The Nikon D5000 picked up Best DSLR of the Year at the MacWorld Awards on Thursday night, fighting off competition from the likes of the Canon EOS 500D, the Pentax K-x, Olympus EP2 and Panasonic LUMIX DMC – GH1.

About The Macworld Awards 2010
This year's awards were held on 24 June at The Northumberland, a stunning new venue in Trafalgar Square, in the heart of London. The awards were attended by the great and good of the Mac industry, and this esteemed venue was the perfect setting for the UK's biggest Mac awards ceremony.

Now in its 15th year, the Macworld Awards are THE event in the UK Mac calendar, recognising the products and vendors that have made a significant contribution throughout the past year.

Nikon D5000 Description
The D5000 is a powerful and versatile SLR camera that delivers superb still images and high-definition D-movie clips with sound. Incredibly easy to use, it boasts a range of automatic features that help capture the shots you want and an impressive 12.3 megapixel DX format image sensor that ensures exceptionally detailed results. The innovative vari-angle LCD monitor makes it easy to shoot from any angle, bringing an exciting new twist to using Live View.

Whether you shoot still or moving images, you can flip, tilt or turn the monitor to take shots from above, below, to the side, or to create self-portraits. An array of automatic scene modes make it simple to capture clear images in a variety of situations and a range of retouch functions let you enhance photos in-camera. With so many powerful features packed into its compact, lightweight body, the D5000 offers people on the go a fantastic way to capture stunning shots from any angle.


