Scott's Photo Blog

Nikon D60 Review

With it's entry level price and it's semi-advanced feature set, the Nikon D60 attracts a lot of interest from the listeners of The Digital Photography Show. The D60 replaces the D40 and the D40D as the gateway drug to Nikon's more advanced DSLRs.

Is it any good? I could have told you "yes" just based on Nikon's reputation and history, but Pop Photo goes into a lot more detail in the review that you can find here.

I'd say that the D60 isn't for the advanced enthusiast. It's not compatible with all of Nikon's lenses,  the noise control isn't great, the pop-up flash doesn't work as a wireless commander (which is an advantage Nikon's higher-end models have over all Canons), and it only has a three autofocus points, which is paltry but today's standards.  But this isn't a camera for the serious hobbyist or semi-pro.  It's for beginners, and Pop Photo says it will serve them well:

But its intended audience -- first-time DSLR owners -- will be thrilled when they see how much faster and more capable this camera is than any digital compact. Its menu controls are extensive, though you can leave them in a simple mode, selecting up to four colored backgrounds, and saving custom settings for different photographers. Plus, as on the D40x, all functions can be demonstrated with the help of thumbnail photos on the LCD.

In all, for those ready to make the leap from a compact to a DSLR, the D60 is a great place to land.

I'd probably recommend anyone except for the beginner who really has no plans to grow as a photographer - and I'm thinking grandparent here -  to spring for an extra $100-$150 for the Nikon D80. That camera offers you more headroom. 

I hear from listeners all the time - and I'd put myself in this category, too - who bought the camera for pictures of the kids, and then wound up getting into digital photography with much more passion - and higher goals - than they anticipated.

Plus, even the things that those parents want from their DSRL's - like the ability to take pictures of their kids at soccer games - would be much better served by the D80's 11 focusing points than the D60's frugal three. That's just trifling. At a $750 list price with the kit lens, the D60 isn't that cheap.

Looking for an Entry-Level DSLR?

If you've been considering a DSLR, but want to get in on the cheap, CNET just published a round-up of five of their entry-level DSLR reviews.

CNET's smart and sassy Lori Grunin writes:

Remember when it was common to drop $500 to $700 on a nice digital point-and-shoot? These days, with the same money, you can pick up a digital SLR camera. These aren't professional models or the very best that current technology has to offer, but for the photo enthusiast on a budget--or even the avid family photographer--they can be a big leap forward. With larger sensors and generally faster performance than snapshot models offer, these cameras provide plenty of tools to photographers who prefer a camera with more than one button. And if you save your pennies, you can increase their flexibility and image quality in the future with additional lens and accessory purchases

She's right! The highest-ranked, and second- or third-highest priced camera on the list (depending on where you buy it) is the Canon Rebel XTi. I wish Lori had included the latest version of that camera, the Canon Rebel XSi, since it looks like a very nice upgrade, but at a price of around $900, it was probably a little expensive to be considered a starter-DSLR, huh?

Meanwhile, can anyone explain how Canon names their cameras? Wouldn't you think the XSi would come before the XTi in Canon's lineup, and not after?  Is alphabetical order that hard to follow?

My Love Affair with the Canon EOS 1D Mark III

Don’t tell my family, but I’ve fallen in love with a camera : Canon EOS 1D Mark III.

It’s embarrassing, really. I’m going to try and tell you why I’m smitten, but as you probably know, love is a hard emotion to put into works.  

Have you ever tried to explain why you loved someone? Was it his sense of humor? , Her crooked smile? The way she sipped her drink?

Describing love using words is like painting the Mona Lisa with eye shadow – you’re bound to fall short. 

In the following paragraphs, I’m going to try and tell you what I most appreciate about this camera.  But I know I’ll disappoint. So, I start this review with a disclaimer:

I don’t have the words to express just how fantastically responsive, immediately intuitive or powerfully built this powerhouse of a camera is. Nor have I the technical expertise to say why it’s pictures come out so rich and three-dimensional. All I can say is this camera feels more “right” in my hands than any other camera I’ve ever used, and that the pictures it takes are phenomenal.

With that out of the way, here of some of the things that have made me fall so hard. You can read them after the break.