Extraordinary 10.2-megapixel SLR. 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.

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Product Description

10.2-megapixel effective recording * APS-C-size CCD image sensor (23.6 x 15.8 mm) * AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (vibration reduction) lens (35mm equivalent focal length: 27-82.5mm) * Dynamic Integrated Dust Reduction System to keep image sensor clean * Nikon EXPEED image processor for fast, accurate shooting and longer battery life * Active D-Lighting mode for better shadow and highlight detail in high-contrast shooting conditions * 2-1/2" color LCD screen with auto-rotating display for easy vertical viewing * 3D Color Matrix Metering II for accurate exposure control * continuous shooting mode: 3 frames per second (up to 100 JPEG frames or up to 6 RAW frames) * program shooting modes: Auto, Auto (Flash Off), Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Child, Sports, and Night Portrait * in-camera image editing functions, including: D-Lighting, red-eye correction, cropping, image overlay, monochrome settings, filter effects, NEF (RAW) processing, cross star and color intensifier filters *

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #647 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Nikon
• Model: 25438
• Dimensions: 12.01" h x 6.57" w x 4.61" l, 1.64 pounds
• Included Software: Yes

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.

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Customer Reviews

DSLR for Entry Level
First off, if you have the d40x, don't rush out to buy this. Nikon is merely keeping competitive in the entry-level market. However, if you don't own a DSLR this is the ticket. I am completely new to digital photography and DSLR's. I decided that I needed a hobby and this camera fit the bill. I shopped between Cannon and Nikon and finally decided on Nikon because Nikon owners are pretty proud of their stuff. Seems everybody else shoots cannon these days. Plus, the online communities that support Nikon cameras were an instant fit for my goals with this camera. I wanted to be able to shoot manually and within three weeks, I can easily navigate the d60 thanks to the help I recieved from the Nikon community. Enjoy this camera.

Great step up from point and shoot
Having come full circle from owning Canon Rebel manual 35mm film cameras in the 80's and 35mm automatic cameras in the 90's, then using a relatively good Sony Point and Shoot digital, I have to say the Nikon D60 has reinvigorated my desire to get "the picture" rather than just snap "a picture". I evaluated the Sony, Canon and Nikon models, and in the end the 60 provide the right blend of megapixels, comfort while shooting, available Vibration Reduction lens combinations, and at a price point under $1000 for body and 2 lens, 18-70 VR and 55-200 VR. I have found these VR lens do indeed add an extra level of forgiveness in your shooting.

In last 30 days, we have taken shots of Vegas sites, the Grand Canyon and of many sites along the Nile in Egypt, daylight and night, and the results are very good even for an amateur such as myself.

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 a Ferrari, but if you don't know how to drive it, a Civic can outrun you. 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. 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 come up with best exposure, available only with Nikon D or G type lenses)
- pretty good performance from built-in flash
- ISO 3200 available
- ISO 100 available (some cameras start at 200)
- Active D-Lighting (tries to even out 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 $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 motor 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! Not that I'm against VR, in fact, I love the VR in my Nikon 18-200 lens. But seriously, if you're good, you don't need VR.

So, unless you have a need to shoot fast actions in poor lighting conditions and flash is not allowed, 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!!!