Nikon D5000 Specifications

Type	Single-lens reflex digital camera
Lens mount	Nikon F mount (with AF contacts)
Effective picture angle	Approx. 1.5 x lens focal length (Nikon DX format)
Effective pixels	12.3 million
Image sensor	23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor
Total pixels	12.9 million
Dust-reduction system	Image Sensor Cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 required)
Image size (pixels)	4,288 x 2,848 [L], 3,216 x 2,136 [M], 2,144 x 1,424 [S]
File format	NEF (RAW)
	JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1:4), normal (approx. 1:8), or basic (approx. 1:16) compression
	NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) /and JPEG formats
Picture Control System	Can be selected from Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; storage for up to nine custom Picture Controls
File system	DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif 2.21 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras), PictBridge
Viewfinder	Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder
Frame coverage	Approx. 95% horizontal and 95% vertical
Magnification	Approx. 0.78 x (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1)
Eyepoint	17.9 mm (-1.0 m-1)
Diopter adjustment	-1.7 to +0.7 m-1
Focusing screen	Type B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark V with focus frame (framing grid can be displayed)
Reflex mirror	Quick-return type
Lens aperture	Instant return, electronically controlled
Compatible lenses	AF-S and AF-I NIKKOR: All functions supported
	Type G or D AF NIKKOR not equipped with an autofocus motor: All functions supported except autofocus
	Non-Type G or D AF NIKKOR not equipped with an autofocus motor: All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II and autofocus
	IX-NIKKOR and AF-NIKKOR for F3AF: Not supported
	Type D PC NIKKOR: All functions supported except some shooting modes
	AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II
	Non-CPU: Autofocus not supported. Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function
	Lens with maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster: Electronic rangefinder can be used
Shutter type	Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter
Shutter speed	1/4,000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV, Bulb, Time (with optional ML-L3 Remote Control)
Flash sync speed	X = 1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/200 s or slower
Release modes	Single-frame, continuous, self-timer, delayed remote, quick-response, quiet
Frame advance rate	Continuous high speed: up to 4 fps (manual focus, manual or shutter-priority auto exposure, 1/250 s or faster shutter speed; other settings at default values and memory remaining in memory buffer)
Self-timer	Can be selected from 2, 5, 10, and 20 s duration
Exposure metering	TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor
Exposure method	Matrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses)
	Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8-mm circle in center of frame
	Spot: Meters 3.5-mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point
Exposure range (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F)	Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0–20 EV
	Spot metering: 2–20 EV
Exposure meter coupling	CPU
Exposure modes	Auto modes (auto, auto [flash off]), Advanced Scene Modes (Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close up, Night portrait, Night landscape, Party/indoor, Beach/snow, Sunset, Dusk/dawn, Pet portrait, Candlelight, Blossom, Autumn colors, Food, Silhouette, High key, and Low key), programmed auto with flexible program (P), shutter-priority auto (S), aperture-priority auto (A), manual (M)
Exposure compensation	±5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Exposure bracketing	3 frames in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Exposure lock	Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button
ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index)	ISO 200 to 3200 in steps of 1/3 EV. Can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.7, or 1 EV (ISO 100 equivalent) below ISO 200, or to approx. 0.3, 0.7, or 1 EV (ISO 6400 equivalent) over ISO 3200, ISO sensitivity auto control available
Active D-Lighting	Can be selected from Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, or Off
Active D-Lighting bracketing	2 frames
Autofocus	Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including 1 cross-type sensor) and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5–3 m/1 ft. 8in.–9 ft. 10 in.)
Detection range	-1 to +19 EV (ISO 100 equivalent, 20°C/68°F)
Lens servo	Autofocus: Instant single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status (AF-A)
	Manual (M): Electronic rangefinder supported
Focus point	Can be selected from 11 focus points
AF-area modes	Single-point AF, dynamic-area AF, auto-area AF, 3D-tracking (11 points) AF
Focus lock	Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (Single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
Built-in flash	Auto, Portrait, Child, Close-up, Night portrait, Party/indoor, Pet portrait modes: Auto flash with auto pop-up P, S, A, M, Food: Manual pop-up with button release
Guide number (m/ft.) at 20°C/68°F	At ISO 200: Approx. 17/56, 18/59 with manual flash
	At ISO 100 equivalent: Approx. 12/39, 13/43 with manual flash
Flash control	TTL: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR using 420-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash, SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-400 (when combined with matrix metering or center-priority metering)
	Auto aperture: Available with SB-900, SB-800, and CPU lenses
	Non-TTL auto: Supported flash units include SB-900, SB-800, SB-28, SB-27, or SB-22s
	Range-priority manual: Available with SB-900 and SB-800
Flash modes	Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, fill-flash, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye correction, and rear curtain with slow sync
Flash compensation	-3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Flash bracketing	2 or 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1, or 2 EV
Flash-ready indicator	Lights when built-in flash or SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-80DX, SB-28DX, or SB-50DX is fully charged; blinks for 3 s after flash is fired at full output in i-TTL or auto aperture modes
Accessory shoe	Standard ISO 518 hot-shoe contact with safety lock
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)	Advanced Wireless Lighting is supported when the SB-900, SB-800, or SU-800 is used as commander
Sync terminal	Hot Shoe Sync Terminal Adapter AS-15 (optional)
White balance	Auto (TTL white-balance with main image sensor and 420-pixel RGB sensor); 12 manual modes with fine-tuning; preset manual white balance, white balance bracketing
White balance bracketing	3 frames in steps of 1
Live View AF modes	Face priority AF, wide area AF, normal area AF, subject tracking AF
Live View focus	Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face priority or subject tracking AF is selected at the time of Live View shooting)
Movie clips image sizes (pixels)	1,280 x 720/24 fps, 640 x 424/24 fps, 320 x 216/24 fps
Movie clips file format	AVI
Movie clips compression format	Motion-JPEG, with monaural sound
LCD monitor	Vari-angle type, 2.7-in., approx. 230k-dot, low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD, approx. 100% frame coverage, 170° viewing angle, and brightness adjustment
Playback function	Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, movie playback, stop-motion movie playback, slide show, histogram display, highlights, auto image rotation, and image comment (up to 36 characters)
USB	Hi-Speed USB
Video output	Can be selected from NTSC and PAL; images can be displayed on external device while camera monitor is on
HDMI output	Type C HDMI connector; camera monitor turns off when HDMI cable is connected
Accessory terminal	Remote Cord MC-DC2 (optional)
	GPS Unit GP-1 (optional)
Supported languages	Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
Battery	One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9a
AC adapter	AC Adapter EH-5a (optional; requires EP-5 power connector)
Tripod socket	1/4 in. (ISO 1222)
Dimensions (W x H x D)	Approx. 127 x 104 x 80 mm / 5.0 x 4.1 x 3.1 in.
Weight	Approx. 560 g / 1 lb. 4 oz. without battery, memory card, or body cap
Temperature	0–40°C / 32–104°F
Humidity	Less than 85% (no condensation)
Supplied accessories	Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9a, Quick Charger MH-23, Eyepiece Cap DK-5, (may differ by country or area) Rubber Eyecup DK-21, USB Cable UC-E4, Audio Video Cable EG-D2,Camera Strap AN-DC2, Accessory Shoe Cover BS-1, Body Cap, Software Suite CD-ROM
Footnote	Specifications and equipment are subject to change without notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer. April 2009 Copyright © 2009 Nikon Corporation

