SUMMARY FOR REVIEW OF CANON 500D & NIKON D5000 DSLR / HD VIDEO CAMERAS

CANON 500D:

1. Full HD up to 720p Video Capture with resolution of 1920 x 1080 @ 20 FPS.
2. 15.1 MP.
3. DIGIC 4 Processor (same as that of 50D).
4. Creative Auto Mode for auto aperture & shutter speed setting.
5. Well built and good construction. Hard Cast Rubber and Aluminium Alloy body.
6. Solid performing Li-ion 1080 mAh battery.
7. 18-55 mm Lens good for wide angle to medium telephoto lengths, but limiting for long distance shooting.
8. But Lens is pretty descent for travelling photographers since it is lighter and faster.
9. Under bright light sources, picture gets overexposed with unusual contrast.
10. Display: TFT; 3” Size and 100% capture of frame.
11. Optical View Finder: 95% capture of frame. Most of the settings can be viewed.
12. Good Auto Focus System.
13. Good in low light.

Pros:

1. HD video quality is excellent
2. Exceptional ISO performance
3. Accurate color and dynamic range
4. Great kit lens

Cons:

1. Slow to focus in low light
2. Smudge-proof screen isn't smudge proof
3. Massive image files out of the camera
4. Slow AF in video mode

NIKON D5000:

1. 12.9 MP.
2. EXPEED Processer (same as that of D90).
3. 11 Point Auto Focus.
4. Tilt and Swivel Display.
5. Active D Lighting: Prevents overexposure and is fantastic.
6. Shutter tested for 1,00,000 Cycles.
7. 3D Color Matrix Metering II.
8. Li-ion Battery (Lasts upto 510 shots).
9. HD up to 720p Video Capture with resolution of 1280 x 720 @ 24 FPS.
10. Ergonomical to handle.
11. Display: 2.7” and 100% coverage of frame
12. Optical View Finder: 95% coverage. Magnification is smaller compared to D40X and D60.
13. Auto Focus extremely good in bright light; rapid focus in dim light.
14. Flash recharge time is only 4 seconds.
15. Accurate color reproduction, contrast and sharpness.
16. Video Limitations: Distortion of vertical objects while panning during video shooting. Video Length of 5 minutes and 2 GB only possible as a single shot. No Auto Focus to video.
17. 12 inbuilt White Balance settings.

Pros:

1. Good image quality and performance
2. HD video capability
3. Essentially a D90 for less money

Cons:

1. HD video time limited
2. No AF for video
3. Too expensive for an entry-level camera

SHOOTING PERFORMANCE:

Global warning: Arctic glacier breaks up

Image: A section of the Petermann glacier in Greenland in July 2009 © Greenpeace / Nick Cobbing

A massive chunk of ice, over 87 kilometres in size, has broken off the Petermann Glacier in northern Greenland. Scientists are warning that loss of the ice from this glacier is almost certain to speed up the rate at which ice from the Greenland icesheet melts into our oceans.

Melting in the Arctic, forest fires in Russia and flooding in the Himalayas are all in keeping with the predictions of climate scientists of what a warming world will look like. Nature is telling us that it is time to act, that it's time to go beyond climate changing fossil fuels and give ourselves the green and prosperous future our children deserve.