Last update (Nov 09, 2009): Use a third-party battery grip for improved camera balance with large and heavy lenses.
This page is a collection of Nikon D5000 digital SLR camera tips, tricks, techniques, camera settings and hacks by users and owners that I’ve across in forums, online communities, blogs and related websites.
Full attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author’s homepage or photo gallery.
Recently added
Use a third-party battery grip for improved camera balance with large and heavy lenses — Ben Hermann says:
[…] in regards to proper balance on the D5000, I purchased and connected the unique “Ownuser” brand of 3rd party battery grip (this fits the D40 through D5000…and probably the D3000 also).
Similar brands of such grips for the D5000 can be found on Amazon. Here’s lupedelupe’s opinion on the Zeikos ZE-NBG5000 Battery Grip for Nikon D5000:
I have one and find it quite a brilliant addition to the D5000. Makes for a far more comfortable hold. Don’t expect the plastics to be anywhere near as good as Nikon’s, but it’s not bad for the price.I found the wire connection on the vertical grip a bit of a PITA to use, and tend to shoot with the regular shutter release. But the wired connector/trigger does work very well — you still have the half-press function that you have with the camera’s shutter release (plus no hassles with IR connections timing out).
Nikon D5000: From Snapshots to Great Shots (Paperback) — Read Jeff Revell’s (the author) comments on his book.
Nikon D5000 RAW / NEF files now supported with Adobe Camera Raw 5.4 and Lightroom 2.4 updates — Visit Adobe’s product updates download page for the files.
Camera Raw 5.4 update, June 24, 2009:
This new version of the Camera Raw plug-in replaces the original one that was installed with Adobe Photoshop CS4; Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0; and Adobe Premiere Elements 7.0 software.
Lightroom 2.4 update, June 24, 2009:
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.4 update includes these enhancements:* Additional camera support for several new camera models including the Nikon D5000 and Canon EOS 500D (Digital Rebel T1i) * Includes several corrections for issues introduced by previous Lightroom 2 releases
Here’s a screenshot of Lightroom 2.4 importing and processing my Nikon D5000 RAW files (click to view a larger version).
See the full list of cameras supported with these updates.
Compatible Nikkor Lenses
Nikon Imaging Products has the official chart of Nikon Nikkor lenses that are fully compatible with the Nikon D5000, along with descriptions of any functionality limitations.