Wayne MacPhail stunned by stills, jaded by jelly

It’s very true that, even at the entry level, most DSLRs take better pictures than many photographers deserve. So, for all but the pros, picking a DSLR has less to do with image quality and more to do with the feel, features and user interface of the gear. Take the $800 Nikon D5000. There’s no question it produces clear, sharp, well-metered images. So, what sets it apart? First up, it feels great in the hand — balanced and ergonomically well-considered. Next, the articulated monitor. This is a bright, 2.7-inch screen that pivots out and around from the camera body — handy when the camera is in awkward positions. The D5000 monitor has a clean user interface but is not nearly as hi-res as the monitor on the higher-end Nikon D90. It can also display a Live View — an actual image of what you’re about to photograph. In principle, a good idea; in practice, a nuisance. The focus system on the D5000 suddenly get sluggish and brain-damaged and isn’t worth using except for static objects. Finally, the D5000 shoots HD video. That video, however, suffers from the “jelly effect”, a wobbling from top to bottom when you pan. The camera also only has a built-in mono mic and has no external mic jack, so don’t expect it to sub as a camcorder. And, actually getting to the video mode is a kludgy combo of button presses that make this feature feel like an afterthought. In short, the D5000 is a solid, entry-level DSLR with a handy monitor, great hand-feel and images, but with kludgy video.