Product Description

Nikon introduces the new D60 digital SLR camera, to provide stunning picture quality and versatility in an easy-to-use, compact camera design. The New D60 Digital SLR joins Nikon's award-winning line of D-series digital SLR cameras and shares a form similar to the D40 ? Nikon's smallest D-SLR camera ever. With 10.2 effective megapixels and a wealth of innovative and user-friendly features, the D60 enables both photo enthusiasts and those new to digital SLR photography to capture incredible images like never before. Nikon D60 Features at a Glance Extraordinary 10.2-Megapixel DX-format Nikon Picture Quality Includes AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (Vibration Reduction) Lens Fast Startup and Split-Second Shutter Response Shoots Continuously at up to 3 Frames per Second Active Dust Reduction System with Airflow Control Easy Operation with Intuitive Controls Up to 500 Pictures per Battery Charge Based on CIPA battery testing standards Bright, 2.5-Inch Color LCD Monitor with 170-Degree Wide-Angle Viewing Nikon's Smallest Digital SLR Ever! Automatic Exposure with 8 Digital Vari-Program Scene Modes In-Camera Editing Functions Users will immediately appreciate the D60's fast 0.18-second start-up time and split-second shutter response, which combine to eliminate the frustration of shooting lag ? a common issue with many point-and-shoot digital cameras. With a fast and accurate autofocus and the ability to shoot continuously at up to three pictures-per-second, the D60 faithfully captures pictures that other cameras often miss. The D60 does all this while delivering extraordinarily vivid and detailed pictures, ensuring that fleeting expressions, special moments and memorable events are captured beautifully. Packaged with Nikon's new AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR image stabilization lens, the D60 camera and lens outfit delivers striking image sharpness. What's more, Nikon's p

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #373 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Nikon
• Model: B0012OGF6Q
• Released on: 2008-02-18
• Dimensions: 12.01" h x 6.57" w x 4.61" l, 1.64 pounds
• Display size: 2.5

Features

• Extraordinary 10.2-megapixel DX-format Nikon picture quality
• Includes AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G Vibration Reduction lens
• 2.5-inch LCD screen; horizontal and vertical orientation are detected automatically
• Continuous shooting at 3 fps; Active Dust Reduction System with Airflow Control
• Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Manufacturer Description

Are you looking for a real digital SLR that’s easy to use? Do you want mobility without sacrificing capability? Would you like simple operation and enough features to step forward creatively? If so, then get to know the Nikon D60. Now you can experience the best of both worlds: enjoy one-button simplicity with Auto, or try many exciting levels of creative control. There is room for everyone to explore the thrill and magic of photography. Have fun, and don’t worry -- it’s a Nikon.

Built on 90 years of optical expertise and decades of award-winning camera designs, the Nikon family of cameras covers every type of picture-taker -- from seasoned professionals to travelers on vacation. The D60 is the latest example of Nikon innovation, transforming complex technology into a fun, powerful and easy-to-use camera. Nikon delivers the cutting-edge technologies you would expect from a digital SLR -- fast response, creative versatility, and breathtaking image quality -- while eliminating complications and frustrations so that taking pictures is enjoyable and stress-free. With 10.2 megapixels, the D60’s image sensor delivers high-resolution pictures with rich, faithful color and detail that are ready for stunning enlargements. It also gives you the freedom to crop pictures exactly as you want them. And with Nikon’s 3D Color Matrix Metering II, you can expect beautifully exposed pictures under almost any lighting condition, with Nikon’s original digital image processing concept, EXPEED, comprehensively optimizing your pictures, shot after shot.

Nikon D60 Digital SLR Highlights

Nikon Integrated Dust Reduction System Dust in front of your camera sensor can mean distracting spots on your pictures. That’s why Nikon does everything to ensure clear pictures, including minimizing the build-up and appearance of dust. Nikon’s exclusive Airflow Control System is one of the two main protections against dust. It leads air within the mirror box towards small ducts near the base, preventing internal dust from settling in front of the image sensor. The D60’s second form of defense is the Imaging Sensor Cleaning function, which was originally built for the D300. Every time you turn the camera on or off, this function uses vibrations to steer dust away from the optical low-pass filter in front of the sensor (deactivation and manual activation are also possible). Nikon engineers have also dealt with dust and other tiny particles in many other ways to prevent such image degrading material from attaching to the filter or being seen by the sensor when you are taking pictures. With all these measures in place, you can concentrate on getting the shot while exploring the wide array of Nikkor interchangeable lenses that a Nikon digital SLR opens up to you.

Rich, Smooth Detail with Active D-Lighting Sometimes, even a perfectly exposed scene will not render an ideal photograph. With difficult lighting conditions, important details can be lost in the highlights and shadows. But with Nikon’s Active D-Lighting, the D60 can correct these exposure issues instantly and automatically, while you shoot. Simply set Active D-Lighting before you start shooting. Active D-Lighting is available when "Matrix" is selected for metering.

