Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens Reviews

• Nice Camera but not a big upgrade

  
  By A1DWQVJ90M1FZN on 2008-03-22
  D60 is the upgrade for D40x which I owned previously. The differences between two are too small to justify upgrading from D40x. If you own D40 and would like more resolution then D60 may fit the bill. For D40x owners only real advantage is the VR lens which is probably only slightly better than the non-VR one that comes with D40x (for the zoom range of 18-55mm). Off course I am not forgetting D-Lighting which is a much touted feature but I didn't see noticeable difference in quality. Using Active D-Lighting makes the camera take longer to save pictures. It could take a few seconds before you can review the photo on LCD.
  
  For people looking for their first DSLR camera, D60 is a great choice. It is very easy to use and provides excellent images without requiring a lot of technical knowledge. Actually the images I produced with my D60 (and D40x) were better and sharper than everybody else in my photography class (with students using anything from compact and semi-pro point and shoot cameras, Canon XT and XTi and Olympus E-510). It doesn't have live view which I would've liked because I plan to use tripod for a lot of my shots. Like its predecessors, it doesn't have an auto-focus motor in the body so your lens selection is limited but for a beginner that shouldn't be an issue. It would've been nice to have higher flash sync speed but hey you can't have it all. I have no regrets about buying D60 (I had a bunch of unused gift cards from Christmas so I didn't have to pay a lot from my pocket).
  
  Here is my advice for you: If you are looking for an easy to use DSLR which take excellent photos and can afford it then buy it. I would definitely recommend D60 over D40x (unless you are saving a couple of hundred dollars or more). If you are on a budget then go with D40 which is an excellent camera and should now be even cheaper.
  
  If you are buying this camera (or D40), I highly recommend getting 55-200 VR lens which is around $200. Add that to the kit lens and throw in an SB-400 or SB-600 flash and you'll have a set up that is hard to beat for about a grand. D60 is a lot of camera in a small body.
  
  After having the camera for a few months, I still love it. It produces pictures as good as or better than Canon's new Xsi and for a lot less. At around $630 for the kit, it is a great deal.
  
  
  
  

• Great DSLR, if you know what you're doing

  
  By A8OLRCBYY7TFS on 2008-03-28
  *** Updated 4/9/08 ***
  
  Here's the quick reminder: it's not the camera, it's the photographer. Maybe, maybe a nice fast lens would help.
  
  Like most things in life, it doesn't really matter how "good" or how expensive the equipment is, it's really how "well" you can use it. You can own the best racket in the world, but Roger Federer will still beat you with a wooden racket any day.
  
  Such is the case for the D60. It has more than enough features to produce great pictures. If you take the time to learn all its functions, you'll find that for an entry level DSLR, it's a great camera. If you think about it, all you really need in a camera are controls for shutter speed, aperature, and focus. For me (pure amateur), 95% of the time I'm shooting in Aperature-priority mode. The only other settings I might touch from time to time are the ISO and white balance settings. Most likely you'll do the same.
  
  Pluses:
  - light & compact
  - ultrasonic sensor cleaner, matched with a airflow control system (keeps the sensor dust free!)
  - 420-pixel RGB 3D Color Matrix Metering II (compares against over 30,000 pics stored in database to achieve best exposure, available only with Nikon D or G type lenses)
  - pretty good performance from built-in flash
  - ISO 3200 available
  - ISO 100 available (this is becoming a rarity)
  - Active D-Lighting (automatically compensates over or under exposed areas in a high contrast scene)
  - LCD screen shuts off when eye is close to viewfinder (saves power)
  - very quick startup, you can take a picture as soon as you turn the camera on, even if flash is needed
  - SDHC compatible (I use an 8GB card!)
  
  Minuses:
  - not so great focusing in poor lighting, only 3 focus points, sometimes wrong objects are focused on
  - Auto ISO doesn't always choose the right ISO
  - the all "Auto" mode produces slightly oversaturated pictures
  - slightly "noisy" from ISO 800 and above, but noise reduction is available
  - no built-in auto focus motor, Nikon AF-S/AF-I lenses or third party lenses with built-in focus motor are necessary, unless you like to manually focus
  
  If you're looking the DSLR that can do many wonderful things but don't have a whole lot to spend, this is the camera to get. It may not have as many pixels (who really needs more than 10mp?), nor does it have the large 3" LCD screen like the D300 or D3, but for a fraction of the price, you can take just as good pictures. Point is, rather than spending $1000 more on a D300, you're much better off getting the D60 and spending the $1000 on a nice fast lens.
  
  The only reason I'm giving this camera 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the average focusing performance. 3 focus points are adequate, but having more focus points and a faster focus system would speed up overall focusing and wouldn't have as much trouble in poor lit conditions.
  
  And don't buy into all that hoopla about the D60 not having VR (Vibration Reduction) built-in. First off, there are plenty of new lenses coming out with VR built-in. Second, I'd trade VR for a 2.8 lens ANYDAY!
  
  So, unless you have a need to shoot fast actions in poor lighting conditions, get the D60. It's SO worth the money. And remember, it's not about the megapixels or the size of the LCD screen, or the VR, or whatever, it's about YOU, the photographer!!!
  
  

• Just beginning to learn how to use it, but I love it

  
  By AYWIO6OYAGFGQ on 2008-06-24
  I've been using Canon PowerShot point-and-shoot digital cameras for the past 6 years, and because they're so small, portable, and unobtrusive, I've ended up taking a lot more photos that I ever did, because I had my camera with me. The good thing is that I've taken a lot more pictures, and most of them have been very good (the camera gets much of the credit here). But the bad thing is that I started to reach the limits of what a point-and-shoot camera can do.
  
  The biggest problems I had with my compact point-and-shoot camera was the lag between shots and the generally poor performance in low-light settings. For most shots, these weren't big problems, but when they were a problem, they were a huge problem, and there's not much you can to solve it without moving to a better camera. I don't think I'm the first person to reach a brick wall when using compact digital cameras, which is why there are now some excellent options that don't cost a fortune.
  
