Nikon
D5000
 vs
Nikon
D80

Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D80

Nikon D5000

48
Winner

Nikon D5000
"The hand grip is one of the best examples in this class of camera and the rear dial is easily accessible, making it very quick and easy to use."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's feel
"Very impressive high ISO performance"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
72.0
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 cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Nikon D80

32
Runner-up

Nikon D80

Reasons to buy the Nikon D80

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.62x
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Pentaprism
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5000
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 524 ISO
Help
 The D5000 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 72.0 vs 61.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
 1.3 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
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
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
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
Weight Lighter 590 g vs 668 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
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 D80
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 50% larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $700.00 vs $996.98
Help
 The best price we've seen is $297 cheaper (around 30% less)
Nikon D80 Learn more about
the Nikon D80
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
48 vs 32
Explain scores
Nikon D80 Nikon D80
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5000.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonD5000
 Nikon D5000 vs Nikon D80
NikonD80
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
8
6
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
7
6
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
8
5
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
7
6
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
6
6
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
6
6
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
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
D80:3,200 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D5000:3,200 ISO
D80:1,600 ISO
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Screen size Very small screens Help
D5000:2.7"
D80:2.5"
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D5000:12.2 MP
D80:10 MP
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D5000:4 fps
D80:3 fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Compare the D5100 vs the D5000
Compare the D5100 vs the D80
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Compare the D3100 vs the D5000
Compare the D3100 vs the D80
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 size Has a much larger screen
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the D5000
Compare the D90 vs the D80
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 size Has a much larger screen
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5000
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D80
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
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D5000
Compare the D7000 vs the D80
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
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5000
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D80
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 size Has a much larger screen
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5000
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D80

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D80 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D80.

appearance

Nikon D5000 Nikon D80
Nikon D5000 Nikon D80
Nikon D5000 Nikon D80

Find similar cameras

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discussion Which do you think is better?

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