF area mode settings. The options are not specific to the scenarios, however, which would be useful. My one extremely minor quibble with this is that the controls don't always function the same in this mode as when shooting normally; so, for example, here you'd adjust shutter speed with the up/down buttons on the multiselector, while you'd normally use the command dial to change the speed. This might confuse some people.
I also like Nikon's implementation of the interactive information display. The adjustment options are arrayed around the edges of the display, which makes the one you're looking for easier to find compared with some of the more cluttered full-screen layouts of competitors. On the other hand, you do have to navigate sequentially through the options, which you don't have to do with control panels that allow you to move up, down, and sideways. My bigger gripe here is with the multiselector, Nikon's four-way switch with OK button in the middle. It doesn't have a lot of travel and feels kind of mushy to operate. You can read the LCD in direct sunlight, however.
| Pentax K2000 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 | Nikon D3000 | Canon EOS Rebel XS | |
| Sensor (effective resolution) | 10.2-megapixel CCD | 10.2-megapixel CCD | 10.2-megapixel CCD | 10.1-megapixel CMOS |
| 23.5mm x 15.7mm | 23.5mm x 15.7mm | 23.6mm x 15.8mm | 22.2mm x 14.8mm | |
| Magnification factor | 1.5x | 1.5x | 1.5x | 1.6x |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 100-ISO 3,200 | ISO 100-ISO 3,200 | ISO 100-ISO 1,600/3,200 (expanded) | ISO 100-ISO 1,600 |
| Continuous shooting | 3.5fps 4 raw/5 JPEG |
2.5fps n/a |
3fps 6 raw/100+ JPEG (medium/fine) |
3fps 5 raw/unlimited JPEG |
| Viewfinder magnification/ effective magnification |
96% coverage 0.85x/0.57x |
95% coverage 0.83x/0.55x |
95% coverage 0.80x/0.53x |
95% coverage 0.81x/0.51x |
| Autofocus | 5-pt AF n/a |
9-pt AF n/a |
11-pt AF center cross-type to f5.6 |
7-pt AF n/a |
| Metering | 16 segment | 40 segment | 420 segment RGB | 35 zone |
| Flash sync | 1/180 sec | 1/160 sec | 1/200 sec | 1/200 sec |
| Live View | No | No | No | Yes |
| Video | No | No | No | No |
| Built-in wireless flash controller | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| LCD size | 2.7-inch fixed 230,000 dots |
2.7-inch fixed 230,400 dots |
3-inch fixed 230,000 dots |
2.5-inch fixed 230,000 dots |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | n/a | 510 shots | 500 shots | 500 shots |
| Dimensions (inches, WHD) | 4.8 x 3.6 x 2.7 | 5.0 x 3.8 x 2.7 | 5.0 x 3.8 x 2.5 | 5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4 |
| Body operating weight (ounces) | 20.7 | 18.3 | 18.8 | 17.6 |
| Mfr. Price | $449.95 (with 18-55mm lens) | $549.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | $599.95 (with 18-55mm lens) | $599.99 (with 18-55mm lens) |
| $599.99 (with 18-55mm and 50-200mm lenses) | $749.99 (with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses) | $849 (estimated; with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses) | n/a |
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