Eye Sensor The Eye Sensor activates every time you look through the viewfinder, turning off the information display on the LCD for comfortable shooting.

Compact, Light and Comfortable The D60 is compact, light and ready to go wherever life takes you. The D60’s size is not the only factor to consider; its shape is ergonomically designed to fit in your hand naturally and comfortably. Nikon’s experienced engineers know that operating a camera shouldn’t distract you. That’s why each button and texture on the camera’s exterior has been carefully considered for the most efficient and fluid operation possible.

The D60’s bright, clear optical viewfinder is also designed with the user in mind, its helpful indicators and intuitive icons helping you achieve ideal composition with the optimal settings.

Nikon’s Intelligent Built-in Flash -- Simply Brilliant Proper flash lighting used to require skill, time and patience. With the D60, however, flash photography is simple, instant and accurate. Thanks to Nikon’s cutting-edge i-TTL flash technology, all the complicated calculations happen automatically, giving you balanced flash illumination under almost any conditions, even difficult lighting situations such as backlit subjects. With Auto mode, you just point, shoot and let the camera do the rest. It’s that simple.

Display Format Options The information display in the 2.5-inch LCD monitor lets you check essential camera information quickly and easily. Choose whatever display format fits your taste best: each of the Graphic and Classic formats have three color variations to suit your preferences, while Wallpaper uses one of your own pictures as the background. Graphic format uses visual displays to show shutter speed and aperture, as well as the mode dial every time you turn it to a new setting. The D60 even recognizes whether you are holding the camera horizontally or vertically, and then automatically displays camera information on the LCD monitor accordingly.

Intuitive Menu Navigation The D60 lets you alter settings and functions in many ways. For all the choices it offers, the menu is still amazingly simple and intuitive, with navigation made easy thanks to a carefully considered design. If you are ever unsure about a specific feature or function, simply press the O button for detailed information. It’s like having an onboard instructor to answer your questions. The D60’s convenient assist images help you select appropriate camera settings. These useful reference images help explain the effect that each function has on your photos -- very helpful for exploring new features and making the most of the camera.

Creative shooting is just a quick turn away With the D60, you will always be prepared to shoot a wide variety of subject matter. Just turn the mode dial to fit your shooting situation and beautiful results are yours instantly.

Quick responses, captured moments Amazing moments can pass by quickly, but the D60’s fast 0.19-second startup, split-second shooting time lag and fast, accurate autofocus capture more of these moments with precision. The camera’s high-speed continuous shooting also helps capture fast-moving action at up to 3 pictures per second for as many as 100 (JPEG) pictures.

A wide variety of in-camera Retouch Menus Even after a picture is taken, the D60 offers ways to explore your creativity further. With a wide range of options to choose from, the quick, simple and extensive Retouch Menu allows you to create a duplicate image with amazing photo effects, leaving the original picture intact. And it’s all done in-camera -- without the need for a computer.

The right touch -- Quick Retouch Sometimes you want to make sure that your picture has the best balance of contrast and saturation. For this, choose the Quick Retouch feature. It creates an automatically retouched copy that has been optimized for better-looking pictures.

Original animation -- Stop-motion Movie Want more fun out of digital photography? Try making a stop-motion movie from a series of consecutive pictures. Simply select the first and last frames from a sequence of shots. You can easily re-edit before saving it as a movie by changing the starting image or removing specific images. There are also several size and frame rates to choose from.

Expect much more from your pictures -- In-camera NEF (RAW) Processing Nikon’s NEF (RAW) format lets you enjoy an incredible amount of creative freedom and control over camera settings -- even after the actual shot is taken. If time is tight or you are unsure of which setting to use, it’s even possible to shoot first with NEF (RAW) and make adjustments later. That’s right: you can take pictures, and then change the image quality, image size, white balance or even exposure compensation. All operations are quick, simple and do not require a computer.

Explore further -- Filter Effects The D60’s Filter Effects let you experiment with color and light. Each of the Red/Green/Blue Intensifier effects let you enhance the color of your choice. Try the Cross Screen feature to create starbursts radiating from scene highlights. For other options, use Color Balance to modify the entire image, or experiment with Skylight and Warm Filters.

Supplied Accessories Strap, Body Cap, Eyepiece Cap, USB Cable, Quick Charger (MH-23)w/ AC adapter, Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (EN-EL9), Accessory shoe cover, Lens cap, Software CD-Rom, Quick Start Guide, Instruction Manual, Warranty and Registration card

Customer Reviews

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

Nice Camera but not a big upgrade
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
*** 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!!!