Zooming in on a DSLR Camera for Beginners: Nikon D60

Nikon D60: A photography beginner's dSLR camera

As you may already know, I am just a photography newbie just like you and my experience with my new digital camera is still in the introduction pages. This makes me definitely not an authority to review a camera or a photo. For this reason, I am borrowing the reviews by LetsGoDigital for the two digital cameras for photography beginners that we considered buying - the Nikon D60 and the Canon EOS 1000D. This post will cover LetsGoDigital's review on Nikon D60. The next post will touch on the Canon EOS 1000D.

Nikon D60 Conclusion

Nikon D60 digital SLR camera
The Nikon D60 in fact does not surprise us. It just comes down to Nikon having kept the successful concept of the D40 / D40x and where possible improved it or added the latest innovations. And that concept consists of a solid base proven by the popularity of the aforementioned models. Whether Nikon will be as successful with the D60 as with the other models will not depend on the quality, for the quality is excellent. It will depend more on the answer of the competition to this winning concept. Will there be an attack on the price, or will the competition be able to equip their entry-level model with even more features? While working on this review, Canon introduced the EOS 450D and my first impression is that the battle for the most successful entry-level model is an ongoing one.

Nikon D60 SLR - 10 Megapixel resolution
The resolution of ten Megapixels is standard nowadays for an entry-level DSLR camera. You can do virtually everything, from editing the picture to making an ultra-large sized print; it doesn't matter with a resolution of this size. And if you work with 10 or 12 Megapixels it will hardly or not at all influence the end result. The standard resolution of 1600 ISO with the possibility of compensating one stop to 3200 ISO is convincing and useful for many situations. The noise level is excellent and adds to the overall image quality.

Nikon D60 dSLR - Straightforward operation
The straightforward operation and the well thought-out structure of the menu make the Nikon D60 a very pleasant entry-level model with every DSLR-functionality but with the ease of use of a compact camera. The graphic interface is enjoyable and offers a perfect overview of what you are actually doing. Moreover it is a good tutorial for learning more and to be able to anticipate on shooting indoors and outdoors. The built-in HELP function is the icing on the cake. Straightforward and easy, a successful combination.

Nikon D60 - Superb image quality
The image quality of the Nikon D60 is superb, not needing any comments. The concept was already successful and has been enhanced with various nice options and functions. The integration of an anti-dust system is one of these enrichments and prevents dust particles to get onto the picture. The camera performs excellently on all fronts. Still I am not convinced Nikon showed the ultimate entry-level DSLR with the D60. I can picture sufficient possibilities to enhance the functionality of this concept; such as more intelligent software, Live View, a larger size LCD monitor and more.

Nikon D60 - Excellent price / quality ratio
The quality is superb and being a photographer this can only make you happy. The price could also be a strong plus. At the moment of this review, the price is 100 Euros less than that of the biggest competitor, the EOS 450D. Apart from quality, price will also play a big role in your decision as to which camera to buy. In my opinion the Nikon D60 is absolutely a recommendable camera. The facts prove it; convincing image quality, a great deal of user's ease and an excellent price/quality ratio. I think it makes the D60 a highly attractive combination.

To read more about the storage capacity and performance on RAWformats of Nikon D60, please click here...

Awarded Digital Cameras for 2009

TIPA Awardee as Best Digital SRL Entry Level: Olympus E-620

Like other gadgets of today, the evolution of the digital camera has been faster than ever. Looking at a timeline of digital cameras by dpreview.com, there were more than a hundred new models and variations of digital cameras introduced to the market this year from January to September 9 with Leica X1 as the latest offering to the photography enthusiasts. This vast ocean of digital camera brands, models and variations will add to the headache of an undecided camera buyer.

To trim down the choices for the prospective digital camera buyer, I have included a list of digital cameras given the TIPA Awards 2009. TIPA Awards are recognized as the most coveted photo and imaging awards in Europe.

TIPA Awards 2009
Best Digital SRL Expert: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 5D Mark II is a full-frame DSLR camera with a newly designed 21MP Canon CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4, ISO 50-25,600, Live view mode, HD Video Capability for recording video at full 1080 resolution at 30fps, 3.9 fps continuous shooting, 9 AF points + 6 Assist AF points, GPS Compability, and a 3.0″ VGA clear view LCD.

