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Nikon D60

Nikon D60 Nikon D60 Review, March 2008, Simon Joinson

Review based on a production Nikon D60The D60 is the third incarnation of Nikons compact, user-friendly entry-level SLR line that started back in 2006 with the D40 (which replaced the first Nikon starter model, the D50). The original D40 was a hugely important camera for Nikon and can be given a lot of the credit for the resurgence in Nikons fortunes at the volume end of the SLR market (which had been totally dominated by Canon since the launch of the EOS 300D / Digital Rebel). The D40s success (which continued long after the D40X made its swift appearance only 6 months later) isnt hard to explain; it was keenly priced, nicely designed and built and capable of excellent results. It was also a camera that proved cameras do not sell on megapixels alone (even at launch its 6MP resolution was far from class leading). The D40X, which was positioned as a premium alternative to the D40 rather than its replacement, didnt mess around with the formula much at all; a new sensor with more (ten) megapixels and a lower base ISO, plus a slightly higher continuous shooting rate. The D60 is a direct replacement for the D40X (the D40 will stay around for a while as Nikons budget option), and once again its not a major upgrade; the sensor remains the same (though now has a dust reduction system) and the external design is almost identical. Theres a few new features, including the same Expeed processing concept seen in the D3 / D300, Active D-Lighting, an eye sensor (to control the screen display), and some tweaks to the interface, but perhaps the most significant change isnt to the camera at all; the move to an optically stabilized version of the kit lens.Auto Focus only for AF-S or AF-I lenses As with the D40 and D40X, the new D60 doesnt have an built-in focus drive motor which means it can auto focus only with lenses which have their own drive motor (AF-S and AF-I lenses). The lack of a drive motor can be seen by the missing mechanical focus drive pin on the lens mount (see images below). One of the D60s new features is an electronic rangefinder to help manual focus on non AF-S / AF-I lenses.D40 / D40X / D60 lens mountD80 lens mount

Nikon D60 key features10 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop)Nikon EXPEED processing concept (as per D300, D3)3D Color Matrix Metering II, 420 pixel sensorMulti-CAM530 three area AF sensorNew Image sensor cleaning systemEye sensor (turns off LCD display)ISO sensitivity range 100 - 1600 plus HI 1 (3200 equiv.)3.0 fps continuous shooting*, unlimited in JPEGNo status LCD, LCD monitor based status / settings screens (now rotates)Help suggestions on LCD monitor (eg. scene too dark, try using flash)Large 2.5" 230,000 pixel LCD monitorShort shutter lag and viewfinder blackoutSupport for SDHC (SD cards over 2 GB in capacity)In-camera retouchingQuick RetouchD-Lighting (shadow / highlight enhancement)Red-eye reductionTrimmingMonochromeFilter effectsSmall pictureImage overlayRaw processingStop-motion movieUSB 2.0 with PTP and Mass Storage device supportVery compact, light bodyImproved menu user interfaceEN-EL9 Lithium-Ion battery (7.2V, 1000 mAh)New stabilized AF-S DX 18-55 mm kit lensDifferences compared to the D40XEXPEED processingImage sensor cleaning system with Airflow control systemAutomatically rotating user interface (for using camera vertically orientated)Stop motion movie functionNew stabilized kit lens (AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR)Eye sensorElectronic rangefinder for manual focusActive D-Lighting with dedicated buttonIn-camera Raw processingNew JPEG retouch effects (Cross Star and Color Intensifier)

Review notes Because of the similarities between the two, parts of the first half of this review are taken from the D40X review.