Announced less than a year after its predecessor, the new entry-level Nikon D60 DSLR camera is virtually identical to the D40x model that it replaces. The D60 has the same external design, 10.2 megapixel sensor, ISO range of 100 to 3200, 3 point auto-focus system, 3D Colour Matrix Metering II, 3fps continuous shooting speed and 2.5 inch LCD screen as the D40x. All of the important changes are therefore internal. Nikon have implemented the same EXPEED image processing engine that all of their DSLR cameras now use, promising better image quality. There's also a refined dust-reduction system, with the new Airflow Control System using air-pressure to help prevent dust from reaching the sensor. Active D-Lighting can now be turned on before taking a shot, and the new Eye Sensor turns off the LCD screen when you look through the viewfinder. The ability to process RAW files in-camera, orientation of the LCD display to either portrait or landscape, and a rather curious stop-motion movie mode complete the list of improvements. With an ever-increasing list of entry-level DSLRs now available, Mark Goldstein finds out if the new Nikon D60 is worth considering.
When you first take the Nikon D60 out of its box, you can literally feel why this digital SLR is so cheap. Its all-plastic construction makes it very light, especially if you have used a more expensive DSLR before. The same is true of the supplied 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR kit lens, which again is made entirely of plastic, although it is a little more substantial than the standard 18-55mm, non-VR lens. At this point you may be wondering if you made the right purchasing decision, but fit the body and lens together and it all begins to make much more sense. Suddenly you have a well-balanced package that is light by DSLR standards at less than 500g, but which doesn't feel flimsy or inconsequential. Nikon have also resisted the urge to make the D60 as small as some of its main rivals, with a chunky handgrip and a "business-like" design that is functional rather than pretty. The D60 is definitely designed for "normal" hands, and this helps to negate that initial feeling of the camera being too light and plasticky.
The Nikon D60 is designed to simplify camera operation and allow the photographer to concentrate on taking pictures. The camera’s simple, user-friendly design includes a reduced number of buttons and a combined monitor and information display. A 2.5-inch LCD screen presents information using an easy to understand graphic user interface, with three types of presentation style to suit all users. The symbols and numbers in the display rotate through 90 degrees, presenting information in the correct orientation according to how the camera is being held. The D60 also includes a new feature that turns off the LCD monitor screen automatically when the viewfinder is in use.
Extraordinary 10.2-Megapixel DX-format Nikon Picture Quality: Nikon's high-performance, 10.2-megapixel DX-format CCD imaging sensor and exclusive EXPEED image processing concept provide added cropping freedom and the ability to make larger prints.
Includes AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization Lens: NIKKOR lenses are famous for breathtaking sharpness and faithful color. With Nikon's fast, accurate autofocus and Vibration Reduction (VR) image stabilization technology built in, pictures are even sharper, free from blur caused by camera shake when shooting hand-held.
Fast Startup and Split-Second Shutter Response: With fast startup and split-second shutter response, the D60 eliminates the frustration of shutter delay, capturing moments that other cameras miss.
Shoot Continuously at up to 3 Frames per Second: Capture sports action, precious moments and fleeting expressions at up to 3 frames per second, for as many as 100 consecutive JPEG images.
Active Dust Reduction System with Airflow Control: Nikon's Active Dust Reduction System activates automatically, along with Airflow Control technology to reduce the amount of dust that reaches the sensor.
Easy Operation with Intuitive Controls: Intuitive controls and an onboard HELP Menu System with Assist Images make the D60 truly easy to use, enabling everyone to capture beautiful memories perfectly.
Nikon's EXPEED Image Processing Concept: Nikon's original digital image processing concept, EXPEED, comprehensively optimizes pictures, shot after shot.
8 Digital-Vari Program Automatic Shooting Modes: Eight Digital Vari-Program Modes include: Auto, Auto Flash-OFF, Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close Up and Night Portrait; each of which adjusts automatically for optimal results for everyday shooting situations. Each mode considers lighting conditions and possibilities, aperture, shutter speed, white balance, hue, tone, sharpening and more to make creative photography as simple as rotating the mode dial.
Nikon's Smallest Digital SLR Ever! Beautifully styled, the D60 makes high-performance digital SLR photography easier and more convenient than ever. You'll be amazed at the power packed into a camera that weighs just over 16 ounces.
