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Gadgets Nikon Announces D60 D-SLR Camera
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - January 29, 2008 3:27 PM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 35 comment(s) - last by The Irish Pati.. on Jan 31 at 2:16 PM

Nikon D60 D-SLR Camera  (Source: Nikon)

  (Source: Nikon)
Nikon announces its latest D-SLR camera called the D60

Nikon is one of the largest and most successful makers of digital cameras on the market and has made a full line of D-SLR and point-and-shoot digital cameras for years.

Today Nikon announced the newest member if its D-SLR line called the Nikon D60. The camera will sit in the line between the D40x and the D80 in both price and features. While Nikon has declined to comment on pricing at the moment, we can get an idea of the price range the D60 will retail in be looking at the D40, D40x and D80. The Nikon D40 sells for $549.95 in kit form, the D40x sells for $699.95 in a kit and the D80 sells for $999.95 all with a kit 18-55mm lens. That would likely put the new D60 in the $800 price range.

The New D60 has a 10.2 megapixel DX-format CCD sensor and exclusive EXPEED image processor. The kit ships with an AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens. The lens features vibration reduction for image stabilization. The camera also has the ability to shoot at up to 3 frames per second in continuous bursts.

Other features include an active dust reduction system with airflow control. Eight Digital-Vari automatic shooting modes are included allowing for automatic usage like a point-and-shoot camera. Nikon says the D60 is the smallest D-SLR camera ever with a weight of only 16-ounces. To ensure accurate colors the D60 uses Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II to evaluate a scene for color, contrast and sharpness.

A built-in Speedlight with i-TTL automatic flash control provides for lighting in dark environments. Three area autofocus provides improved focus tracking. The D60 also has in-camera image editing and enhanced retouch menu. The camera allows you to create a stop-motion video from a sequence of images. Nikon says the rechargeable EN-EL9 battery is good for up to 500 images per charge. The D60 is set for availability in March of 2008.

Nikon's main competitor, Canon, announced its own new D-SLR camera last week called the Digital Rebel XSi.

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In the market
By masher2 (blog) on 1/29/2008 5:34:05 PM , Rating: 2
I'm in the market for a new DSLR and woefully ignorant on the topic. Would any of you camera-fiends care to recommend this vs. the new Rebel XSi ?




RE: In the market
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 1/29/2008 5:40:08 PM , Rating: 3
**Hold on, stop the presses, lock up your daughters, zip up your flies**

A topic that masher2 has no clue about? The same Michael Asher that seems to know AT LEAST a little something about EVERYTHING?

Man, I'm gonna go out and buy a lottery ticket :D

That being said, the XSi seems like a MUCH better camera feature-wise.


RE: In the market
By masher2 (blog) on 1/29/2008 5:50:48 PM , Rating: 3
I skipped camera day in omnipotence school.

Thanks for the heads up on the XSi...care to recommend a telephoto lens for it also?


RE: In the market
By Fyl on 1/29/2008 6:00:43 PM , Rating: 2
70-200mm L f4 if you want to spend this much
the entire L series is good at Canon


RE: In the market
By alifbaa on 1/29/2008 6:24:02 PM , Rating: 2
Masher-
I'm a canon guy myself, but that's only because I already have a number of EOS lenses dating back to the film days. I think you'll find that most professionals will go with Nikon, but I also think that is due more to tradition than anything. You honestly won't go wrong with either brand. They're both very high quality brands.

Looking at the feature set of the D60 vs. xsi, I'd recommend the xsi since it will give you better resolution at the same sensor size. The rest of either system's features are more or less fluff that you will either never use or will be duplicated in some form on both models. If the resolution doesn't matter to you, I'd buy solely based on price so long as the Nikon's sensor is APS-C sized like the Canon's.

As for the telephoto lens, I have a 70-300mm zoom which I LOVE. I'd recommend going with the ultrasonic lenses, as the auto focus will be much faster and less noisy. The speed of focusing is worth the extra money, and the smooth quiet motor gives a much higher quality feel. The other main lens I use is a 28-80mm. Between those two, I have just about every shot I'd ever want to take covered. When I bought mine, they were offering a kit with both lenses on B&H. If you want to do a lot of low-light candid shots (birthday party type shots), I'd spend another $80 and pick up the basic version 50mm lens they make.

As for where you buy your camera, I'd stick to very reputable places and spend the "extra" money beyond what the no-name places will sell it for. The no-name places literally make their business by selling you stuff you didn't ask for. You'll never get the camera you order for the advertised price. They'll overcharge you, send you a lesser product, or pressure you into buying extra crap you don't need, but they will NEVER send you what you order. Beware.

Stick with B&H (cheapest around), Wolf, and non-photo companies like Newegg.


RE: In the market
By Lord 666 on 1/29/2008 6:46:29 PM , Rating: 2
Even better is buying it in the B&H store if you don't care about the tax. Took my family there over the holidays; the efficient assembly line is a sight to see along with the knowledgeable staff.


RE: In the market
By feraltoad on 1/30/2008 2:26:48 AM , Rating: 2
I've bought two cameras from BuyDig.com because they had the lowest prices each time. They offer those silly packages with cases and mem cards for too much money online, but they have never called me to sell any upgrades. I can't say I've tested their customer service because the cameras arrived in perfect condition. Just wanted to throw my 2 cents in to do justice to the good deals they gave me.

Oh, and their line workers are all mentally disabled so if you get a package someone took a dump in, just ignore it. OK, that last part was a lie.