  After reading a lot of reviews for digital SLR cameras online, I narrowed it down to two choices: the Sony A300 or the Nikon D60. I love my compact Canon, but I wasn't all that impressed with the Canon dSLR's that I looked at, either in terms of price or features.
  
  The Sony is priced very competitively and offers some great features, such as auto-focus and image stabilization built into the camera itself, not relying on the lens. The A300 also has live preview on the LCD screen, which the D60 doesn't offer (live preview is what you get on a compact camera: you see what you are shooting as you take the picture). Finally, the A300 has more focus points than the Nikon. I spent a long time in several stores doing side-by-side comparisons of these two cameras. After many test shots, I finally chose the D60 for the following reasons: it felt more compact and less heavy than the Sony, I liked the way the lens felt when I was zooming, its LCD menu system was much clearer and more intuitive, and the Nikkor family of lenses is unbeatable. With a dSLR, it really gets down to which line you want to commit to for future lens purchases. I wasn't sure I wanted to go with Sony, when Nikon is well-known for quality optics.
  
  I ordered the D60 from Amazon and I'm glad I did, since they have a 30-day price match policy. If the price of the camera decreases within 30 days of your purchase, all you have to do is email Amazon, and they'll credit you with the difference. The price of the D60 went down three times after my purchase (it's even lower now, but I've passed my 30 days), and Amazon was fast to process the refund for each decrease. Please note that it's your responsibility to check on the current price. Amazon will not notify you that the price has gone down, and why should they? So if you do buy this from Amazon, be sure to check every couple of days to see what the current price is.
  
  As for the camera and the lens, I couldn't be happier. I love how it feels and how easy it is to use, at least for basic shots. Of course it won't fit in my pocket the way my point-and-shoot did, but it's not nearly as huge or heavy as I'd expected. The kit lens has VR (vibration reduction) which is a good thing to have, and it's well balanced with the compact body of this camera. In other words, the camera doesn't point down under the weight of the lens. Everyone who has tried out my new camera has commented on how compact and ergonomic it feels.
  
  The camera works extremely well in low-light settings, with or without flash (you can defeat the flash if you want, and I find that in many situations, I get better results that way). The flash is a lot more powerful than what you get on a compact camera, and the coverage is more even.
  
  So far, I've mainly used the "auto" mode, but I've taken some pictures in macro mode. It's graat to be able to take pictures in rapid succession, without having to wait the way you do with a point-and-shoot. Most important of all, the image quality is outstanding. The difference is noticeable and consistently better than what I was getting with my point-and-shoot.
  
  The LCD menu is intuitive and visually appealing. That was one of the reasons I went with the Nikon in the first place, and I haven't been disappointed. By pressing the right button as you move the mode dial, you can see a description of what each mode does, which is very helpful. It's sort of like having a "help" system built into the camera, without having to carry around the instructions. Having said that, the instruction manual is really quite good. It won't teach you everything you need to know about digital SLRs, but it does a good job of explaining the camera's features. Nevertheless, I recommend buying a more extensive guide book which is specific to the Nikon D60 (there is one by David Busch which is currently available, and several more are scheduled to appear within the next couple of months).
  
  So, I love this camera, especially at the very reasonable price point. However, there are some things that you should consider before making a final decision. First, the D60 will only provide auto-focus with Nikkor AF-S lenses. That means that most Nikon "prime" lenses will require manual focusing. That wasn't a big deal for me, but it is a limitation. Second, the D60's 3 focus points put it at the low end for this feature. Third, the D60 uses SD cards, while the Sony uses Compact Flash cards, as do many higher-end dSLRS. This isn't really a plus or minus, since SD cards are generally less expensive than Compact Flash, but some users say that Compact Flash cards may be more durable in the long run (they're larger and thicker). Finally, unlike the Sony, the D60 does not provide live preview. In other words, you don't see the image on the LCD until after you have taken it.
  
  With all of that, I'm very pleased with my decision and I am having a lot of fun with my Nikon D60. If you're ready to move up from your point-and-shoot to a dSLR, you cannot go wrong with the D60.
  
  
  
  
  

• Greate point and shoot (slow Adaptive D-Lighting)

  
  By A2EYVLDGH8OJZB on 2008-03-27
  After using the Nikon D60 for a week or so, I thought I was ready to return it. It captured the images so slowly that I thought I was going to throw it out the window. But it turned out that the Adaptive Dynamic Range (ADR) setting was "ON" (which I had turned on immediately upon buying the camera) and after re-reading the owner's manual saw where it says "Using this setting will result in longer image recording time". I turned it off and it records as fast as my prior camera (the Nikon D40x).
  
  The camera produces great images and with the SB400 or SB600 flash attachment, those images are even better.
  
  If you are producing 4x6 or 5x7 with the occasional 8x10 pints, then get the D40 for about $200 or $300 less. If money isn't important, I'd suggest getting the D40 as well. But if the Active Dynamic Range is important and money isn't an issue, get this camera. You'll love it.
  
  Upsides: Up to 30 minute timed exposures. Adaptive-dynamic-range ("Active D-Lighting" in the Nikon manual). 3 photos/second recording. VR lens included in the base kit. 4GB SDHC cards are supported. Point-and-shoot mode is foolproof. Battery seems to last forever. Eyepiece is a step up from the 40 and 40x models.
  
  
  Downsides: Can't seem to get it to auto-rotate images in review mode based on the camera orientation (they always show them upright even if I turn the camera 90%.
  
  Images taken when ADR is turned on take "centuries" to record. Doesn't seem to be any way to adjust the autofocus on a picture by picture basis using the 3-AF areas; but that could just be me. Camera is half the light-sensitivity as the D40 (200 ISO vs the 100 ISO of the D40). This means the built-in flash is almost always firing on indoor pictures.
  
  
  
  

• Not a good D40 upgrade.

