Hi Terry,

Gotta stop meeting like this. The D60 seems a good deal - the lenses are now upgraded and worthy - as the market segment hots up, the manufacturers will realise they do an injustice to whack on a cheapie lens for kit. My Oly 510 has been amazing me, particularly with the second tele kit lens.
Is it my eyes or am I seeing a halo on the left of the photo, around the right arm of the person?

Ananda: Not so much a halo as evidence of sloppy PhotoShop work. I homogenised the background. Perhaps I should replace that pic with an unprocessed one. In fact I will! Terry

Nice, but I'd prefer the Canon.

Terry,

Your reviews of late are showing a certain sloppiness that is unusual.

Whilst it is true that there are no Nikkor primes that will auto focus with the D60 I suspect that the vast majority of the target buying public, new DSLR owners would not have any interest in primes. A 18-55 and 55-200 twin lens kit will probably more than suit most target buyers. Those who develop a passion for primes will probably move to another camera fairly quickly.

To say that "This means that the range of auto-focus lenses available for the camera is very limited." is just plain wrong. Virtually every day new lenses with in built focus motors are being announced not only by Nikon but also Sigma and Tamron. Just two days ago admitidly probably after your review was written Sigma announced a 50mm f1.4 HSM prime that will auto focus on the D40/40x and 60 bodies. Sure, second hand lenses for these cameras are probably difficult to source cheaply but any owner wanting a new zoom lens will be embarrassed for choice today.

I must also take exception to your statement, "And there is no RAW processing software supplied – that costs extra." Nikon View NX is supplied on the CD with the camera it is also a free download from Nikons web site
[url]http://nikonasia-en.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/nikonasia_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=162#view[/url]
View NX is a fairly competent RAW editor that will do the job that most D60 owners will require IF they venture into the world of RAW. As you are fully aware there are also many freeware and shareware RAW editors available from third parties at little or no cost.

Your review of the D60 strikes me that it was rushed and not properly researched. Perhaps a liitle more time with the camera would have yielded a more accurate review for your reader.

Richard: May I respond?

1. Nikon is the only camera maker that deliberately omits an in-body focus drive from its entry camera. It is worth commenting on.

2. The range of lenses that will work with the D60 is very limited -- that's a fact. You are right that the Sigma 50 was announced after I had written my review. If there are as many lenses that work with the D60 as you say why is the release of one 50mm prime such an interesting event. And there are no Nikkor primes that autofocus. I beg you to count them.

3. I get about 350 words for my reviews, so I have to choose each one carefully. When I say there is no RAW processing software with the camera I ask you to take note of the word "processing". That is not "converting". There is a conversion program, straight from RAW to jpeg with no adjustment controls. You might as well take jpegs in the camera, it's the same thing. Of course there is always Adobe Camera RAW, which I use anyway, but at the time I tested the camera Adobe had not updated ACR to include the D60.

4. If you compare my review with that on dpreview.com [which was published after mine] you will see that everything I listed under "dislike" they listed under "con".

5. I praised the camera and the lens. I gave the kit an excellent rating. Can you tell me what else I should have done? Should I have said: "This camera is so good don't buy a D300, you'll be wasting your money"?

6. I agonise over every precious word of these reviews and I take the testing procedure very seriously indeed. I am in a position to compare any camera with its competition.

TL

Terry
I am now in the market for a DSLR priced to $1500.00
I had an non digital canon EOS with a tamron lense. Liking Canon but seeing your comments re the Olympus E-510 and watching the ground shift on a regular basis, can you suggest the "best option" at this price at this time?
Hope you can respond
Regards
Paul

Paul: Although I haven't yet tried it my guess is that the new Canon EOS 450D would suit you well. You could use your Tamron lens on it. And it should sell for around $1500 or even a little less.

Right now the 400D is selling for well under $1500 and it is a very good camera.

Terry

Just to add a further correction - there, in fact, twelve current model Nikkor primes which will autofocus on the D40/D40X/D60. Admittedly most of primes are high quality telephoto lenses which are probably out of the budget and interest of typical entry level DSLR buyers, but there are two:

AF-S Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED

which probably represent the most common primes the average user might buy for portrait and macro use.

Incidentally, Sigma make at least another nine primes which will autofocus on the D40/D40X/D60, and those range from a 4.5mm Circular Fisheye up to an 800mm super-telephoto prime. In partcular, Sigma make the very good 30mm f/1.4 which is a perfect standard prime on the DX size sensor in the D60.

So while the majority of Nikon's sub 100mm focal length primes are still screw drive and will not autofocus on the D60, it is incorrect to assert that there are no Nikkor primes that will autofocus on the D60.

The Nikon D60 looks nice (I am not a photographer so I would happily keep it if you give me one) but I always find this site's review on the ball with other sites. If you feel bad that you have this camera that didn't get a nice review, then you shouldn't read reviews. There would always be Nikon people and Canon people. The same way there are Mac and Windows, Commodore and Falcon lovers. I have a Pentax DSLR and use Ubuntu, and for my needs, I am happy with them. Get over it.

hi

i am wanting to buy a DSLR around $1500, i am looking at the nikon D60, sony Aplha A200 canon EOS 400D and the Olympus E420.

what one has a better CCD and overall which one is a better camera?

any advise wouldbe very helpful!

thank you kyla

Kyla: The Nikon has the best ergonomics and the best kit lens, but it has a very limited range of auto focus lenses.

