Nikon D40, D40x, and D60

In 2008, Nikon released the D60 digital camera. In talking with many D40 and D40x owner, I've heard the question, "What's the point?" Being very pleased with my D40x I spent 2 weeks with my buddy Steve Dugan researching which DSLR he should make his first. We looked at the D40x, D40, D60, D80, D200, and D300. Finally he chose the D60 for the following reasons:

• Camera Status: The D40, D40x, D60, and D300 have the newer more comprehensive camera status on the rear display. The D80 and D200 did not.
• Price: the D60 new with a nice VR 18-55 lens was less expensive than the D40x was last September. The D60 has most of the features of the D200 and many of the features of the D300 at 1/3 of the price.
  
• Eye Detection: the D60 recognizes when an operator is looking through the eye piece and turns off the camera status page on the back of the camera without having to press the shutter button half way down.
• Sensor Cleaning: Whereas no automated cleaner can clean up a dirty sensor or mirror (don't ever touch the mirror), the built in design works to keep a build up from occurring. When the camera is turned on, it vibrates a filter in front of the sensor to free up light-weight particles. Also, the D60 has a sensor cavity design that drains away the dust. Last the design directs any wind comping into the camera during a lens swap away from the sensor.

What is missing in the D60

There are some features that would be very nice on the D60.

• Greater lens choices: While it is getter better, the lack of an auto-focus motor in the D60 means that each lens must supply a motor. At this time, there is still no Nikon prime 50mm lens with a built-in auto-focus motor for the D40, D40x, D60 family of cameras. The 50mm prime lens is usually a very affordable piece that many photographers consider essential to any camera bag. Sigma has released a new 50mm prime with an HSM motor, but the Sigma representative at Precision Camera told me that the price tag will be close to $500, as opposed to the $150 price of the Nikon prime 50mm lens requiring a built-in auto-focus motor.
  
• Better remote shutter sensor: I'd like to see a sensor in both the rear and the front of the camera. For taking those bulb photos one must put the shutter remote in front of the camera pointing at the hand grip. This can be difficult to do if one has the camera pointing over something.
  
• Remote flash control: the ability to trigger a flash that is disconnected from the camera. The SB-600 and SB-800 can be remotely triggered.
• A Depth of Field preview button. Essentially this feature narrows the iris of the lens to the size that will be used when taking the picture.
• Live View: this feature is on the D3 and D300 which cost $1800, and $5000 respectively. However, Canon is offering live view in it's newer low end Rebel cameras.

Overall, owners of the D40x have little need to upgrade to a D60. D40 users wanting more resolution might consider a D60 if they don't mind selling their D40 for half of their purchase price. Unless Nikon releases a successor to the D80, the next Nikon camera to consider for upgrade is the D300.