  
  By A3LYRF8UZ0W182 on 2008-06-14
  I own a D40 that I am happy with, so I decided to upgrade to D60 for the few extra megapixels and a couple of other new features. I think D40's 6.1MP is a bit too low, 8-10 would have been ideal. Anyway, I had the D60 for a week and did not like it at all.
  
  Pros
  10MP
  Kit lens now has VR
  Same small, durable body as D40
  Sensor cleaning - not a huge deal, but a plus
  
  Cons
  AF is considerably slower than D40, the camera often fails to focus at all indoors where D40 had no problem - this is a huge issue
  AutoISO selects ISO much higher than my D40. Indoors, where the D40 shot below 400, the D60 never went below 1600. The camera just does not appear to be as sensitive as the D40.
  Images are considerably noiser due to more megapixels and high ISO.
  Any minor issues D40 had (WB, etc) are still present.
  D-Lighting is a useless gimmick
  
  If you have a D40/D40x, stick with that and wait for whatever is going to replace D80. If you are looking to buy a camera, I would still go with the D40 and save a few hundred. D40 is cheaper and faster.
  
  
  
• A review for those who want to upgrade from D40
  By A18GNSMORTIQPD on 2008-03-27
  This is the 2008 upgraded version of the D40x.
  
  First, if you are new to DSLR Photography and you wish to buy a new camera, then you are spot-on and I won't repeat the wealth of information the other kind reviewers have already given. I'll just focus on why D40 users need to upgrade.
  
  Second, I dont recommend D40x users to upgrade to this model! true the new futures are a plus however, personally I find it not a big difference. unless you like to keep up with latest technology releases and don't mind paying the extra dollars :)
  
  If you wish to upgrade from the D40 (as I am) you need to consider the reason for your upgrade.
  
  Reason 1- Is it for taking better quality photos or your current camera is old?
  Reason 2- Or, found out you are stepping to the advance photography level and you want to upgrade from your D40? (becoming an obsessed amature)
  
  Answering reason 1:
  If you are happy with your current D40 but you need to upgrade because its old or you need higher Mega Pixels or you want more (a bit) better images? then this D60 is a perfect upgrade why because the D60 on the auto-settings takes much crispier spot-on shots than the D40 just by doing a shot by shot comparison you will find the D60 have the upper hand due to some of the following new features;
  - Active D-lightning (No more underexposed photos).
  - The new Expeed sensor (as in the D300, reduced ISO noise)
  - The new VR Lens which produce sharper images.
  - The Dust reduction is a big plus
  - supporting 4GB SDHC cards.
  
  Answering reason 2:
  The D60 camera does not have the following:
  - No DOF preview
  - No Bracketing
  - Does not trigger speed-flash remotely such as SB-600/800
  - Mirror Lock-up (for taking super steady shots)
  - only three active focus points.
  - only one Command dial
  - No Build in AF motor (limiting the amount of lenses you use)
  It is not necessarily to have any of the above (specially to amatures and beginners) and you can always have a work around those features. however, when you start attending advanced photography courses or workshops with top National Geography Photographers you will find yourself looking handicap because you lack the functions whom my other fellow photographers have... or specially when you get to a level that you work in a pro environment and you need least fail factor while taking shots or the ability to work within a studio environment. then yes, you need the above features even more (which i did not mention). and this D60 is not the right upgrade for you.
  
  I just want to make it clear for those who want to upgrade or before buying a new DSLR. because if you are new, and you feel one day you will get to the advance level (or, least becoming an obsessed amature) I prefer you invest on a D300 or atleast a D80.
  
  other than that, this camera is the best DSLR I ever saw targeting the entry level photographers.
  
  
• Great Digital SLR
  By A1ZQ0Y6LH2759K on 2008-05-05
  This is My first Nikon. I have been a fan of Canon and Olympus for many years. Previous to this camera, I was using an Olympus Evolt 500. The E-500 is a good camera. However, it is older and some aspects of the 500 bugged me. The view finder could have been a little clearer, the focus could have been faster and although the picture quality was good, it still wasnt quite at the level I wanted. I was on the verge of buying two new lenses, which were better and more expensive than the two kit lenses, and a external flash. Then one day while I was out at the big Warehouse Store shopping, I saw the Nikon D60 kit with camera bag and two lenses and for about the same cost as I was ready to spend on my 500. I knew this camera had great reviews and was one of the top 10 recommended digital SLRs on one of my favorite camera review sites. So I bought it and put my 500 up for sale and am happy I did. The quality is very good. Colors are great and so is detail. Overall the D60 is easier to use. I can figure out settings very quickly. The D60 is also fast. Much faster than my 500 when it comes to quick pictures in succession. The D60 also has a very nice shutter click that I like. One thing I noticed about the eye piece cover is that it was tough to put on. Once I finally got it on fully, with a click, I couldnt take it off too easily. In my attempt to remove it, one side broke, but only a piece of it. It came off then and since it is only a cover for when your not actually looking through the eyepiece to take a picture, it now fits on and off nicely! A happy accident. Battery life was quite good. Another good thing is that the 18mm - 55mm zoom lens gets me closer for macro shots better than the kit lenses for the 500. Good enough that I dont feel compelled to get a dedicated macro lens at this time. All in all the D60 is great. I am very satisfied with it. I highly recommend it if you are one of those getting into digital SLRs for the first time. You wont be disappointed.
  
  
• DSLR for Entry Level
  By A16WFN87FDLBS on 2008-04-13
  First off, if you have the d40x, don't rush out to buy this. Nikon is merely keeping competitive in the entry-level market. However, if you don't own a DSLR this is the ticket. I am completely new to digital photography and DSLR's. I decided that I needed a hobby and this camera fit the bill. I shopped between Cannon and Nikon and finally decided on Nikon because Nikon owners are pretty proud of their stuff. Seems everybody else shoots cannon these days. Plus, the online communities that support Nikon cameras were an instant fit for my goals with this camera. I wanted to be able to shoot manually and within three weeks, I can easily navigate the d60 thanks to the help I recieved from the Nikon community. Enjoy this camera.
  