The Sony A200 is a beaut camera with an awful kit lens.

The Olympus is the lightest of all DSLRs and has Live View -- that is, you can use the LCD as a viewfinder.

The Canon has superb picture quality but the kit lenses are not as good as the Nikon.

In other words every camera has it strengths and weaknesses, but in the end it doesn't matter which you choose -- it will take excellent photographs.

You must go into a shop, turn a deaf ear to the salesman, and handle each camera. Buy the one that feels best in your hands and that you like best when looking through the viewfinder. TL

Hi Terry,
Which one you prefer if given choice between
Nikon D60 and Canon EOS 400D
and tell me why?
Can you enlist, compare & Analyse the Pros n Cons of both n finally Conclude... It would be great for me to take decision on which one should I go go for.. Many Thanks in Advance.

Ajay

Ajay: I would prefer the Canon for two reasons.

1. It has an in-body autofocus motor so that all Canon lenses and third party lenses will work with it. The lack of an in-camera drive is the Achille's heel of the Nikon, restricting auto-focus lenses to only those that have in-lens focus motors. That even excludes some of Nikon's own best lenses.

2. The Nikon does not have automatic exposure bracketing, which I consider essential in any decent camera. It might not mean much to you now, but once you become familiar with it you will see that you couldn't live without it.

The Nikon is better made and more responsive with much better ergonomics than the Canon. I love the feel of a Nikon. Picture quality is the same from both.

You could take great pictures with either, but as things stand the Canon wins on two essential points.

Keep in mind that the 400D is a superseded camera. The 450D is a little bit [not much] improved.

And the kit lenses sold with Canon base model cameras are pretty ordinary. If you get the 400D at a good price -- and it should be well under $1000 -- see if you can buy the body only and then fit it with the 17-85USM lens. You'll have some great gear.

Terry

Exposure bracketing isn't as big an issue if you shoot RAW, because you can manipulate exposure in post processing.
I own the Sigma 30mm/f1.4 and find it very good for the price. Excellent bokeh on portraits. Extremely narrow DOF on f 1.4 which makes focus a challenge, but it's amazing when you get it right. Mine forward focuses in macro at low f-stops by a a centimeter or so. I compensate by aiming to the back of what I want. AF hunts at low light levels, I think because the lens is so big it interferes with the AF-assist lamp.
The D60 has a tendency of overexpose, so lately I've been compensating in-camera with good results.
Cannon has better high ASA, low noise performance; but tricky AWB indoors in available light. Also easy to compensate for post processing if you shoot RAW.

I'm looking to buy a new DSLR and require a wide angle lens camers for bathroom and bedroom shots in my job as a real estate agent! I have been looking at the Nikon D60 and Canon 400D & 450D and the Nikon seems to take a wider shot in the store - is this accurate, as I can only compare to the view finder on the back of the camera? I have been using a Canon IXUS55 and it has been an exceptional camera to use but won't give me the width I require for good shots..!
I'm not a camera buff and I'm no expert and would greatly appreciate advice on what camera I should buy as I intend to buy a dual lens kit and have a price of $1229 for the Canon 450D Twin lens kit and $1045 for the Canon D60 Twin VR lens kit..! Is the VR Lens kit worth the money on the Canon or is the standard lens kit sufficient for a novice like myself....Your feedback would be greatly appreciated...Thanks..Steve in QLD

Steve: It is not the camera that gives the wide angle of view, it is the lens. That being the case I would suggest that you look at the Pentax K200D and buy the body with a Sigma 12-24mm lens. That will suit you well in the tight confines of a bathroom or bedroom. The Pentax has image stabilisation in the body of the camera, so every lens you buy will be image-stabilised. Both the camera and lens are excellent value for money.

The Canon 1000D is a good entry-level SLR but I don't know if you can buy it without a lens and then choose the Sigma for your prupose. You can ask in a camera shop if this is possible.

For what you plan to do you need a lens with a focal length of about 14mm, but you don't want a fisheye. That is why I recommend the 12-24mm zoom.

TL

Terry,
They don't have a big selection where I live and don't carry the Pentax K200D, they only have the Canon and Nikon SLR Camera's to view at the store! Given my previous note, could you give me your input as I want to buy asap, and let me know if the Nikon VR Lens Kit is worth the extra money..! My choices are Canon 400D & 450D Twin Lens Kit and the Nikon D40 Twin Lens Kit and D60 Twin Lens Kit + the VR Twin Lens Kit...Thanks for your help I appreciate it..!
Steven in QLD

Steve: If the choice is between Nikon and Canon then I suggest you choose Canon. The entry level [D60] Nikon does not have an in-body auto focus drive and that means you are limited in the choice of third party lenses.

Just to head off those who think this is anti-Nikon bias I own a Nikon D300 and before that a D70 and D80. I am a Nikon chap through and through and in general consider the D60 to be a slightly better camera than the Canon [I also own a Canon 40D -- no bias!] but the absence of an in camera focus drive is a weakness in the camera that is hard to overlook.

VR and IS [the same thing] helps a bit, but it is not terribly effective in either the Nikon or Canon. I live without it almost all the time. I only have one IS lens and it doesn't seem to be any easier to use handheld than a conventional lens.

Terry