* D5000 Description and Specifications table were taken from: www.europe-nikon.com

As part of the celebration of Grays of Westminster’s 25th Anniversary this year, we are delighted to let you know that if you are a current subscriber to Nikon Owner as well as a customer of Grays of Westminster, your name will be entered into a special silver anniversary prize-draw to win a 45mm f/2.8P Nikkor AIS chrome lens, with HN-35 lens hood, 52mm NC filter, and lens pouch, boxed, new (RRP - £440.00).
The four runners-up will each win a signed hardback Grays of Westminster Book - In the Company of Legends.

There will be a number of special silver anniversary offers for our customers throughout this period. This is in addition to our regular up-to-date news on Nikon equipment (digital and film, new and second-hand), and announcements of seminars, workshops, special trips and events. If you are not a current subscriber to Nikon Owner, please read below to find out how you could qualify to enter the prize-draw.

What is Nikon Owner?
Nikon Owner magazine and Interactive Website is considered by many to be the world’s number 1 user group for Nikon owners. It was initially founded with the purpose of assisting Nikon users to make full use of the Nikon equipment they own, to give advice on a wide spectrum of photographic queries and problems, and at the same time to offer ideas to bring about an increase in photographic skills. Subscription to Nikon Owner magazine and interactive website provides a bridge between theory and practical, technical know ledge and accomplishment. As a subscriber to this group, you will receive an array of offers and assistance, as well as the unique photographic publication:

Nikon Owner magazine
From the cold reaches of the Arctic to the muted ocres of The Palio, from the panoramic sweep of an alien landscape to the microscopic detail of a leaf in bud, Nikon Owner magazine is both inspirational and informative. It is a superb, glossy full-colour 60-page quarterly magazine that is 100% Nikon. Each issue delivers bench-mark technical reviews of the very latest Nikon equipment, thought-provoking interviews and articles with world-class images. With its mix of stunning images, illuminating articles to assist and enlighten the photographer, and the very latest reviews on Nikon equipment, it is the essential magazine for the Nikon user.

Nikon Owner subscriber benefits additionally include:

• Private user name and password to subscribers’-only website which includes a lively forum, message board, technical equipment reviews, events’ page and use of a photo gallery.
• Simon Stafford’s Technical Helpline: free technical consultation and support from Simon Stafford who is considered to be one of the top Nikon experts in the UK ; you will be able to benefit from his formidable knowledge and have all your technical questions fully answered by email. This service is exclusive to Nikon Owner subscribers.
• FREE 3-year warranty on all new Nikon products from Grays of Westminster within your year of subscription.
• FREE 18-month warranty on second-hand Nikon from Grays of Westminster within your year of subscription.
• 10% off Think-Tank bags purchased at Grays of Westminster.
• Special trips: past visits have included a two-week trip to Japan and a personal tour of the Nikon factory, a visit to Nikon Thailand , Angkor Watt, Cambodia.
• Substantial discounts on events and training sessions such as Mike Maloney’s House of Lords Photographic Workshop, Heather Angel’s Wildlife & Natural History Workshops, Neil Lucas's Definitive Time-Lapse Event, Chris Weston’s Photographic Courses, Simon Stafford’s Flash, Portraiture and Macro Seminars.
• 10% off any training courses run by Nikon UK.
• A range of complimentary meetings and outings organized by local Nikon Owner Groups.
• Nikon Owner Grand Christmas Dinner at the Institute of Directors , Pall Mall, London.