Best Digital SLR Advanced: Nikon D90
Nikon has launched the D90 (27 August’08), the world’s first DSLR camera with movie function allowing you to shoot HD720p (1,280 x 720 pixels), 640 x 424 pixels or 320 x 216 pixels movies at the professional smoothness of 24 frames per second in motion JPEG format. This 12.3 effective Megapixels DSLR also features 12.3 effective megapixels newly designed Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor, Live View mode, IS0 200-3200, 4.5 frames per second continuous shooting, 11-point AF system, Image sensor cleaning, and a 3.0-inch 920,000 pixel (VGA x 3 colors) TFT-LCD.

Best Digital SRL Entry Level: Olympus E-620
Olympus E-620 is a 12.3 megapixels SLR digital camera features 7 Point Twin AF system, Live-MOS sensor, In-Body Image Stabilization, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Supersonic Wave Filter, TruePic III+ Image Processor, 4 frames per second continuous shooting, 13 Scene-Select Modes including two new underwater modes, dual memory slots, 96% field-of-view viewfinder, six in-camera Art Filters, Multiple Exposure Shooting, On-screen Autofocus with Live View, and a 2.7 inches swivel HyperCrystal LCD (transmissive TFT color LCD).

Best Expert Compact: Canon PowerShot G10

Canon PowerShot G10, Best Expert Compact

Canon PowerShot G10 is the successor of PowerShot G9 features 14.7 Megapixels CCD sensor, 5x optical zoom (35mm film equivalent: 28-140mm), DIGIC 4 for better Face Detection, capability to shoot RAW just like a DSLR camera, ISO 80-1600, and a 3.0-inch TFT color LCD with wide viewing angle.

Best Compact D-Camera: Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR
Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR is a 12 megapixels point-and-shoot digital camera features Super CCD EXR sensor provides superior picture quality, enabling a “3-in-1” sensor combination of “Fine Capture Technology” (High Resolution), “Pixel Fusion Technology” (High Sensitivity & Low Noise), and “Dual Capture Technology” (Wide Dynamic Range). The camera has 5x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 28 - 140mm on a 35mm camera), Face Detection 3.0, Newly Evolved - Film Simulation Mode and a 3.0-inch, Approx. 230,000 dots, TFT color LCD monitor.

Best Rugged D-Compact: Olympus mju Tough 8000
Olympus Stylus Tough-8000 is a 12 megapixels point-and-shoot digital camera features 3.6x optical zoom (28-102mm in 35mm photography) with dual image stabilization, shockproof up to 5 feet, waterproof up to 10 feet underwater, freezeproof up to (14F/-10C), on-screen manometer, Tap Control, smile shot, and a 2.7″ (6.9cm) HyperCrystalTM III LCD with Backlight.

This list was taken from DPHOTOJOURNAL. To see their reviews and sample photos, click here.

For serious photography beginners, it may be too ambitious to buy a Canon EOS 5D MarkII or Nikon D90. As the TIPA Award label implies, the Olympus E-620 may be the best digital SLR (2009) for newbies like me. This Olympus E620 is also priced competitively at around $600. But we have to keep in mind that a photography starter may not necessarily buy the latest if other not so new and not as expensive models are available.

DIGITAL CAMERA BUYING GUIDE

And so came the day the financial book read: "You may now buy a digital camera."

If you are reading this line from your financial book too and you are in the middle of the camera buying decision process, then our dSLR camera buying experience may help you.

Our Online Digital Camera Buying Guide
Relatively unacquainted with cameras and photography, we rolled up our sleeves to dig up valuable insight in choosing and buying a camera, including the "what", "where", "how" and "how much". These were our useful research materials:


1. In What Camera Should I Buy, Photo focus mentioned budget and your goals of why you are buying the digital camera as the first few things to consider. The website also pointed out the following considerations for a photography beginner in buying a digital camera:

Regardless of budget, you’ll need to start with some basics... I am assuming you are looking for a digital camera. Few film cameras are sold these days. And the focus of our show is digital photography, so I am not going to cover film...

