Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D60

Nikon D5000

48

Winner

Nikon D5000

"The D5000 acquires the 11-point AF system from the D90. It's a pretty sophisticated setup for a camera at this level"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's auto-focus
"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Live view
Has live view
Preview your photos
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Nikon D60

29

Runner-up

Nikon D60

Reasons to buy the Nikon D60

Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 126x94x64 mm
Thickness
Thin
2.5"

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5000

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 562 ISO
Help
The D5000 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.4 EV
Help
1.1 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
Overall image quality Better image quality 72.0 vs 65.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Screen size Significantly larger screen 2.7" vs 2.5"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
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
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
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

Advantages of the Nikon D60

Size Much smaller 126x94x64 mm vs 127x104x80 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 2.5" vs 3.1"
Help
20% thinner
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.52x vs 0.51x
Help
Around 10% larger viewfinder
Weight Lighter 522 g vs 590 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Nikon D60 Learn more about
the Nikon D60
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
48 vs 29
Explain scores
Nikon D60 Nikon D60
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5000.

advice

Need help deciding?

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0
votes
by Jithmi-Alwis last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

iam a beginner ...and need a good entry level dslr...which is cheap...and have great image stab...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" The D3100 is a great starter camera"

0
votes
by Neeraj-Jain last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I am beginner and I want to become an expert in portrait photography, especially baby shots. Ple...

0
votes
by telmanri this month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I'm photography enthusiast and I plan to move on for my first dSLR. I want to buy a refurbished ...

0
votes
by Ketan-Nivding last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

Hi, I' am an amateur photographer and have taken up photography as a hobby. Recently, while on a J...

0
votes
by ImranVirk last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

Im a beginner and will mainly be using the camera for vacation pictures and weekend hobby photogra...

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
D5000:6,400 ISO
D60:3,200 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D5000:3,200 ISO
D60:1,600 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D5000:12.2 MP
D60:10 MP
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen size Very small screens Help
D5000:2.7"
D60:2.5"
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D5000:4 fps
D60:3 fps
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
D5000:0.51x
D60:0.52x
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D5000:720p @ 24fps
D60:None

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 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 significantly larger
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 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
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens

Screen size Has a much larger screen
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D60 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D60.

appearance

Nikon D5000 Nikon D60
Nikon D5000 Nikon D60
Nikon D5000 Nikon D60

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Amir (2:28 AM, June 07, 2011)
No battery life comparison??