  
• Nikon D60
  By A1SA4OZQO46430 on 2008-05-06
  Recently purchased Nikon D60 with 18mm-55mm VR lens. Very happy with the product and the performance. Was taking pictures as soon as the battery was charged. Ease of use and picture quality is excellent. User will get great shots with this camera if exposure setting is set at -0.3 in the "Program" mode. Auto setting is too bright. The VR lens allows the user to get great pictures with longer exposure times and small aperture settings while hand held. Suggest a 52mm UV filter and a backup battery as necessities. Shop the internet for batteries as these can be bought for less than $10.00 rather than to pay the Nikon price. These substitutions are great and perform as well as the higher priced batteries. Ken Rockwell's website on the D40 camera is as helpful as the users manual and far easier to follow to get a complete understanding of how to use the D60 (almost identical to the D40)
  
  
• Great Entry-Level DSLR Camera!
  By A3DTSC80W9RNB9 on 2008-05-17
  If you are used to a compact point-and-shoot and want to overcome the shortcomings of these cameras, then consider the Nikon D60.
  
  This camera is designed for newcomers to DSLRs and Nikon wants you to feel at home with this camera. The size and weight is just slightly more than a deluxe point-and-shoot with lots more options for those who want to take photography more seriously.
  
  Among the major reasons for buying this camera is its sharp pictures due to Nikon's lens technology which now includes a vibration reduction lens to keep your photos steady. The sensor cleaner is a big plus to keep those images clear. You have the option of using the camera on automatic or trying out many of Nikon's built-in options for editing your shots.
  
  There are very few negatives. If you are used to the pricing with a point-and-shoot, a DSLR camera looks like sticker shock. But when you realize all the benefits you are getting, it makes sense. Only other negative is that with more and more cameras raising the bar with mega-pixels, one wonders why Nikon couldn't have gone to a 12MP resolution in the D60. But for most of us, 10MP should be fine.
  
  All-in-all this is one great camera value. You get the lightweight small configuration of a point-and-shoot in a DSLR with all the benefits that the D60 offers.
  
  
• Great step up from point and shoot
  By A231L60WKWT1PY on 2008-04-13
  Having come full circle from owning Canon Rebel manual 35mm film cameras in the 80's and 35mm automatic cameras in the 90's, then using a relatively good Sony Point and Shoot digital, I have to say the Nikon D60 has reinvigorated my desire to get "the picture" rather than just snap "a picture". I evaluated the Sony, Canon and Nikon models, and in the end the 60 provide the right blend of megapixels, comfort while shooting, available Vibration Reduction lens combinations, and at a price point under $1000 for body and 2 lens, 18-70 VR and 55-200 VR. I have found these VR lens do indeed add an extra level of forgiveness in your shooting.
  
  In last 30 days, we have taken shots of Vegas sites, the Grand Canyon and of many sites along the Nile in Egypt, daylight and night, and the results are very good even for an amateur such as myself.
  
  
• Beautiful pictures!!
  By AGWNUI1MJ7EV7 on 2008-05-02
  I just returned the D40 (also a nice camera) for the d60 with VR lenses (The 18-55 and the 55-200)
  I can not say enough great things about this camera. The VR makes a BIG difference. If you are considering buying a DSLR and are moving from a Point and shoot to a DSLR this is the one you want!!! WITH VR (vibration reduction!!) I had an Olympus I bought about four years ago that was a point and shoot. Top of the line at the time. It looks like a child too the pics after I compared them to the D60. Mine came with a cool little camera bag as well that is WONDERFUL! Not the prettiest thing ever but great for taking this camera every where I want to go.
  
  I am a scrapbooker and a Mom not a professional. I am sure that if you are like me this would be perfect for preserving memories as well as fulfilling my dream of being an amateur photographer!!
  
  I highly recommend this camera. When I bought it I actually had people stop me and say "I have that camera I love it!!" the cashier said "we sure sell a lot of these!" May I also mention it was NOT a electronics or camera store so I think that is saying a lot! :)
  
  
• Nice balance of technology and price!
  By ATN1XS11D14JK on 2008-07-08
  Don't pass up the D60 just because it's called "entry level". This unassuming camera is very well made, doesn't cost a fortune, has a lot of features, and is capable of producing stunning photos, depending on the user. Here's my overview of what you're getting, what you're not, and why I bought it.
  
  What you're getting is Nikon engineering in a compact body with very good ergonomics and all the necessary features you need to shoot in most situations -that is, for people who enjoy photography as a creative hobby, not a profession. If you're an average person, like me, who does occasional shooting, likes creativity and demands quality results, the D60 is a good camera to work with. It's light and comfortable without being flimsy. That means you're more likely to take it with you, rather than debating whether to carry around a heavy semi-pro beast.
  
  You also get the latest technology such as the Expeed processor, in-camera Raw Conversion and Active D-lighting. And you get the 18-55VR lens. I added the 55-200VR. Both lenses are lightweight and capable. Between the lens and the lightmeter, I've taken some really stunning photos in varied situations. The lenses are not optically fast, but VR works well to steady the camera when needed. I plan on adding a fast prime for lowlight and everyday use.
  
  Here's what you're not getting:
  -Live View mode. I really liked this on my P&S and I'll miss it, but I remember this feature really drains battery life, which was really annoying (and they haven't perfected it in SLRs yet).
  -No Auto Focus with older Nikon AF lenses, but the D60 has a rangefinder feature which allows you to pull up an analog focusing meter in the viewfinder.
  -You don't get a lot of direct access buttons on the body. There are some, but most picture settings have to be made on a grid on the LCD screen. It's pretty easy to do and it keeps the D60 uncluttered, but I'd much rather have the buttons.
  -Lastly, higher-end models generally give you a stronger build quality, a bigger, brighter viewfinder and a more enhanced AF system with more AF points. Still, the D60 is no slouch in these areas. Its viewfinder is bright and its 3-point AF seems fast enough for me.
  
