New DSLR Owner
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,042
Likes: 1
From: Clemson, SC
I figured the D90 would last me longer as a body than a D60 and I had the money to spare. But the D60 is an excellent camera and $450 is an amazing deal. It's most definitely capable of taking the same quality pictures as new cameras. If budget is a consideration (usually it is), the D40/D60/Any older model is a great choice.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,920
Likes: 5
From: Washington
I'll consider doing a joint purchase with my mother on the D60 then. we both want more than our point and shoot can do anymore even though i just spent a few bucks on it finally and purchased a new xd card for it lol.
only kicker on the camera at 450 is there appears to be no supplied lense.
only kicker on the camera at 450 is there appears to be no supplied lense.
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,042
Likes: 1
From: Clemson, SC
A lot of people say take Ken Rockwell's site with a grain of salt, but he seems to know his Nikons. He actually recommends a D40 over a D60 because they are basically the same camera.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d60.htm
Regardless of which one you decide to get, I recommend you get an 18-200mm VR lens from Nikon, Sigma, or Tamron. Although they aren't the best quality you can get, they are the most flexible for day-to-day shooting. If you're looking for a replacement for your point-and-shoot that would be your best lens. You won't have to worry about switching lenses all the time. Although it's not comparable to professional quality lenses, it will still blow point-and-shoots out of the water. The Nikon is about $700 but the Sigma/Tamron are both less than $350.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d60.htm
Originally Posted by Ken Rockwell
Personally I prefer Nikon's least expensive D40 over the D60 or D40x. The D60, D40x and D40 are actually exactly the same cameras, differering only slightly in their internal electronics, but differing greatly in their prices.
The D60 is actually a D40 body with a few more card-clogging pixels, a VR lens and adaptive dynamic range, but a slower maximum shutter speed with flash.
The D60 is less sensitive to light then the D40 (its default ISO is only ISO 100 compared to the D40's default ISO of 200). Its less sensitive to light because the pixels have to be made smaller to cram more of them into the same-sized sensor. Smaller pixels collect fewer photons than larger pixels. Since the D60 is half as light sensitive, the D60 has to use twice as long a shutter speed or a larger aperture, which makes it more likely to make a blurry picture than the D40. OOPS!
Save your money and get the D40 instead. The D40's faster sync speed is invaluable for use with flash outdoors, and the extra light sensitivity in normal use will help make sharper pictures. These three cameras (D40, D40x, D60) otherwise, for most users, are identical. Compare them in person and you'll see. Megapixels don't matter.
The D60 is actually a D40 body with a few more card-clogging pixels, a VR lens and adaptive dynamic range, but a slower maximum shutter speed with flash.
The D60 is less sensitive to light then the D40 (its default ISO is only ISO 100 compared to the D40's default ISO of 200). Its less sensitive to light because the pixels have to be made smaller to cram more of them into the same-sized sensor. Smaller pixels collect fewer photons than larger pixels. Since the D60 is half as light sensitive, the D60 has to use twice as long a shutter speed or a larger aperture, which makes it more likely to make a blurry picture than the D40. OOPS!
Save your money and get the D40 instead. The D40's faster sync speed is invaluable for use with flash outdoors, and the extra light sensitivity in normal use will help make sharper pictures. These three cameras (D40, D40x, D60) otherwise, for most users, are identical. Compare them in person and you'll see. Megapixels don't matter.
Regardless of which one you decide to get, I recommend you get an 18-200mm VR lens from Nikon, Sigma, or Tamron. Although they aren't the best quality you can get, they are the most flexible for day-to-day shooting. If you're looking for a replacement for your point-and-shoot that would be your best lens. You won't have to worry about switching lenses all the time. Although it's not comparable to professional quality lenses, it will still blow point-and-shoots out of the water. The Nikon is about $700 but the Sigma/Tamron are both less than $350.
Last edited by mblouir; Aug 21, 2009 at 11:43 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,920
Likes: 5
From: Washington
man, cameras are somewhat difficult to understand anymore lol.
so what he's saying is that the D60 is actually slower and more prone to blur, so not necessarily the better of the two (D60/D40) for guys like me who are not the steadiest shot.
sounds like maybe a D40 refurb and a mediocre lense like you mentioned. have you read reviews on refurb products?
so what he's saying is that the D60 is actually slower and more prone to blur, so not necessarily the better of the two (D60/D40) for guys like me who are not the steadiest shot.
sounds like maybe a D40 refurb and a mediocre lense like you mentioned. have you read reviews on refurb products?
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,042
Likes: 1
From: Clemson, SC
No research on refurbs, but generally if you buy from a reputable company (try Adorama for camera stuff) they are just fine. Very often they come with warranties as well, so you shouldn't run into any problems with refurb products. I think a refurb D40/D60 paired with an 18-200mm would be killer.
Hit me up when you get closer to buying one and I'll try to help as much as possible. Like you mentioned there's a lot of information out there right now. A lot more goes into DSLRs than point-and-shoots. I was overwhelmed with information at first.
Hit me up when you get closer to buying one and I'll try to help as much as possible. Like you mentioned there's a lot of information out there right now. A lot more goes into DSLRs than point-and-shoots. I was overwhelmed with information at first.
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,042
Likes: 1
From: Clemson, SC
Yeah I've always uploaded my images to photobucket. The largest size they let you upload, though, is 1MB with a free account. The last picture I uploaded is the 1MB size. I may be wrong but I think Flickr lets you upload them fairly large. I'll find out soon because I haven't uploaded any over there yet.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 281
Likes: 2
From: Dubai - UAE
man, am jealous! 
am currently running on Canon IXUS 85 (just for a start) , and am considering getting the Sony DSC-HX1 in few weeks, and later on when i get familiar in photographing, I'm considering the Canon 450D!
Photography takes me nuts!! lol
am currently running on Canon IXUS 85 (just for a start) , and am considering getting the Sony DSC-HX1 in few weeks, and later on when i get familiar in photographing, I'm considering the Canon 450D!
Photography takes me nuts!! lol
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,042
Likes: 1
From: Clemson, SC
It's a blast, man, I agree. The HX1 looks like an advanced version of my last camera, the H50, which I gave to my mother when I bought the SLR.
This is just my opinion so take it with a grain of salt, but I suggest going straight to the 450D. If I could go back I'd have skipped the superzoom H50 and gone with the D40 or D60. You can learn photography on an SLR easily. It will save you a few hundred bucks in between, anyways. I say save up and go big!
This is just my opinion so take it with a grain of salt, but I suggest going straight to the 450D. If I could go back I'd have skipped the superzoom H50 and gone with the D40 or D60. You can learn photography on an SLR easily. It will save you a few hundred bucks in between, anyways. I say save up and go big!
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,042
Likes: 1
From: Clemson, SC
I had been hearing good things about the 50mm prime lens, so I went out today and bought one. All I can say is HOLY CRAP. Best purchases of my life. I love these things.
Be prepared to scroll---sorry but I thought it necessary so the detail could be seen.
Be prepared to scroll---sorry but I thought it necessary so the detail could be seen.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 711
Likes: 0
From: Memphis
Nice picture, great detail 
I am amazed what a we can do these days with pictures and film.
I know a kid that is about 15 and he has a Nikon D40 w/standard lense that comes with it. He can blow my pictures away and I have a D90 and use Iphoto when I don't get it just right.
I am amazed what a we can do these days with pictures and film.
I know a kid that is about 15 and he has a Nikon D40 w/standard lense that comes with it. He can blow my pictures away and I have a D90 and use Iphoto when I don't get it just right.