[Update]

The serial number checker is available here. There does not appear to be a specific range, or at least they’re not telling us, and since no link is apparently, I presume that if it says your body is affected, it’ll give you a link to further info an provide you with the 2 day shipping label, etc.

If you’d like to talk to them about this issue: (USA) 800-645-6678, 8am to 2am (Eastern), 7-days-a-week.

A FAQ is here.

[/Update]

You hit all the right buttons on her body, you perform all the right moves, you charge her up, you even tell her the things she wants to hear, “Yeah baby, I’m gonna buy you that 200mm f/2 VR you’ve wanted for so long! I’m gonna get you so hot, your SB-900 will melt!”

But, nothing seems to consistently work. Then you realize, it’s not you, it’s not your moves, it’s her- she’s got some flaw.

Nikon has put up a service advisory on the D5000 explaining that sometimes it won’t turn on even when the battery is fully charged and it won’t turn on sometimes even when the AC adapter is plugged in.

This is not good. So here’s what you need to know:

• On July 23rd, they will have a serial # checker to let you know if your body is affected.
• The fix requires you to send in your body, they’ll start accepting bodies on July 23rd- the website (?) will have a label generator for you to use.
• Shipping both ways will be paid for by Nikon and will be 2-day shipping to minimize inconvenience

Check here for updates.

Kudos to Nikon for taking responsibility and working to make it easy on you to get fixed.

What’s interesting is that this must be a hardware issue since they’re requiring you to send it in, normally, you’d expect software. Also interesting that it’s only some serial numbers- this implies a design change (or manufacturing snafu?) which makes you wonder if they swapped a part or supplier in the middle of the run.

Mike Kobal continues to impress with his movies taken with the D90 and now D5000. He’s good enough that I’m starting to wonder why he bothers with cameras and doesn’t just get a dedicated video camera.

Take a look.

SILENTIUM EST AUREUM Nikon D90 + Lensbaby from Mike Kobal on Vimeo.

Nikon D5000 18-55mm Sample Shot @ 6400iso

The Japanese website dcWatch has a nice review of the D5000 and 18-55mm kit lens (translated) that includes studio and outdoor comparison shots are various ISO and noise reduction levels.

Unsurprisingly, everything looks pretty good.

Engadget has a quick head to head with the T1i and the D5000: they seem pretty well matched in general.

The D5000 is official:

Nikon D5000 Officially Announced / Shown

From the release:

NIKON’S D5000 DIGITAL SLR CAMERA EXPANDS POSSIBILITIES FOR PHOTO AND HD VIDEO CREATIVITY WITH D-MOVIE MODE, VARI-ANGLE LCD MONITOR AND 19 AUTOMATIC SCENE MODES

…Easy one-button Live View activation now features Subject Tracking autofocus (AF), which automatically locks onto a moving subject…

…Subject Tracking AF maintains focus, making the D5000 ideal for capturing fast moving children and pets. In addition to Subject Tracking AF in Live View, the D5000 features Face Priority AF, which automatically detects up to five faces in a scene and focuses on the closest subject; Wide Area AF, which offers a large AF area for optimal hand-held shooting; and Normal Area AF, which provides pinpoint accuracy when shooting with a tripod…

…The D5000’s D-Movie Mode allows users the exciting ability to record HD movie clips (1280 x 720) at a cinematic 24 frames per second with sound …

…With the broad range of automatic Scene Modes, including Sports, Portrait, Candlelight, Silhouette, Autumn Colors and more, D5000 is the perfect camera for anyone looking to make inspiring images in challenging photographic conditions…

…Price and Availability
The D5000 outfit, which includes the AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens, will be available at Nikon Authorized dealers beginning in late April 2009 at an estimated selling price of $849.95.** For consumers who want to configure their D5000 system or for photographers who need an additional D-SLR body for an existing system, the D5000 will also be offered as a body only for an estimated selling price of $729.95.…

So basically another consumer-grade SLR with movie mode, NOT full-frame- the notable features seem to be the articulated (not fixed) LCD and some updates to the autofocus tracking to make it easier to use in movie mode!

Still confused about the model number though- maybe we’ll be seeing single digits for Pro bodies, triple digits for advanced amateur to pro range, and double and quadruple digits for consumers?

Nikon D5000 / D500 Rumors

The void that surrounded this camera back in the PMA 2009 timeframe is starting to take form.

Engadget has found a shot from a retailer in Japan that was up then taken down.

The primary interesting item is an articulated LCD and possibly enhanced in-camera video editing. Otherwise, seems a bit like a D60 maybe. Price should be ~$600-800?

Also, you hopefully didn’t miss these (presumably?) real product shots of the camera .

I’m still pretty confused about the product name and tempted to say that D5000 may not end actually being the name, but there aren’t any signs that point to any OTHER name so….

Interestingly too- the screen is attached at the bottom of the normal LCD  place which means that it swings down instead of to the side like many movie cameras:

Nikon D5000 Leaked Shots

See the rest of DTown.

Nikon D5000?

PMA is March 1st to the 5th this year and there’s only one rumor.  Nikon Rumors is reporting:

…Nikon D5000 is real – it has a swivel display that rotates in all directions; 12.3 Mpx sensor…

Well, let’s just see. Given that we aren’t hearing this from any other source, I’m taking it with a grain of salt- could be another P&S

A swivel display is really nice if you’re taking a self-portrait and while I wanted one on the D3 for live-view, I’m happy to report that the viewing angle on the LCD of the D3 and D3x are still totally usable if you hold the camera at odd angles (like over your head). So it wasn’t as important as I’d thought.

Also, does the fact that it’s number might be 5000 instead of, say, 65 make any difference? Who knows. I’m tempted to bet that if we do see an SLR like this, it won’t be a number higher than 100, but who knows.

Again, I also expect to see lower-priced, less capable cameras being released until we bottom out of the global recession, so I’m not getting my hopes up about anything very interesting being released.