  I have to say though, I really liked handling the other strong, ruggedly-built SLRs, like the Nikon D300 and Canon 40D, but when the chips are down, I just don't want to carry all that weight around, especially on vacation. You would have to decide if you really want all the features of a higher end camera because it really adds to the size, weight and especially COST. Everything's a tradeoff.
  
  My main reason for choosing Nikon over Canon and Olympus was because they use the largest image sensor, followed by Canon; Olympus was just too small. I took the measurements of these sensors, drew each of them on a grid next to each other and the actual size difference really became apparent. And even though the other brands still do a great job with image quality and some reviewers try to explain away the size issue, I still believe that EVERY little bit of sensor real estate helps with image quality. But, hey that's just me.
  
  As for ergonomics, I considered some Canons, but they felt rather boxy and cramped to me, and they all use that obnoxious pop-up strobing flash as an AF assist light. Nikon uses a steady lamp. I loved the Olympus 420, but it was so compact that the metal strap holder constantly dug into my middle finger. Mounting a heavy lens made it feel oddly unbalanced. The E510 was very comfortable, even more so than the D60. It really helps to pick up these models and handle them.
  
  Buying a digital SLR body is like buying a computer. The sensor is the heart of the camera, so I looked for the latest model with the newest processor. I REALLY liked the D80, but even though it's a great body, I couldn't see spending hundreds more on what I consider a "2 year old computer" that may be discontinued soon. Unless you're a pro, you're probably going to purchase just one DSLR body, so I'd say invest in one with enough current technology to last for a while along with most of the features you think you need.
  
  That's where the D60 comes in. It's a nice balance of current technology at a reasonable price. The fact that you're even considering this model means that value is of some concern to you, so striking that balance is important. Yes, it may be missing a bell here or a whistle there, but overall it's a great little camera. The lightmeter works extremely well, the processor is fast, the lenses are sharp, the images are excellent. And the price is right.
  
  UPDATE 8/29/08: Just 2 months after I passed on the aging D80, it was replaced by the D90, which is more in line with what I want in a DSLR . But I still love the D60 and how affordable it is for the results you get. Occasionally, I toss it into my bag on the way to work in NY. I stop at various locations around the city and really enjoy using it. What surprised me most, is that when it's in my bag I BARELY notice the extra weight. It's just not a problem at all. It proves how good a walkaround camera this one is. Makes me want to go out and shoot even more.
  
  
• Very happy.
  By A2CSLO47R60BNQ on 2008-05-05
  I was a bit torn between this camera and the D80 which my friend has but, with the lower price, smaller size, and a VR kit lens I was sold on the D60. Last night I had a photo shoot in a night club for a birthday party. I love the sensor in the eye piece, i didn't mind not having the extra LCD screen, Also, I took over 400 pictures using mostly my internal flash with a jimmy rigged defuser, but my photos came out wonderful. the VR really helped to reduce low light noise when compared to my friends D80 with a kit 18-70mm lens. my battery lasted the whole night and still reads 3/4 full. I am very pleased in my decision to get the D60 for me it was perfect.
  
  
• Nice starter camera, but not the best out there!
  By A3M78642QA852V on 2008-06-02
  I've had the D60 for about a week now, and I bought this for my fiancee who's been wanting to get into photography as well. Being an E-510 user, I was impatient to see what sort of differences I can see and my findings were mixed.
  
  For starters, the D60 isn't very ground-breaking and no one even from a D40 might think about upgrading, other than resolution and a few features, everything remains the same. But to its credit, the dust reduction, VR kit lens and Active D-Lighting are very useful features.
  
  Out of the camera, images are very contrasty and punchy, and I often found them over-saturated leading to unreal skin tones and excessive reds and yellows, this definitely needs adjusting (in my opinion). The Olympus in comparison maintained much more "real" colors. Also auto WB in incandescent lighting lead to excessive yellow masks which didn't seem to be the case on my Olympus.
  
  With Active D-Lighting on, the camera takes a good 5-6seconds to show an image preview after an exposure, this can be very annoying. Also shadow areas boosted with D-lighting seemed noisy even at ISO 100, so I'd definitely use this feature only when required.
  
  The D60 has very good metering although sometimes it tends to over-expose. The flash is very nice and uses TTL metering for deciding flash strength. This is pretty accurate.
  
  The one thing I was a little surprised about was the absence of live-view, which even Canon has now on the 450D, not sure why this was left out and would have made an excellent addition to the feature-set.
  
  Overall this is a nice camera for beginners and semi-professionals, but definitely needs to be tweaked before use.
  
  Pros:
  - Excellent build quality
  - Very nice menus and software
  - Great images out of camera (very saturated and contrasty)
  - Active D-Lighting
  - Vibration Reduction
  
  Cons
  - No Live View.
  - Colors over-saturated and needs to be toned down.
  - VR feature is in lens as opposed to in-body, making lenses more expensive.
  
  
• Fantastic Images, Lightweight and Well-Built
  By A1K3ECN8ZHVT2W on 2008-07-29
  This is a great camera, and don't let anyone tell you it's only for beginners. The images that the D60 produces easily rival that of more expensive cameras. When you spend less money on the D60, you are sacrificing a few bells & whistles but not necessarily image quality.
  
  It has all the manual settings you'd expect in an SLR and a very easy-to-navigate (and nice-looking) menu system. The LCD screen is big and bright, and the viewfinder is great as well.
  
  What it's missing (at least when compared to higher end models) and why you don't necessarily need those things:
  
  - No auto-focus on non-AF-S/AF-I lenses. Unless you already have a bunch of old Nikon lenses, this shouldn't be a problem. Just make sure any lens you buy in the future is an AF-S or AF-I.
  
  - No Live View. This is only just becoming standard on higher end cameras and on the ones I have tried I have found it very "clunky" anyway. "Live View" is a hallmark of compact point & shoot cameras, and I think that's where it belongs... at least for now. SLRs are just made for shooting with the viewfinder. It just feels better on a camera like this. If you *need* Live View, look at the Sony SLRs. They seem to implement that feature best.
  
