Live View worked well, but only after I set it to single-point focus. At the default focus setting, the camera caught a blurry image more often than not.

The 12.3-megapixel D5000 uses an APS-C (DX)-size sensor, same as the D60 and the D90. It has 19 automatic-exposure scene modes, and a maximum burst mode of 4 frames per second, half a frame shy of the D90's maximum. Like the D90, this model can take limited-length (5 minutes or 2GB) Motion JPEG video at 24 fps and up to 720p resolution, but regrettably it can't autofocus while shooting video.

Overall, the Nikon D5000 is well positioned to stand up to competing entry-level SLRs and crossover cameras such as those from Olympus and Panasonic based on the system. Its price should appeal to digital-SLR novices, and it offers a large enough boost in features over the and D60 to entice users of those models who wish to improve on what they own now but still want to have a compact digital SLR. Just be aware that to maximize your results, you'll have to learn your way around this camera's settings.