The Nikon D5000 is now available in the Philippines, unofficially as of this time. I say unofficial because the product doesn’t carry warranty provided by Columbia Digital Sales Company (CDSC), the only known official distributor of Nikon products in the Philippines.

Head on over to this ad on TipidPC (the leading resource for buying and selling brand new and second-hand computer parts and peripherals in the Philippines.). The seller, oknagarud, makes no mention of the warranty being from CDSC. So, it would be safe to assume that it is a grey market unit. No mention also on whether the price is with the kit lens, it is simply described as Complete package in box. Warranty is most probably provided by the seller himself/herself.

Priced at a whopping P50,000 (approximately $1,030 USD), you’d be unwise to choose the Nikon D5000 over the Nikon D90 (priced around P54,000+ or approximately $1,114 USD). But hey, if you really need the swiveling screen or simply want to be one of the first in the country to have the latest, go for it!

Update (May 6, 2009): I’ve spotted various sellers at TipidPC selling the Nikon D5000 between the P40,000 to P46,000 range (still non-CDSC units). It would be safe to say that the price would stabilize somewhere close to P40,000 after a few weeks.

Update (August 15, 2009): Here’s a compiled list from TipidPC:

• Nikon D5000 12mp /18-55 Brand New @ P41,000
• Nikon D5000 Kit (18-55mm) w/ 4gb sd & bag @ P39,000
• BrandNEW: Nikon D5000 DSLR Kit + 4gbSDHC, DSLR bag @ 1yr warranty @ P40,199