  - Only 3 auto focus points. The D80 has 11, the Canon XSi has 9, blah, blah, blah. Three is enough for most people... heck, one is enough for most people. Yes, having more is nice, but honestly if you are a beginner and don't understand what the benefit of more AF points might even be, you don't need them.
  
  - No exposure bracketing. A helpful feature for making HDR images, but even then it is not necessary.
  
  Those are the biggies. I have my own little nit picks, like:
  
  - No dedicated buttons for ISO or white balance (you can program the Fn button to do it, but it's nice to have a seperate button).
  
  - RAW+JPEG setting only allows you to record a "basic" quality JPEG.
  
  - The ViewNX software supplied with the camera sucks for processing RAW images. If you are going to shoot RAW, get something better like Nikon's CaptureNX, Adobe Camera Raw for Photoshop or Lightroom, or something similar. If those aren't in your budget, RAW Therapee is a great open source RAW processing application. It's light years better than ViewNX in this regard, and it is 100% free of charge!
  
  Now for the major perks:
  
  - The D60 inherits features like Active D-Lighting and Expeed processing from the (much more expensive) D3 and D300 pro SLRs, which the D40 and D40x do not have. Look those things up to see what the benefits are. D-Lighting is subtle, but effective.
  
  - The new kit lens with VR (vibration reduction, Nikon's term for image stabilization) which allows for sharp pictures in lower light conditions when using slower shutter speeds. The D40/D40x have a non-VR version of the same lens. In my opinion, this is the best "kit" lens when compared to what the competition is currently offering (in terms of overall image quality).
  
  - Auto focus assist lamp. Trust me, it's a simple little thing but you'll love having it.
  
  - FAST auto focus (even with those three piddly AF points =)
  
  - Big, bright LCD and viewfinder.
  
  - Superb build quality. Feels much more "pro" in your hand than it's plastic-y competitors.
  
  - Great high ISO performance. Perfectly usable shots at ISO 1600. ISO 3200 is worse, but you could still use it in a pinch and get decent results and small prints. I've printed a couple 8x10s from ISO 1600 shots that look fantastic.
  
  - Which brings me to the most important feature: stellar image quality. Go find sample images online and see for yourself. Forget those chart & graph test shots. Look for real-world samples of real people/things -- that's where you'll really be able to see the D60 shine!
  
  I love my D60. I have been shooting with it every day since I bought it a month ago and have no regrets. It truly is a great camera to learn on for the SLR beginner, but is just as good for those of us with a little experience who are on a budget and don't see the above "cons" as deal breakers. Just buy the thing and go make some beautiful photos!
  
  
• Amazing
  By A1KAM2P1MBNQEG on 2008-05-05
  This camera is the bomb. It has amazing clarity and coloration. I feel like every picture looks professional. I would recommend this to anyone!
  
  
• I should've bought this one instead of the more expensive D80 / this is a 2008 BMW M3 and the D80 is the 2002 535i
  By A1A5KUIIIHFF4U on 2008-09-02
  If you want a Nikon SLR and don't plan on photographing bullets in flight...., then take this D60 instead of a D80 and save some dollars.
  
  There are too many great and detailed reviews of this camera for me to describe the technical advantages. We own a D80 and I just finished borrowing a D60 for two weeks and can't tell the difference in quality.
  
  The D60 is also closer to the old Nikon F4 which was a legendary 35mm camera released in 1988 and just another REMINDER to the world why Nikon is a top line camera.
  
  
  All Nikon SLR's have the same body style, rubberized exterior for grip and the same aperture and shutter speed controls thumbwheels in front and behind the shutter button.
  
  This camera is just as good as the $200 more expensive D80 and differs only in the smallest ways. In fact, since the D60 was released two years after the D80 it has some better features.
  
  +D60 has star filter effects included as an in camera retouch feature, the older D80 only has basic lighting and filter retouch effects.
  +D60 has built in "animotion" effects included as in in camera retouch feature, this allows you to string together exposures as a flip book animation effect. / This is a hokey feature of the D60 and people buy Nikon for still photography, not video.
  
  The D60 and D80 have the same set of controls and LCD readout photo browser and menu functions on the rear body and inside the viewfinder, they have the same shutter speed and ISO range. They both have the same 10.2 megapixel resolution and high quality CCD sensor.
  
  
  The D80 has an LCD Control Panel to the right of the bridge and behind the shutter, although it does its best to display all camera settings it is still incapable of displaying every camera setting relevant to the shot in just one screen and it is useless when using the camera in Auto, Aperture or Shutter priority modes.
  
  The D60 displays all of this info on the rear LCD and it is easier to read since it isn't as basic as an traditional calculator LCD of the D80 Control Panel.
  
  It seems the only features the D80 has is the preview mode button which is a feature well used from the film days and would let you see the shot at the set aperture. This was helpful to keep you from wasting film but this isn't a concern in the age of digital and a 2GB SD card can hold over 2,000 exposures in basic exposure mode so feel free to waste away !
  
  The D80 seems to have 3 exposure burst modes and a decent bracketing mode, but those are more often used features for NASCAR fans and lunging return spikes at the volleyball net.
  
  The D60 focuses just as well and quickly as our D80, the flash fires just as brightly, rapidly and recycles just as quickly and the exposures are just as clear as our more expensive D80.
  
  Comparing this D60 to the D80 is like comparing the BMW M3 (D60) to the BMW 535i (D80), the D60 is sportier, less inundated with un-necessary junk and streamlined for useage instead of extra features many people don't need.
  
