Nikon D60: Full Featured Entry-Level DSLR

Nikon has announced its latest user-friendly entry-level DSLR, the Nikon D60. It’s a 10.2MP digital camera that will look and feel remarkably familiar to users of the there ancestor, Nikon D40X. It includes an anti-dust system that incorporates a self-cleaning sensor unit that shakes off dust, coupled with an airflow system designed to channel dust away from the sensor. The model also adds active d-lighting, a stop-motion recording mode and EXPEED technology.

Ease of use design

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, eye detection viewfinder, that turns off the LCD monitor screen automatically when the viewfinder is in use.

Nikon D60 - 90° Rotate LCD Display

EXPEED technology and Active D-Lighting

The D60 utilizes Nikon’s exclusive EXPEED technology to maximize image quality and processing speed. The camera also offers creative features that are designed to allow the optimization and adjustment of images without the need for a computer. Image optimization is achieved through functions like Active D-Lighting (which compensates for strong shadows), and the automatic correction of false eye color when using the built-in flash. Creative features include the automated creation of stop-motion animation files from a sequence of images, and effects that simulate the use of optical filters to produce color shading and sparkling highlights.

Nikon D60 Dust reduction system

To combat the dust that can be introduced into the camera body when changing lenses, , the D60 includes an integrated dust reduction system. Nikon’s exclusive Airflow Control System channels dust out of the image path and a vibrating, self-cleaning sensor unit shakes off any remaining dust from the camera’s optics.

Nikon D60 - 18-55mm VR Lens kit

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.

Nikon D60 key features

• 10 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop)
• Nikon EXPEED processing ‘concept’ (as per D300, D3)
• 3D Color Matrix Metering II, 420 pixel sensor
• Multi-CAM530 three area AF sensor
• New Image sensor cleaning system
• Eye sensor (turns off LCD display)
• ISO sensitivity range 100 - 1600 plus HI 1 (3200 equiv.)
• 3.0 fps continuous shooting*, unlimited in JPEG
• No status LCD, LCD monitor based status / settings screens (now rotates)
• Help suggestions on LCD monitor (ex. scene too dark, try using flash)
• Large 2.5″ 230,000 pixel LCD monitor
• Short shutter lag and viewfinder blackout
• Support for SDHC (SD cards over 2 GB in capacity)
• In-camera retouching
  • Quick Retouch
  • D-Lighting (shadow / highlight enhancement)
  • Red-eye reduction
  • Trimming
  • Monochrome
  • Filter effects
  • Small picture
  • Image overlay
  • Raw processing
  • Stop-motion movie
• USB 2.0 with PTP and Mass Storage device support
• Very compact, light body
• Improved menu user interface
• EN-EL9 Lithium-Ion battery (7.2V, 1000 mAh)
• New stabilized AF-S DX 18-55 mm kit lens

Differences compared to the D40X

• EXPEED processing
• Image sensor cleaning system with Airflow control system
• Automatically rotating user interface (for using camera vertically orientated)
• Stop motion movie function
• New stabilized kit lens (AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR)
• Eye sensor
• Electronic ‘rangefinder’ for manual focus
• Active D-Lighting with dedicated button
• In-camera Raw processing
• New JPEG retouch effects (Cross Star and Color Intensifier)

* Slower with noise reduction enabled

Nikon D60 Specification

New or changed feature compared to the D40X are marked with ( * )

Auto Focus only for AF-S or AF-I lenses

As with the D40 and D40X, the new D60 doesn’t have an built-in focus drive motor which means it can auto focus only with lenses which have their own drive motor (AF-S and AF-I lenses). The lack of a drive motor can be seen by the missing mechanical focus drive pin on the lens mount (see images below). One of the D60’s new features is an electronic rangefinder to help manual focus on non AF-S / AF-I lenses.

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