The D60 is a high-performance DX format digital SLR with a 10.2 megapixel resolution. Easy to use and easy to handle, it is the perfect way to explore the magic of digital SLR photography. Everyday situations can be trusted to the camera in AUTO mode, or you can try one of its many options for more creative control. In-camera creative features are easily accessible via an intuitive menu. Convenience is highlighted by a rotating information display that follows the orientation of the camera, a self-cleaning internal mechanism, and a sensor located in the viewfinder that turns off the monitor. With a near-instant start-up time and a small, light body, this camera is ready to go with you anywhere. The D60 – stunning photography is just a step away.
The D60 18-55 VR KIT includes the AF-S DX VR NIKKOR 18-55mm lens. Perfect for a wide variety of situations, this lens features built-in Vibration Reduction (VR) to combat camera shake and allow much slower shutter speeds (up to three stops) to be used.
There is a 2 lens kit Nikon D60 going for $800 at a major retailer but they are non VR lenses. The same camera withVR lenses is $200 more. Is the extra money worth it for the VR lenses?
Nikons VR works very well. It compensates for camea motion so it is of particular worth when you are shooting lower light and the camers has a slower shutter speed or when you have a longer lens where there is lens shake. As to the slower shutter speed it will let you shoot a couple settings lower handheld than you normally can. I would personally say its well worth it. But everyone has to decide that by themselves
This video describes the 2-3 recommended lenses when you get your first DSLR. Get the 18-55 or the 18-200, then get the 50mm.
Canon 18-55: http://amzn.to/a4346w Nikon 18-55: http://amzn.to/bnGGXh
Canon 18-200: http://bit.ly/9GToY3
Nikon 18-200: http://amzn.to/dlr0tS
Nikon 50mm: http://amzn.to/aqCdPD
Canon 50mm: http://amzn.to/aNNOQu
Lens Reversing Rings: http://amzn.to/cdVFeO
bought the d60 after all(thank all for guiding me to extended research..)will have it in a couple of days..bought the package with both VR lenses 18-55mm and 55-200mm..but i can’t seem to find any good lenses..fast lenses.. capable in low light conditions..i mean the NIKON AF 50mm f/1.8D would be great..but it won’t auto focus..and i dont know if i would handle that with cool results..i need low f numbers..
what do you suggest?..cheap lenses please..because i am a bit economically dead after the purchase..
would it be difficult to autofocus and use its full capabilities?..
will have a tripod in some night shots for sure..i am interested into super zoomed cropped low light photos with all detail as possible and noise free…been using lots of small digicams and had an old minolta film camera..latest was olympus c-8080..i am not useless in photos..but i would not consider me as more than an enthusiast..i want to improve skills..will i make it with manual focus?..
thank you!
thank you both for commenting!
wish i could get a cheap low f numbered lens..but if i use i tripod and keep trying to focus for ever..i might get it in the end..maybe i will try the nikon 50mm..it is about a 100euro anyways..wish i could get more!
you seem to know lot about photography..
check out the new question i posted under
"Infrared phtography and filters?"
(ahmm…i misspelled photography, oops)
would love to hear your opinion.
thank’s a lot!
peace
Hey man, I thought I recognized you. Nice purchase, that D60 kit. I hope you enjoy it.
As for a fast lens, I’m sorry to say you’re screwed. As you know, the fastest lenses are primes, like that 50mm f/1.8. But only a few primes will autofocus on a D60. Like the Nikon 60mm f/2.8… which is a great lens but completely useless for your intended purposes (since f/2.8 is not faster than a good zoom lens, and at $570 it’s not cheaper, either.)
Manually focusing a 50mm f/1.8 with the aperture set wide open is an exercise in frustration. The viewfinder of the D60 just isn’t made for it. I’d advise people who want to try it anyway to spend an extra $100 on a split prism viewfinder. See these guys if you want to go that route: http://www.katzeyeoptics.com
The only two exceptions to this rule, are:
1) if you’re subject is always more than say, 25 feet away. Looking at my own Nikon 50mm f/1.4 lens, that’s about the distance for infinity focus. So in that case, you can set the focus to infinity and leave it there.
2) If you have the camera mounted on a tripod and your subject is stationary. In that case, you have all the time in the world to tweak the focus. And if you have all the time in the world, the shutter speed doesn’t really matter… so you might as well use your slower zoom lenses.
I don’t know what you intend to shoot, but here’s why I use my 50mm. Firstly, I use it when I want a razor thin depth of field. If you want to take a portrait where the eyes are in focus and the nose and ears are a blurry mess, this is your lens. Secondly, I use it for street photography when my zoom lens is too slow. Since I’m a lazy bastard however, I’ll keep using my zoom lens until I have to crank the ISO beyond 1600. At that point, I’ll switch from my f/2.8 zoom at ISO 2000 to my f/1.4 prime at ISO 500. (In this case the ISO goes down by 2 stops, the aperture goes up by two stops, and the shutter speed remains constant.) From there, I’ll start turning up the ISO again on my 50mm lens. In practical terms, this means that I never use my prime at an ISO lower than 500, which is not noise-free. Here’s a couple of examples from my D200 – these pictures were not brushed up with noise ninja or anything:
f/1.8 at ISO 1000: http://www.elswhere.info/images/asia2/019_JEF0003.htm
f/2.2 at ISO 1250: http://www.elswhere.info/images/elswhere3/image0013.htm
These pictures are grainy, the white balance is shot to hell (should’ve used a custom white balance or RAW) and from a technical point of view, they’re crap. But I love them… they capture the moment and to me, *this* is what the 50mm f/1.4 was made for. For night time cityscapes and such, I’ll set the camera on a tripod and use ISO 100 with f/8.
Recent Comments