  
• Could not wait any longer
  By AOR0AORD96NII on 2008-04-29
  As a nikon fan and user for more than 30 years, at last I bought a digital slr. Of course it was a nikon. The name, the feeling, the quality, it had to be a nikon.
  Now I'm using it for more than a week and I'm more than pleased with it.
  I can recommend it to anyone who can afford one. It's so much better than any small digital camera.
  Greetings from Holland
  Jan
  
  
  
• Great Camera!
  By ADJ17JRUN4C2J on 2008-06-16
  Switching from a Cannon Powershot A95 point and shoot to a SLR Camera was a huge jump. When I first got it I was a little intimidated. Surprisingly I found it very easy to operate and I was out taking pictures that same day with the automatic setting of course. Now after a few weeks, I have gone through the manual and have become a lot more comfortable with the manual settings. I highly recommend buying at a minimum the Nikon ss-600 flash which is what I got. The pictures come out incredible and professional like. I am sure once I have more practice my pictures will be just as good as a Studio. At least that is the goal and with this camera and it's simple to understand functions, I am sure I will get there. I also bought the AF-S Nikon Nikkor 55-200mm Zoom lens as the lens that comes with the camera is limited on close ups. All three of these items including a 4 year protection, 8GB Card, Two extra batteries, Bag, cleaning kit and car charger where all bought via Amazon and Cameta Cameras which is an Amazon Retailer. Huge savings! Bought everything for around $1050. Compared to Best Buy where just the camera, protection plan, flash and extra lens was over $1300. If I would of bought everything at a local retailer like Best Buy, I would of spent almost $1700. Wow!
  
  
  
• Great entry level D-SLR
  By AHGKMZ164J5WO on 2008-07-02
  Okay, it's 10.2 megapixel, it gives you great pictures, and has plenty of options.
  And it's one of the cheapest D-SLRs on the market right now,
  There are downsides. The flash does not have a commander mode for using wireless flashes, there are only 3 autofocus zones, Nikon does not make an extended battery grip for this model, and the camera will only autofocus with the AF-S and I believe AF-I lenses. Older lenses are still usable, but only with manual focus.
  Ok, all of the bad stuff is now out of the way. Everything is pretty straight forward to set up to take good pictures. I have personally seen point and shoots that have less intuitive controls without having all of the versatility that this camera provides.
  The included lenses are very good considering that they come in a package that costs less than $1000 with the body. The Image Stabilization is very good, and optical quality is high for the price range.
  Personally, I see very little reason to get an advanced point and shoot over the D60.
  In my humble opinion, I think that the Canon XSi/450D is a superior camera; however, I personally could not justify the added expense. The other option from Nikon is the D80, which answers all of my criticisms; however, many first time SLR owners will probably like the added feeling of comfort from the D60's self-cleaning image sensor which is one feature that the D80 lacks. Either way, Canon or Nikon you can't really go wrong in the long run.
  
  
• Love it, more than I will ever need!
  By ADBFX6VLX4CTN on 2008-06-17
  I purchased this camera for my wife. The digital we had had a long shutter delay which resulted in lots of missed shots of my kids. The delay on this camera is much more acceptable, and some of the settings on the camera should help even more, once I figure them out! This camera has more features than I will ever use.
  
  I looked at the D80 as well, but it was larger than the D60. Also, the D80 is more "button interactive" then menu driven like the D60, and I did not like that. If in the future I want to take advantage of the features offered, I can use them through menu options, but until that day arrives, I like the simpler mechanical interaction with the D60, and the smaller size.
  
  I plugged in the camera to my iMac and iphoto recognized the camera and downloded right away, no added software needed, just like it should work.
  
  I bought this camera with 2 VR lenses. It seemed logical to get the 55-200mm lense with th VR as that will have more tendency to blur than the 18-55 lense.
  
  
• D40 replacement - NOT upgrade
  By A35HNL2VEDK9Z1 on 2008-08-18
  If you are torn between the D40 and the D60, pick the D40. It has 95% of the functionality of the D60 and it's much cheaper. Both cameras share the biggest limitation of not having an Auto Focus motor and only 3 focus points so you're likely to outgrow both at the same time. At least with the D40, you'll have a much lower investment while you learn about photography. Don't get me wrong, both take great pictures given the right conditions and lenses, but don't under-estimate the lack of an AF motor.
  
  If you have D60 money, I would STRONGLY recommend getting the D80 instead. It may cost a little more, but you will quickly pay for that if you purchase the 50mm 1.8 lens that actually does autofocus on the D80 plus countless other older AF style lenses that do not AF on the D60 or D40.
  
  Again, the reason why I'm giving the D60 3 stars is not about the picture because it is a good camera, but it's very over priced as of this writing. Once the D90 comes out, the D60 will be Nikon's starter DSLR the way the D40 is but make no mistake, the D60 and D40 are in the same class and the D40 is a much better bargin. That's why so many people love it.
  
  
• D60 Scores a 100!
  By A1YSZ5YT576XXF on 2008-06-16
  Wow! This camera and lense package delivers! No, I do not work for Nikon or any marketing firm, but I am blown away by how much easier it is for this amateur to get reasonably clear pictures from farther away. Parents, you know what I mean--nothing disappoints like being on the sidelines of a soccer or football game, and trying to use that pocket camera to capture the action. It can't, but the D60 will make you feel like a pro when you look at your results. The 10 megapixles gives you lots of room to crop. You do not need a degree in digital photography to make it work, but I could use some tips on photo editing/finishing . . .
  
  Definitely get the 2 lense package. The VR does make a difference and do not forget to get your 50mm UV (or circular polarized) filter. At least now when you are sitting in the back row at graduation, you have a chance at getting some pics you want to keep.
  
  For the more technical readers out there, let me add that turning off autofocus is a must if you want to take quick action shots.
  
  Also, spend a couple of bucks extra and get an quick 8 Gig mem card.
  
  My first day out I took over 400 picures, toasted my battery, but had plenty of room on the card.
  