Please email me gillian.greenwood@nikonownermagazine.com with your name, daytime landline and mobile telephone number if you are interested in finding out more or speak to any of my colleagues between 10.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday on 020 7828 4925 or 020 7828 8971; alternatively for International calls, telephone + 44 (0)20 7828 4925. The cost of an annual subscription to Nikon Owner : Special price: £59. Please quote PD59. Offer ends June 30th, 2010.

With kindest regards

Gillian Greenwood
Features Editor and Events & Training Coordinator

We are often asked what the letter following the word "Nikkor" on early pre-Ai lenses means. Each Nikkor lens has certain markings indicating the optical design. These letters were codes indicating the number of elements in each lens. The letters are derived from Latin and Greek words denoting numbers:
U = Uns = 1 element
B = Bini = 2 elements
T = Tres = 3 elements
Q = Quatuor = 4 elements
P = Pente = 5 elements
H = Hex = 6 elements
S = Septem = 7 elements
O = Octo = 8 elements
N = Novem = 9 elementsD = Dece = 10 elements

For example the 50mm f/2 Nikkor S would indicate a 7 element lens. Later the letter 'C' began to appear, following the code letter for the number for elements: e.g. 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor SC. The C-type Nikkors indicate that some or all of their glass elements are multi-coated. There were slight cosmetic changes that also differentiate the C-type lenses, which have a black finish to their filter ring.

About Grays of Westminster Glossary Page
All subjects have their own nomenclature and photography is no exception. In common with other manufacturers, Nikon use abbreviations to describe their products, which can sometimes cause confusion to someone new to the system. As a special service to Nikon users and enthusiasts, and in an effort to clarify and make defining any terminology that has been used simpler, we are offering the Grays of Westminster Glossary Page as a brand new service.

If you do not see the definition or answer to a question you are seeking, please feel free to email us at glossary@graysofwestminster.co.uk with your request and we will do our best to answer you.

Those of you who attended our Nikon Owner Christmas Dinner at the IoD will recall Scott Andrews captivating talk about shoot a Shuttle Launch. Scott has just sent me the following.



In this unique time-lapse video created from thousands of individual frames, photographers Scott Andrews, Stan Jirman and Philip Scott Andrews condense six weeks of painstaking work into three minutes, 52 seconds (read here how they did it).

The action starts in the hangar-like Orbiter Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center , where Discovery has been outfitted for its STS-131 mission. The vehicle is then towed to the 525-foot-high Vehicle Assembly Building , hoisted into a vertical position and lowered onto its external fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters. Then it’s off to the pad on the giant Mobile Launcher Platform, where the shuttle is encased in its protective Rotating Service Structure until just before launch on April 5, 2010.

The film ends with a glimpse of Discovery and the STS-131 astronauts coming in for a landing 15 days later, back in Florida where it all started.

Read the full article here.

Enjoy!

Until 30th June 2010 (inclusive) customers will be able to claim £30 on purchases of the COOLPIX S8000; Nikon's flagship 'Style' series model in the spring / summer COOLPIX range.

The 14.2 megapixel Nikon COOLPIX S8000 is a stylish, high performance compact camera that delivers stunning results. The easy to use model offers a range of automatic settings, an impressive 10x zoom and with a fast start-up time and DSLR class AF system it’s ready in an instant. And when a picture won’t quite capture the action, you can immediately record an HD video using the dedicated video button. The high-definition (HD) movie function with stereo sound offers a resolution of 720p and will capture all of the action at an impressive 30 frames per second.

Kevin Egan, Consumer Product Manager at Nikon UK , comments: "As we approach the holiday season and more people consider purchasing a digital camera, I’m delighted that the cashback offer now makes the premium COOLPIX S8000 camera an even more attractive option."

For information about how to make your claim and for terms and conditions please visit: www.nikon.co.uk/cashback. All claims must be received by 31st July 2010.

For more information about the COOLPIX range please visit: www.nikon.co.uk

For a number of years, Grays of Westminster has presented and hosted a number of comprehensive photographic events and seminars, covering a wide variety of subject matter including Mike Maloney’s recent historic House of Lords Photographic Event, an evening with best-selling author Graham Hancock, a Christmas event with photographer and celebrated mountaineer, Jo Gambi, another event featuring Simon Marsden, wildlife and natural history weekend workshops with Heather Angel, as well as training sessions with Simon Stafford.