2.5-Inch, 230,000-Dot Color LCD Monitor with 170-Degree Wide-Angle Viewing: Playback images are easy to see and function menus are easier to use with a larger and brighter color LCD monitor. The large 2.5-inch LCD monitor enables image preview at up to 19 times magnification and has large type fonts with easy-to-view menus. Auto rotating LCD display provides automatic horizontal and vertical graphic display orientation.
Advanced HELP Menu System with Assist Images: The D60's Assist Images help you select the appropriate settings for many camera features by showing an example image typical of that setting, as well as an advanced HELP Menu for the current item selected. The D60's Question Mark icon (?) indicates that help is available for the currently selected item; just press the HELP button beside the LCD monitor to see a context-sensitive HELP page.
Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II: The D60's 3D Color Matrix Metering II evaluates each scene for brightness, color, contrast, size and position of shadows and highlights, selected focus area and camera-to-subject distance, comparing that information against an onboard database of more than 30,000 actual photographic scenes. The result delivers instantly and precisely determined exposures for each scene, even in challenging lighting conditions.
Image Optimization Options: The D60's Optimize Image setting lets photographers adjust color, contrast and sharpening, as well as other image settings, according to the type of scene or output desired. Settings include: Normal, Softer, Vivid, More Vivid, Portrait, Custom and Black and White, each of which are automatically adjusted based on sophisticated Nikon algorithms or user-selected settings for optimum results.
Built-in Speedlight with i-TTL Automatic Flash Control: Nikon's innovative i-TTL flash control evaluates flash exposure with incredible precision to achieve better automatic flash balance and deliver outstanding results. The built-in Speedlight is always ready to bring beautiful exposures to darkened conditions, as well as add sparkle for fill flash in outdoor situations for enhanced twilight shots or an added impact to daylight images. In low-light or back-light situations, added illumination from the built-in Speedlight can make the difference between an average snapshot and a dazzling picture.
Fast, Accurate 3-Area Autofocus: The D60's advanced 3-Area AF system and the refined algorithms inherited from more advanced Nikon digital SLR cameras deliver fast, efficient and precise Autofocus. AF refinements deliver greater precision with fast, more consistent subject acquisition and improved focus tracking for consistently sharper pictures.
In-Camera Image Editing and Enhanced Retouch Menu: Highly versatile in-camera editing features through the Retouch Menu include Nikon D-Lighting, Red-Eye Correction, Image Trim, Image Overlay, Monochrome (Black and White, Sepia and Cyanotype) along with Skylight, Warm Tone and Color Balance filter effects. New effects and controls include Quick Retouch, NEF (RAW) Processing, Cross Star and Color Intensifier filters. This provides greater creative freedom without the need for a computer for those who prefer to send pictures directly to a printer.
Stop motion video: Creates a stop-motion animation from a sequence of images for added creative fun to your pictures.
Up to 500 Images per Battery Charge: The supplied EN-EL9 rechargeable battery will allow for shooting up to 500 images per charge based on CIPA battery testing standards.The Nikon D60 standard kit comes with a high-performance VR-NIKKOR lens, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR. Compact and lightweight, the lens offers 3x zoom with a versatile focal length range of 27mm to 82.5mm (35mm-format equivalent). Nikon’s advanced Vibration Reduction technology combats the effect of camera shake, allowing the use of shutter speeds that are up to three times slower than is practical with non-VR lenses. And with its sophisticated, leather-toned design, the lens looks as good as the pictures it takes. “The D60 is intended to put high quality photography within the reach of ordinary consumers.” said Toru Uematsu, Manager Prosumer Products at Nikon Europe B.V “The combination of precision technology and carefree convenience places the D60 in a unique position of offering compact camera users the chance to move up to digital SLR with ease and security.”