  Not sure if this i
  
  
• Very un-digital digital camera
  By A12KAC8M7URNTS on 2008-07-01
  I should preface this with a little history, this is my third digital camera but my first digital SLR. I have and still own several quality 35mm SLR but fell for the instant gratification and cost of digital several years ago. I was almost to the point of going back to film due to the drawbacks (slow shutter, quality of enlargements, limited versatility etc.) of my past digital cameras. I then read a review of the new Nikon D60 and for just a little more than I paid for my last 35mm SLR (inflation adjusted) thought I would give it a try.
  I have finally gotten thru the manual of my new Nikon D60 camera, it really has more in common with a 35mm SLR than any digital camera I have ever used. Except for the fact that that I can take 2K pictures at max resolution on the 8 gig SD card I bought. It also has more options than any single person can ever use, I assume this is to appeal to varied users who have different priorities. I have decided to use it much like my old auto 35mm SLRs in Shutter Priority mode most of the time. I now should know enough to take some decent pics if something important comes up, say a wedding or something. It will be some time before I feel I am using all this camera has to offer. The shutter is super quick, again just like a 35mm film camera, no delay. I need to try some action shots now to verify this but at 3 frames a second it should be great.
  As much as I like it this camera is not for everybody, sure you can put it in auto and use it like a point and shoot but if that is all you want save a few hundred and buy a point and shoot. It is also missing two features that some people would like. The 2.5" screen shows you the picture after you take it but can not be used to take pictures, you have to use the viewfinder. I assume this is to save battery power, or maybe they figure real photographers would use the viewfinder anyway. With an SLR you do get exactly what you see in the viewfinder on the picture, plus there is all the other info you would need there, shutter speed, aperture, focus point etc etc. The other feature casual picture takers would miss is the capability to take movies. You can use the continuous mode at 3 frames per second and then you can stitch them together into a MPEG right on the camera. But again this camera is aimed at the serious photographer and if you are serious about movies you would use a video camera anyway.
  Bottom line for me anyway, this camera has everything I loved about my 35mm SLRs, without any of the drawbacks, it is way lighter, cheap to use, (no film), fully adjustable for every exposure criteria, (f-stop, shutter speed, lighting color, white balance, etc. etc), plus I get the instant gratification of digital photography. I can't wait to take some great photos and blow them up as I used to with film. I highly recommend to anyone who wants a good quality, reasonably priced camera. Now I need to pick-up the 70 to 200 zoom lens and remote control, there's this humming bird on the feeder that I would love to capture of "film".
  
  
  
• Great, Versatile, Easy to Use Digital Camera
  By A12AOA130GLHED on 2008-05-24
  The Nikon D-60 is a great camera; lightweight, full featured, easily understood menu functions, easy to operate, produces high resolution pictures, just a delightful product! Somebody actually spent time on the menu functions; on many cameras they are somewhat difficult to follow and seldom logical. However, the D-60 menu is logical and easy to use. The monitor screen is large and bright, easily viewed even in bright sunlight. I'm not too sure that I like the degree of automation, I like the focus brackets in the center of the viewfinder and find it a bit perturbing when the focus jumps to one of the side brackets. There must be a menu item that addresses that to restore control to the user! Great camera!
  
  
• Buyer Beware (of Software)
  By A1CMJWM7A8DY1Q on 2008-08-09
  Warning to anyone buying a Nikon D60 and expecting it to come with processing software. You, like me, may be sorely disappointed. I used a Nikon D50 for years (it was stolen) and thought I was replacing it with an "upgrade." The old D50 came with a decent if simple processing software program called Picture Project which allowed you to edit pictures (crop, tweak, etc.). THE D60 DOES NOT! No one tells you this in advance. The D60 comes with a completely inadequate program for "viewing" pictures but not editing them--ViewNX. It's good for nothing. When I found this out the hard way and called Nikon they told me I would have to buy their new Capture software for $179. If you are about the spend $700 on this camera, be prepared: if you want to edit your pictures on your computer (and not just on the tiny LCD screen on the camera), you'd better budget another $179. Nikon should be ashamed of themselves. Let the buyer beware.
  
  
• Great camera, many great features
  By A3JECWBL8SBREZ on 2008-09-10
  The main thing purchasers should be aware of on this camera is that it does NOT have a digital view-finder/preview. All photos are shot through the eye view finder. This can be inconvenient if you need to hold the camera above your head, say, in crowds, or at ground level to capture a small animal or child.
  
  That said, the camera is fairly light and simple to use. Controls are intuitive and some in-camera editing can be done (cropping, and lightening up dark areas, plus some filter effects). The photos are very good, but use the manual focus in dim situations if at all possible. And spend plenty of time learning the features.
  
  It's a Nikon. It's a quality camera. And Amazon had the best price for a reliable seller of any place I could find. On that: beware those "gray market" sellers at all costs. Unless you buy hundreds of dollars of over-priced extras, you'll never see the camera, and they'll have your credit card information. You can trust Amazon, always.
  
  
• great product and great seller!
  By A33NJGUS6NW4Z6 on 2008-05-14
  Really great product by Nikon.
  But I think I should have gone with D80 because D80 has some advanced features like Bracketing. But for home use it is the best camera.
  
  
• Great and easy to use.
  By A1Q5H1DACFES40 on 2008-06-05
  I've owned several digital cameras in my lifetime. In fact, my wife gifted me the very first digital dinosaur made by Kodak. It took 1 hour to upload it's full capacity of 56 photos. My latest was a WiFi Nikon, very cool, 7 MP, 3.5 inch LCD etc... Moving onto SLRs, my goal was quick start up, virtually no time to wait for flash recharge, and unbelievable quality photos taken in pitch darkness without the resulting common graininess I'm used to. Without any hesitancy, buy this camera right away. It's a must have and you wouldn't need anything in the digital photography department anymore (can't promise you wouldn't want a SmartCar).
  
  

• Induro Carbon 8x Tripod C-013
• Adobe Photoshop CS4 Upgrade
• Adobe Photoshop CS4
• Adobe Photoshop Elements & Premiere Elements 7
• Adobe Photoshop Elements 7

• SanDisk 4 GB Extreme III SDHC Card (SDSDRX3-4096-A21, Retail Package)
• Tiffen 52mm UV Protection Filter
• Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control for Nikon D40, D40x, D60 & D80 Digital SLR Cameras
• Transcend TS8GSDHC6 8GB SDHC card (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6)
• Nikon EN-EL9 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery for Nikon D40 and D40x Digital SLR Cameras