Nikon
D3000
 vs
Nikon
D5000

Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5100

Nikon D5000

48
Winner

Nikon D5000
"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout
"The image quality is undeniably impressive."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
72.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Nikon D3000

32
Runner-up

Nikon D3000
"User-friendly ergonomics, without sacrificing control"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3000's button-layout
"The Nikon D40 was a groundbreaking camera, not only for Nikon, but for the entire entry-level sector of the DSLR market"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3000's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3000

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x97x64 mm
Thickness
 Thin
2.5"

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3000
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Size Significantly smaller 126x97x64 mm vs 127x104x80 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.5" vs 3.1"
Help
 20% thinner
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.52x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 262 ms vs 276 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 550 shots vs 510 shots
Help
 Around 10% more shots per battery charge
Weight Lighter 536 g vs 590 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $676.55 vs $996.98
Help
 The best price we've seen is $320 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Nikon D3000 Learn more about
the Nikon D3000

Advantages of the Nikon D5000
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 563 ISO
Help
 The D5000 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 72.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 700 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when turning on
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.3 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D5000's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D5000's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000
32 vs 48
Explain scores
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5000.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonD3000
 Nikon D3000 vs Nikon D5000
NikonD5000
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
11
12
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
9
12
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
9
12
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
9
12
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
10
11
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
10
12
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Sensor size Large sensors Help
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Lens focus motor No focus motor Help
Won't autofocus with all lenses
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D3000:3,200 ISO
D5000:6,400 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3000:1,600 ISO
D5000:3,200 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D3000:10 MP
D5000:12.2 MP
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D3000:3 fps
D5000:4 fps
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
D3000:262 ms
D5000:276 ms

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the D3000
Compare the D3100 vs the D5000
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D5100 vs the D3000
Compare the D5100 vs the D5000
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3000
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5000
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3000
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5000
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the D3000
Compare the D90 vs the D5000
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D3000
Compare the D7000 vs the D5000
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3000
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5000

Nikon D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3000.

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D5000.

appearance

Nikon D3000 Nikon D5000
Nikon D3000 Nikon D5000
Nikon D3000 Nikon D5000

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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Showing 1 comments

Avatar for Alex Black Alex Black (2:27 PM, March 07, 2010)
John asked: "Hello, can you please advise if either the D3000 or the D5000 Nikon SLR cameras have the capability to display the frame (view finder) on the LCD screen while composing a picture?"

Yes, the Nikon D5000 has "live view", and the D3000 does not. "Live view" lets you use the LCD screen on the back as a viewfinder to preview the photo you are about to take.