Now if you are serious about producing quality photography, you’ll need to invest in a 35mm single-lens reflex camera with at least one lens. Commonly referred to as DSLRs, these cameras offer speed, choice, and control. The convenience of smaller format SLRs, combined with their ability to work with affordable lenses, make 35mm SLRs the a good starting point for most types of photography.

Point-and-shoot cameras USUALLY don’t deliver enough control or digital data to deliver professional quality photos. You can get some decent images with the higher-end digital point-and-shoot cameras, and as time goes by, you’ll see more published images come from these cameras, but generally, they don’t have sufficient focal length, response or image quality. Another problem with point-and-shoot cameras is that they are often too slow for some types of photography.

Therefore, I highly recommend 35mm format DSLR. Medium and large format cameras are also an option, but not a practical one. Digital 35mm cameras offer a wider range of lenses, are usually less expensive, easier to carry, easier and faster to operate, and provide the most flexibility to photograph a wide range of subjects.

2. Top dSLR Camera Picks under Php40,000 by Yuga, who was included in T3 Magazine’s list of influential people in the Philippine techbiz, lists the following dSLR digital cameras with their features and prices:

Canon EOS 450D
12.2 megapixel
3″ LCD screen with Live View
3.5fps continuous shooting
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens
Kit Price: Php34,000

Olympus e-420
Zuiko 14-42mm ED lens
10 megapixel
2.7″ LCD screen with Live View
3.5fps continuous shooting
Kit Price: Php33,000

Update: the Olympus E520 kit w/ 14-42mm lens is Php 30,800 at jdGoneMad

Canon EOS 1000D
10.1 megapixel
2.5″ LCD
3fps continuous shooting
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens
Kit Price: Php29,500

Nikon D60
10.2 megapixel
2.5″ LCD screen
3fps continuous shooting
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens
Kit Price: Php26,500


As beginners with a limited budget and a not so telephotographic photography ambitions, we decided that the Nikon D60 would suit us. But the Canon EOS 1000D just would not keep quiet. So we tried to compare and contrast them by reading their reviews.

In my next post, I will lead you to helpful reviews of the Nikon D60 and Canon EOS 1000D and you can also check out how they look like.

But if you have not decided yet in choosing between a point-and-shoot digital camera and a digital SLR camera, in the succeeding posts, we will also compare and contrast their pros and cons.

Also coming up in later posts will include locating the best place(s) to buy digital cameras at cheaper, if not, the cheapest prices in the Philippines and, of course, learning the basics of digital SLR photography.

So please, check out shootandtelldslr.blogspot.com next week for more useful information on photography.

LIFE WITHOUT A DIGITAL CAMERA

A few months ago, hubby and I were planning to visit Banaue and Sagada to celebrate our wedding anniversary. My endless Googling about these places was a sign of my excitement of the planned trip. But a realization hit me and dampened my enthusiasm: we had no camera anymore, except for those which are better known by other names - cellphones, PDA, and webcams. We sold the oldest version of Sony Cybershot years ago because we think it is the digital camera with the smallest LCD screen, not to mention that it is the Cro-Magnon man of digital cameras.

I thought the trip to these scenic spots would seem a waste if we only rely on our phone cameras, innate retina, human memory cards and my inaccurate contact lenses. So instead, sans the need for a waterproof digital camera, we jammed the memories of our phones with awkward and at times blurry images of the Buhay na Karagatan, Ang Kalaliman, Pating, Stingrays, and a lot more Manila Ocean Park inhabitants.

That was when we decided we should get a decent camera when our financial books allow.

In my next posts, I will be relating to you how we decided on what digital camera to buy, which will include:

1. Research resources that served as our digital camera buying guide
2. Matching the digital camera features and benefits versus our needs
3. How we located the best place to buy digital cameras at cheaper, if not, the cheapest prices?
4. Deciding on how to learn photography
5. Getting to know the parts of our digital SLR Camera, and so much more...

So please visit shootandtelldslr.com next week to learn and explore digital SLR photography together with me.