Neil Lucas will take us on a journey from his earliest photographic passions to his discovery of time-lapse techniques and how they developed throughout his career, leading to the first real time-lapse programme 'The Private Life of Plants'. He will describe the problems and successes and demonstrate the techniques, culminating to his recent work for the BBC series 'Life' and beyond.

Neil Lucas worked for the BBC Natural History Unit as a producer for over 20 years. During that time he worked on many internationally acclaimed and award-winning productions, including Sir David Attenborough’s The Trials of Life, The Private Life of Plants, The Life of Mammals and Planet Earth. In the outstanding 'Life' series he produced two of the most technically challenging programmes, and many of his programmes have been nominated for BAFTAs and EMMYs. Neil is now working as a freelance film director and photographer specialising in challenging and technical shoots, using the same filming and photographic techniques he has mastered throughout his career.

Venue Details
Fitzroy House, from 2.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. on Saturday, June 19th 2010 - presentation starts at 2.30 p.m..


Fitzroy House
37 Fitzroy Street
London W1T 6DX

Google map: [maps.google.co.uk]

Tickets are available at £25 for Nikon Owner subscribers and £85 for non-subscribers. English afternoon cream tea and refreshments will be served during the break. To reserve your tickets please call me, Gillian Greenwood, on 020 7828 8971 or email: gillian.greenwood@nikonownermagazine.com with your full name and daytime mobile and landline. Please note that limited seats are available – please book early to avoid disappointment.

We would like to thank Mike Eleftheriades, who runs the Nikon Owner London Group for all his hard work in setting up this unique event.

Please note that subscribing to Nikon Owner Magazine and Interactive Website allows you a £60 discount off this event and many of our other training sessions.

About Nikon Owner:

Nikon Owner magazine and Interactive Website is considered by many to be the world’s number 1 user group for Nikon owners.

Nikon Owner was initially founded with the purpose of assisting Nikon owners to make full use of the Nikon equipment they own, to give advice on a wide spectrum of photographic queries and problems, and at the same time to offer ideas to bring about an increase in photographic skills. As a subscriber to this group, you will receive an array of offers and assistance, which includes:

• Nikon Owner magazine

• Nikon Owner magazine is a superb, glossy full-colour 60-page quarterly magazine that is 100% Nikon. Each issue delivers bench-mark technical reviews of the very latest Nikon equipment, thought-provoking interviews and articles with world-class images.
• Private user name and password to subscribers’-only website which includes a lively forum, message board, technical equipment reviews, events’ page and use of a photo gallery.
• Simon Stafford’s Technical Helpline: free technical consultation and support from Simon Stafford who is widely recognised as one of the world's foremost Nikon experts; you will be able to benefit from his formidable knowledge and have all your technical questions fully answered by email. This service is exclusive to Nikon Owner subscribers.
• FREE 3-year warranty on all new Nikon products from Grays of Westminster within your year of subscription.
• FREE 18-month warranty on second-hand Nikon from Grays of Westminster within your year of subscription.
• 10% off Think-Tank bags purchased at Grays of Westminster.
• Special trips: past visits have included a two-week trip to Japan and a personal tour of the Nikon factory, as well as a visit to Nikon Thailand, Angkor Watt, Cambodia.
• Substantial discounts on events and training sessions such as Mike Maloney’s House of Lords Photographic Workshop, Heather Angel’s Wildlife & Natural History Workshops, Chris Weston’s Photographic Courses, Simon Stafford’s Definitive Flash, Portraiture and Macro Seminars.
• 10% off any training courses run by Nikon UK.
• A range of complimentary meetings and outings organized by local Nikon Owner Groups.
• Nikon Owner Grand Christmas Dinner at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall, London.

To subscribe to Nikon Owner at the special price of £59, please email me at gillian.greenwood@graysofwestminster.co.uk as before, with your name, daytime landline and mobile telephone number or call and speak to any of our staff between 10.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday on 020 7828 4925 or for International calls, telephone + 44 (0)20 7828 4925, and 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. on Saturdays.

With best wishes,
Gillian Greenwood
Features Editor, Events’ and Training Coordinator