Nikon D60 D-SLR Camera Any good?

[Jamie.T]

Hi guys, im just looking at getting into some photography, especially now with having 2 kids and i enjoy the outdoors, motorsports as well as r/c racing.

Ideally looking for a camera that can cope with taking fast moving 1:1 and r/c car shots as well as good white back rounded portrait shots.

So in essence i need a camera that will do all of this. Im currently looking on ebay at used cameras, the plan is in future to buy a new one, but dont want to spend too much until i know ill get the use from it.

Would you recommend the D60 or possibly something else?

Also, if i was to set-up a white back round and wanted lights in front and behind of screen, would the camera need to be able to trigger these via wire wireless, sorry for the newbie questions but i really have no clue.

Thanks in advance.

[showtime]

it all depends on how much you're going to have to spend on one?
its classed as an entry level camera & as far as i know it doesn't have CLS
(Creative Lighting System) so you'd need to use a radio trigger for off camera flash. hese can be bought cheaply enough tho

also it doesn't have an in body focus motor so you'll be limited to AFS only lenses (this shouldn't cause you any concerns either but its worth knowing)
you might find the frame rate a bit slow. 3fps & the high ISO performance will be a bit gash so shooting fast moving cars indoors will be hard!

couple of reviews

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond60/

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camer...lr-review.html

the cheapest way of getting a camera that has CLS, a decent frame rate & can focus/meter with pretty much every lens is a D200
(as used by Jimmy for all his pics & reports up to & including Japan Worlds)

[B4 Sloth]

Hi,

I have the d60,

check out the link in my sig and some of my old posts.

oh and a remote is cheap too

Brilliant camera, simple to use and great results

[showtime]

yeah i should have also added that it will give great results.
the D40X was the interim model before the D60 was released & my mrs loves hers & says she'll never ever sell it.
even though she's not used it since i bought her a D90!

[Jamie.T]

Thanks guys, your input is much appreciated.

Ive found a D60 locally on ebay that seems quite a good buy, it comes with the following:

Nikon 18-55 VR Lens
Sigma DG 70-300
Sigma EX 10-20mm Wide-Angle Lens
UV & cir-polarizing filters

Also included is a carry bag, some manuals and "slr for dummies" learning book along with all the manual e.t.c. Im hoping to go and view/buy tomorrow, is there anything that i should look out for?

Adam, i did have a scout around for a D200, but they're a little out of my price range as a started slr, but its one that i will definitely upgrade to when i get a little more into it, i simply cant believe the amount of stuff there is to learn.

[showtime]

that 10-20mm is a good lens but don't expect too much from the 70-300
very soft over 200mm although if its the APO version with the red ring around the end of the lens it will be better. but not much!

sounds like you've got a good deal lined up

the main thing to remember at first is you will have much more control over your photography which directly translates into - much more chance of messing it up!
a lot of people buy a DSLR & at first their pics are worse than they were getting with their point & shoot & they end up not using the DSLR

best advice is stick with it & keep asking questions if you need to. there should be plenty of people who can help/advise you

this might be a good idea for you to try once you've had a dabble
http://www.johnthawley.com/journal/2...cameraman.html

also the author of that article John Thawley is a regular poster in the photography section on the Starting Grid forum
maybe join in on the back to basics thread or any of the monthly comps

http://www.sgrid.com/forum/showthrea...-to-the-Basics

[Jamie.T]

Thanks Adam, great advice and i appreciate you taking the time to type all that out.

I have a compact SLR at the moment, and its easy as its literally point and shoot, so im looking forward to learning what all the settings do as i find my compact a bit restrictive.

For the D60 i listed above, would you have a rough idea on a fair price to pay?

[showtime]

i'd have to check what prices they were going for on ebay etc or from specialist used camera shops.
you might be able to ask in the price check section on TP although i don't think you get full access to the classified section until you've made a few posts.
definitely some good used bargains in there

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/

[cyclonetog]

Originally Posted by thomj316

Ideally looking for a camera that can cope with taking fast moving 1:1 and r/c car shots as well as good white back rounded portrait shots.

The lens is more important than the camera it's mounted to. For full size motorsport the hardest part is getting close enough. RC is more difficult, especially if you're going to be shooting indoors you'll want an f/2.8 zoom as a minimum.

Originally Posted by thomj316

Also, if i was to set-up a white back round and wanted lights in front and behind of screen, would the camera need to be able to trigger these via wire wireless, sorry for the newbie questions but i really have no clue.

Thanks in advance.

You can get cheap wireless triggers on ebay (look for yongnuo ) I wouldn't use cls for portrait work.
Your biggest issue with portraits is space, you need a lot for white BG stuff. Ideally you want black walls too, light bouncing around off white walls can really do your tree in.

The D60 is fine for all of this, it has better highISO performance than the D200 and the battery lasts longer.
The only reason not to get a D60 is if you are already invested in non af-s lenses (which I'm guessing you aren't) or you plan on shooting A LOT and really need the front command dial and extra function buttons.