RE: In the market
By masher2 (blog) on 1/29/2008 9:37:55 PM , Rating: 2
Thanks. A lot of good information here. I won't be purchasing till March, so still time for me to absorb it all :)


RE: In the market
By GreenyMP on 1/30/2008 11:02:14 AM , Rating: 2
If you plan to wait until march, then you will find all the info that you want (including comparisons between the two cameras that you mentioned) at dpreview.com.


RE: In the market
By TechLuster on 1/29/2008 6:50:50 PM , Rating: 3
masher,

A very common (and very unfortunate) mistake people make when choosing a DSLR (and often more importantly, choosing the brand they'll be using for a very long time) is to just compare camera "specs." There are generally many much more important factors that can't be easily quantified. I'll list a few here:

(1) how quickly and easily you can adjust key settings (e.g., ISO, white balance, exposure compensation)
(2) comfort of the grip (go to a local camera shop to check this out)
(3) quality/accuracy of automatic white balance (and metering).
(4) size and brightness of the viewfinder (this is much more important than you might think)
(5) and perhaps most important, LENS SELECTION!

In particular, DON'T WORRY ABOUT RESOLUTION/MEGAPIXELS!!!! Unless you're a professional landscape photographer using very expensive lenses and a tripod, megapixels rarely matter that much. Oftentimes, lens sharpness, focus accuracy, depth of field, camera shake, subject movement, and diffraction will be the limiting factors in resolution/sharpness.

I definitely wouldn't count out the D60 for several reasons. First, it has a VERY bright viewfinder (I know--I've taken THOUSANDS of shots with a D40). Second, it has very good auto white balance, especially in tricky indoors situations (I'm of course assuming here that they didn't tweak the processing much from the D40X). Third, the 18-55 kit lens is very, very, very sharp (much better than most kit lenses), and I assume the new 18-55 VR is just as good. Fourth, if you want a better lens, the (pricey) 18-200 VR is much, much better than Canon's 17-85 IS, which is optically just about the worst lens currently produced by any namebrand manufacturer period.

That said, the D60 probably can't autofocus with older non AF-S lenses (or some excellent third-party lenses, such as Tamron's 17-50 2.8), so your only option for a fast prime would be Sigma's 30 1.4 (which I own and use all the time--it's not too sharp, but it gets the job done).

On the topic of telephotos, Nikon's 55-200 VR (which I own), is an amazing bargain--it's only ~$200, it's pretty sharp, the VR works astonishingly well, and it's reasonably fast for its size (e.g., at 150mm equiv., it's only f/4.5).


RE: In the market
By masher2 (blog) on 1/29/2008 9:42:22 PM , Rating: 2
> "In particular, DON'T WORRY ABOUT RESOLUTION/MEGAPIXELS!!!! "

My current SLR spends more time attached my to telescope than in my hands, so I'm definitely looking for a low-noise sensor. I've actually been waiting for cameras with full-frame sensors to drop down in price, but finally gave up and decided to go with the current crop of prosumers.


RE: In the market
By Lord 666 on 1/29/2008 9:48:21 PM , Rating: 2
Why give up? The Canon 5D has excellent low noise and is full frame and is affordable.

Or pony up some money and get the Nikon D3.


RE: In the market
By pattycake0147 on 1/29/2008 7:50:10 PM , Rating: 2
I believe the word you're looking for is omniscience (all-knowing), not omnipotence (all-powerful). Looks like you skipped vocab day too.


RE: In the market
By masher2 (blog) on 1/29/2008 9:37:11 PM , Rating: 2
Such comes from the lack of an edit button...and typing a repy in a couple seconds.


RE: In the market
By emoser96 on 1/29/2008 7:59:54 PM , Rating: 2
masher... are you planning on stalking somebody. Or did you miss that day in omnipotence school too.


RE: In the market
By soydios on 1/29/2008 5:59:03 PM , Rating: 2
yep, but the XSi competes in the D80's price bracket. the D60 will replace the D40x at a slightly higher price point.


RE: In the market
By Lord 666 on 1/29/2008 6:41:27 PM , Rating: 2
I'm going to disagree about the XSi recommendation. We are talking about masher here; appreciates quality and willing to pay a bit more for it where it counts. There is a certain build durability (metal frame) that is missing from the Canon's in my opinion and the 3" LCD on the XSi is pitiful. You get what you pay for. My D300 dropped about four feet from a stroller and landed on its base into hard packed dirt/sand with no ill effects. Other non-Nikon cameras that are recommended are the Olympus E-3 and the Sony A700 for the industrial grade qualities masher prefers as do others that recognize quality.

Granted, I am Nikon biased (also own a D70 and D80), but I would still recommend the D300 even as a first camera. While he might have missed that day in class for cameras, I would say he could figure it out and maybe even get published in a short period of time.


RE: In the market
By TomZ on 1/29/2008 7:06:33 PM , Rating: 2
I agree completely - D300 is the right camera, not some watered-down DSLR wannabe like the Canon. :o)


RE: In the market
By Sxotty on 1/29/2008 10:24:40 PM , Rating: 2
Type in digital photography review into google. Go to DPReview and look what cameras meet your needs.

I have an XTi personally.


RE: In the market
By Richlet on 1/30/2008 12:26:10 AM , Rating: 2
dpreview is good, I prefer dcresource because a night photo is part of their main review criteria (including shots at night using different ISO's, from 80-up). Being into night photography and caring about having long shutter speeds'n'all, that's why I go there first, but dpreview is top-notch as well.