Nikon D60 specifications
Body color | Black |
|---|---|
| Sensor | • 23.6 x 15.8 mm CCD sensor • Nikon DX format (1.5x FOV crop) • 10.2 million effective pixels • 10.8 million total pixels • RGB Color Filter Array • 12-bit A/D converter |
| Anti-dust measures | • Image sensor cleaning system* • Airflow control system* • Image dust off from reference frame (using optional Capture NX software) |
| Image sizes | • 3872 x 2592 (Large, 10.0 MP) • 2896 x 1944 (Medium, 5.6 MP) • 1936 x 1296 (Small, 2.5 MP) |
| Image quality | • NEF (12-bit compressed RAW) • JPEG fine (1:4) • JPEG normal (1:8) • JPEG basic (1:16) • NEF (RAW) + JPEG basic |
| Color space | • IIIa (sRGB - more green for colourful landscapes) default • Ia (sRGB) • II (Adobe RGB) |
| Lens mount | Nikon F mount (with AF contacts) |
| Lens compatibility | • AF-S, AF-I • Other Type G or D AF Nikkor • Other AF Nikkor/AI-P Nikkor • Type D PC Nikkor • Non-CPU • IX Nikkor/AF Nikkor for F3AF -All functions supported - All functions supported except autofocus - All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II - All functions supported except some shooting modes - Can be used in mode M, but exposure meter does not function; electronic range finder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster - Can not be used
|
| Autofocus | • Three area TTL phase detection • Nikon Multi-CAM530 autofocus module • Only with AF-S or AF-I lenses • Detection range: EV -1 to +19 (ISO 100 equivalent, at normal temperature) |
| Lens servo | • Single-servo AF (AF-S) • Continuous-servo AF (AF-C) • Automatic AF-S/AF-C (AF-A) • Manual focus (M) |
| AF Area mode | • Single Area AF • Dynamic Area AF • Closest Subject Priority Dynamic Area AF |
| Focus tracking | Predictive focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status in continuous-servo AF |
| Focus area | One of three areas can be selected |
| Focus lock | Focus can be locked by pressingshutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-Lbutton |
| AF Assist | White light lamp |
| Exposure mode | • Digital Vari-program - Auto -Flash off -Portrait -Landscape -Child -Sports -Close up -Night portrait • Programmed auto (P) with flexible program • Shutter-priority auto (S) • Aperture priority auto (A) • Manual (M) |
| Metering | TTL full-aperture exposure meteringsystem • 3D color matrix metering II • 420 segment RGB sensor • Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to a 8mm circle in center of frame • Spot: Meters 3.5 mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on activefocus area |
| Metering range | • EV 0 to 20 (3D color matrix or center-weighted metering) • EV 2 to 20 (spot metering) (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens,20 °C) |
| Meter coupling | CPU coupling |
| Exposure compen. | • +/- 5.0 EV • 1/3 EV steps |
| AE Lock | Exposure locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button |
| AE Bracketing | None |
| Sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200 equiv. (HI 1) |
| Auto ISO options | • On/Off • Maximum ISO (200, 400, 800 or 1600) • Minimum shutter speed (1 to 1/125 sec) |
| Shutter | • Combined mechanical and CCDelectronic shutter • 30 to 1/4000 sec (1/3 EV steps) • Flash X-Sync: up to 1/200 sec • Bulb |
| White balance | • Auto (TTL white-balance with 420 pixels RGB sensor) • Six manual modes with fine-tuning o Incandescent o Fluorescent o Direct sunlight o Flash o Cloudy o Shade • Preset white balance (immediate or from photo) |
| WB fine tuning | Yes |
| Image parameters | • Preset modes: Normal, Softer, Vivid, More Vivid, Portrait, B&W • Sharpening: Auto, 6 levels • Tone: Auto, 5 levels, Custom curve • Color mode: Ia (sRGB), II (Adobe RGB), IIIa (sRGB) • Saturation: Auto, 3 levels • Hue: -9° to +9° |
| Viewfinder | • Optical fixed eye-level • Penta-mirror type • Built-in diopter adjustment (-1.7 to +0.5 m-1) • Eyepoint: 18 mm (at -1.0 m-1) • Frame coverage 95% (approx.) • Viewfinder magnification approx. 0.8x with 50mm lens at infinity;-1.0 m-1 • Focusing screen: Type B BriteView clear matte screen Mark V with superimposed focus brackets |
| Viewfinder information | Focus indications, AE/FV lock indicator, Shutter speed, Aperture value, Exposure/Exposure compensation indicator, Exposure mode, Flash output level compensation, Exposure compensation, Number of remaining exposures, Flash-ready indicator |
| LCD monitor | • 2.5" TFT LCD • 230,000 pixel • Features automatic defeat via Eye Sensor* |
| Built-in flash | • Auto pop-up in Auto, Vari-program modes • Manual pop-up in P, S, A or M modes • Guide number approx. 12 at ISO 100 |
