Nikon released the D60 DSLR camera in 2008. The camera was the third in Nikon's line of entry-level DSLRs, which are a big step up from point-and-shoot digitals but not quite as advanced as professional SLR cameras. This powerful DSLR is a useful one for beginners with interchangeable lens cameras.
Nikon Prosumer DSLRs
Nikon's low-end DSLRs don't begin with the D60 (released in 2008). The camera is preceded by the D40, D40x and the D50. "Low-end" refers to the price range, not its quality. Nikon entered the sub-$1000 range, also called the prosumer market, with these cameras, to try to make digital SLRs affordable and to broaden the market. To keep production and resale costs low, some components had to be left out of Nikon's more expensive cameras. The sensor on the D60 is smaller than that of some of the professional cameras and the camera is built without an autofocus drive motor (which is only half a problem). This means that lenses need to have their own autofocus motor to have full compatibility with the D60.
Specifications
The camera body features a 10.2 megapixel sensor at 23.6 by 15.8 mm. The sensor size is important with DSLR cameras, and the 10.2 megapixels are applied to a larger area than on a tiny compact digital camera, allowing for much larger prints and higher maximum resolutions. The shutter speed ranges from 1/4000 of a second to 30 seconds (plus a "bulb" setting for very long exposures) and the camera has continuous shooting up to three frames per second.
Lens Compatibility
The absence of a autofocus drive motor in the D60 is only a minor inconvenience. It means that the lenses you buy must have an autofocus motor to focus automatically. In all cases, a lens that will attach to the D60 will focus manually. All Nikkor lenses named "AF-I" or "AF-S" work on the D60 with full functionality, including autofocus. Some Nikkor type "D" and "G" lenses will work fully on the D60, and other will work will all functions except autofocus. This only means that you'll have to switch the focus button to "M" for manual and rotate the focus dial on the lens. Third-party lenses also work, but be sure to check for compatibility with the D60 before buying.
Kit Lens and Beyond
The D60, like most Nikon DSLRs, sold either as "body only" without lenses, or -- more commonly -- with a standard 18- to 55-mm lens. This lens will get you by for a while, but has very limited zoom features. It's a good idea to add a telephoto lens (70- to 200-mm), which will give you zoom capabilities. Most photographers have a portrait lens too, a wide-aperture fixed length (usually 35 or 50mm) for low-light photography.
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