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Hands-on with the new Nikon D60 at the PMA photo show
By Bob Martin and Phil Hall in Las Vegas
Event news
31 January 2008 01:44
We’re kicking off PMA - the big photography show in Las Vegas that's underway right now - with a hands-on preview of the new Nikon D60. It replaces the D40X as the high resolution entry-level product and squeezes in between the D40 and D80. At least there’s a simple naming system now without any random Xs and Ss thrown in to confuse potential buyers. Good work Nikon.
We came out to the Grand Canyon to try out the camera this afternoon - it’s a tough job sometimes but someone’s got to do it - and we have to say we‘re pretty impressed. Unfortunately we had a preproduction sample so we can’t rate the results but we’ll be extremely surprised if they fail to live up to the latest D-SLRs.
Side by side with the D40X there aren’t many key differences to the design and main specs, but did there really need to be? The main differences are in the little tweaks to the features and technology. One of the smartest features is the camera equivalent to a vacuum cleaner inside the mirror box. (How come no one has ever thought of that before?) So, along with the dust removal system from the D300, the new Airflow Control System basically sucks the dust out away from the mirror and sensor. It's damn clever and seems really obvious now you think about it!
Many of the other changes Nikon has made to the camera are simple improvements, which a cynic may think have just been “inspired” from other manufacturers’ D-SLRs. The eye sensor and rotating display from the Sony Alphas and the in-camera RAW conversion from the Pentax K10D spring to mind. Many of the other changes are simple enough in themselves but when placed together, they form a strong feature set that makes learning photography far easier than it has been previously.
There’s not quite enough to warrant upgrading from the D40X but for first time D-SLR buyers, the D60 is bound to appeal.
We’re off to get some shots of Vegas nightlife but check back online tomorrow when we see the latest products from Sony, Sigma, Tamron, Canon, and Pentax…