| Sync contact | X-contact only; flash synchronization at shutter speeds of up to 1/200 sec |
| Flash control | • TTL flash control by 420-segment RGB sensor. i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR and standard i-TTL fill-flash for digital SLR available when CPU lens is used with built-in flash, SB-400, SB-800, and SB-600 |
| Flash mode | • Auto, Portrait, Child, Close-up: Auto, auto with red-eye reduction; fill-flash and red-eye reductionavailable with optional Speedlight • Night portrait: Auto, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye reduction; slow sync and slowsync with red-eye reduction available with optional Speedlight • Landscape, Sports: Fill-flash and red-eye reduction available with optional Speedlight • P, A modes: Fill flash, rear-curtain with slow sync, slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction,red-eye reduction • S, M modes: Fill flash, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction |
| Flash compensation | • -3 to +1 EV • 1/3 steps |
| Nikon Creative Lighting system | Supported with built-in flash, SB-400, SB-800, and SB-600; Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-800 or SU-800 as Commander. |
| Shooting modes | • Single frame shooting (S)mode • Continuous shooting (C) mode: approx. 3.0 frames per second (slower with NR) • Self-timer/remote control mode. |
| Continuous buffer | • JPEG: Limited only by storage • RAW: Approx. 9 frames (shooting continues at a slower rate) |
| Self-timer | • 2, 5, 10 or 20 sec |
| Remote control | • Remote Control ML-L3 (optional, Infrared) • Camera Control Pro software (optional) |
| Text input | Up to 36 characters of alphanumeric text input is available with LCD monitor and multi-selector; stored in EXIF header |
| Playback functions | • Full frame • Thumbnail (4 or 9 segments) • Zoom (magnified) • Slideshow • Histogram indication • Shooting data • Highlight point display • Auto image rotation • Stop-motion movies created with D60* |
| Orientation sensor | Yes (Rotates user interface when using camera in portrait orientation)* |
| Storage | • Secure Digital / Secure Digital HC • FAT / FAT32 • Supports firmware update via SD card |
| Video output | NTSC or PAL selectable |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) • Mass storage / PTP selectable • Video out • DC-IN (optional AC adapter and adapter connector) |
| Languages | Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian,Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish |
| Power | Lithium-Ion battery pack EN-EL9 (7.4 V, 1000 mAh) |
| Working environment | • 0 to 40°C (32 to 104°F) • Less than 85% humidity |
| Dimensions | 126 x 94 x 64 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 in) |
| Weight (no batt) | 471 g (1.0 lb) |
| Weight (inc. batt) | 522 g (1.2 lb) |
| Supplied accessories | Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9, Quick Charger MH-23, USB Cable UC-E4, PictureProject, Rubber Eyecup DK-16, Camera Strap, Body Cap BF-1A, Eyepiece Cap DK-5, Accessory Shoe Cap BS-1 |
| Optional accessories | Wireless Remote Control ML-L3, Capture NX, Camera Control Pro, AC Adapter Connector EP-5, AC Adapter EH-5, Video Cable EG-D100, Semi Soft-Case CF-DC1, Speedlight SB-800/600/T041/R1C1 |
Once you have captured a photo, the Nikon D60 has an excellent range of options for playing, reviewing and managing your images. You can instantly scroll through the images that you have taken, view thumbnails (in 2 different sizes), zoom in and out, and view detailed information about each image by pressing up or down on the Multi-selector. You can also delete an image, automatically rotate an image, view a slideshow, set the playback folder, and set various printing options. And there are also all the Retouch menu options previously mentioned. Importantly the Nikon D60 displays a wealth of information for each photo, accessed by pressing Up on the navigation pad. This includes a luminance-based histogram, which is a great help in evaluating the exposure, plus any areas that are over-exposed flash on and off in the LCD preview to show you what you should be compensating for with your next attempt.In summary the Nikon D60 is an all-plastic yet well constructed DSLR that is intuitive to use. Nikon have taken the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach, refining the design of the D40x rather than introducing any really significant innovations.
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