Nikon D60 Review
Review based on a production Nikon D60
The D60 is the third incarnation of Nikon's compact, user-friendly entry-level SLR line that started back in 2006 with the D40 (which replaced the first Nikon 'starter' model, the D50). The original D40 was a hugely important camera for Nikon and can be given a lot of the credit for the resurgence in Nikon's fortunes at the volume end of the SLR market (which had been totally dominated by Canon since the launch of the EOS 300D / Digital Rebel). The D40's success (which continued long after the D40X made its swift appearance only 6 months later) isn't hard to explain; it was keenly priced, nicely designed and built and capable of excellent results. It was also a camera that proved cameras do not sell on megapixels alone (even at launch its 6MP resolution was far from 'class leading').
The D40X, which was positioned as a premium alternative to the D40 rather than its replacement, didn't mess around with the formula much at all; a new sensor with more (ten) megapixels and a lower base ISO, plus a slightly higher continuous shooting rate. The D60 is a direct replacement for the D40X (the D40 will stay around for a while as Nikon's budget option), and once again it's not a major upgrade; the sensor remains the same (though now has a dust reduction system) and the external design is almost identical. There's a few new features, including the same Expeed processing 'concept' seen in the D3 / D300, Active D-Lighting, an eye sensor (to control the screen display), and some tweaks to the interface, but perhaps the most significant change isn't to the camera at all; the move to an optically stabilized version of the kit lens.
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.
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 (eg. 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
| 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 colorful 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 - Cannot 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 pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button |
| 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 metering system • 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 active focus 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 CCD electronic 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 dioptre adjustment (-1.7 to +0.5 m-1) • Eye point: 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 • Auto aperture with SB-800 and CPU lenses • Non-TTL auto with SB-800, 80DX, 28DX, 28, 27 and 22s • Range-priority manual with SB-800 |
| Flash mode | • Auto, Portrait, Child, Close-up: Auto, auto with red-eye reduction; fill-flash and red-eye reduction available with optional Speedlight • Night portrait: Auto, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye reduction; slow sync and slow sync 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, ViewNX, 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 |
| 1 | Shooting mode | 15 | AF-area mode |
| 2 | Shutter speed | 16 | Focus mode |
| 3 | Aperture (f-number) | 17 | Release mode |
| 4 | Shutter-speed display (graphic) | 18 | ISO sensitivity |
| 5 | Aperture display (graphic) | 19 | White balance mode |
| 6 | Electronic analog exposure display / AE-C | 20 | Image size |
| 7 | Flash compensation value | 21 | Image quality |
| 8 | Flash sync mode | 22 | Focus point display |
| 9 | Exposure compensation value | 23 | Battery indicator |
| 10 | Help indicator | 24 | Beep indicator |
| 11 | Active D-Lighting indicator | 25 | Optimize image preset indicator |
| 12 | Frames remaining / Preset WB rec / PC | 26 | Auto ISO sensitivity indicator |
| 13 | K (over 1000 exposures remaining) | 27 | Manual flash control / External flash comp. |
| 14 | Metering mode | 28 | Date Imprint indicator |
Diagram reproduced with permission from the Nikon D60 user manual.
