canon d60

[stevechoi]

Hey guys. Im new to this forum and new to photography. I was wondering if the d60 would be a good beginer camera. I was able to come across one in my area for really cheap. thanks


Steve

[tim]

A friend of mine has one, though i've never used it. As I understand it the model is roughly equilivent to the Rebel/300D, but a year or so older. It can take great pictures. Be aware that cameras are rated for a number of exposures: ie you can only take so many photos with it, so if the camera's been heavily used it might not last too long.

[Longwatcher]

The D60 is a very good starter camera, allows you to control all of the things you want to learn how to control. It will also be very very good at teching you all of the things you want in your next camera.

As far as images are concerned, it takes just as good pictures as my 10D, which up to 16x24 size prints it will probably also do just as good as my 1DsMkII (no I have not tried this yet) if you don't crop anything.

So if you can get one cheap enough (anyhting under $750 at this time) grab it.

Just my opnion,

[stevechoi]

thanks alot guys. from what i hear he tells me that hes only used it for 5 occations, he is a professional photographer. is there any way to tell if its been used alot or not? he said the camera is for sale for 750 with no lens but comes with extra batteries and a grip.

Steve

[tim]

You can get the digital rebel/300D for $769 from B&H, which is a newer camera although more for the prosumer market. I'm not sure which is better, but to me a new 300D for about the same price is better than a used D60 any day. I'm happy to be corrected if someone knows a reason the D60 is better.

[booggerg]

I would take a D60 over a 300D anyday. They will give you pretty identical image quality. If you find one in good condition, then the difference in the longevity between the two options are quite small and I'm sure you'll upgrade to a newer model before the D60 dies.

[robertwgross]

This is a little hard to quantify, but the D60 looks and feels a little more like a professional camera, as compared to the Digital Rebel. It is heavier. To some, that is a good thing, and to other users, it is terrible. Like everything else in photography, it all depends on your perspective.

If you can shoot one of these two, you can shoot the other. The Digital Rebel is a little more automatic in some respects. Again, this can be good or it can be bad. With the D60, you can shoot RAW in any exposure mode, and that is not the case for the Digital Rebel.

---Bob Gross---

[tim]

With the D60, you can shoot RAW in any exposure mode, and that is not the case for the Digital Rebel.

Would you mind expanding on that a little Bob? RAW's worked everywhere i've tried on my rebel, but I don't use it muh.

[kndreyn]

I have a D60, my friend has a new Rebel. I wouldn't trade mine for his.

[ScottE]

I have a D60 and there are several limitations.

Auto focus is slow and unreliable and there are only three sensors. This is not ideal for sports photography, but I have managed to capture some great action shots with that camera.

ISO 800 has so much noise that the pictures are not realy useable. ISO 1,000 (the fastest) is so noisy it is useless. This limits low light photography compared to more modern cameras, like the 20D that produce reasonably good pictures at ISO 1,600 and even ISO 3,200.

It only takes about 2 images per second, which is not really fast enough for action sports where a lot can happen between shots. This means you have to wait for the peak of the action and make your first shot count because the 2nd one will probably be too late.

The image buffer is small and takes a long time to clear so you can resume shooting. This can be a disaster if you fill the buffer with 5 or 6 shots, the action resumes and you want to start shooting again right away. I have recently acquired a Scandisk Extreme CF card and this has improved transfer speed quite a bit.

The camera takes a long time to get ready to shoot after you turn it on or after it has gone into sleep mode. You can counter this by anticipating when you will need to shoot and turn the camera on in advance. Also set the delay for going into sleep mode for about 15 minutes so that it does not happen so often. This does use up the battery more quickly.

On the other hand the D60 lots of features that allow you to take excellent photos such as mirror lock up, depth of field preview, assigning auto focus to the AE button so it only focuses when you want it to, image quality that will produce great 13 x 19 inch prints (at ISO 100, 200 or 400) and compatability with all the great Canon EOS lenses and accessories (except a couple of new "S" lenses).

It is a great beginner camera, but be warned that there are limitations that may make you want to upgrade in the future.

[RBarr]

I love mine, but it's heavy. No doubt about it. I'm so familiar with (and fond of) the controls of my Elan 7, which are almost identical to the D60's, are probably what I like the most.

Now that the Russian hack is so routine, I might go with a DR instead. It would be a tough choice, though.

$750? I'd rethink that one, though. I paid $610 for a nearly mint D60 about two months ago.

[tim]

FYI here's (http://mrwild.co.nz/PhotoGallery/2004/AucklandTrip2/slides/IMG_0812.html) a shot from the rebel at ISO3200 (with firmware hack), and no noise reduction applied. It's usable, but probably not sellable. This was a really low light situatation, a few candles and a dim light in the background.

[Malaxos1]

I like it much better than the D Rebel. I traded my Rebel for a D60 and even though I got a 20D I still have my D60 as my backup camera. I just getter better control with the D60 over the Rebel...Dean

[robertwgross]

Would you mind expanding on that a little Bob? RAW's worked everywhere i've tried on my rebel, but I don't use it muh.

Take your Digital Rebel, via Menu set it to shoot RAW files, then set it to Green Box exposure mode. Shoot the shot. Now see what file got stored.

---Bob Gross---

[robertwgross]

I have a D60 and there are several limitations.

Auto focus is slow and unreliable and there are only three sensors.


Agreed.

ISO 800 has so much noise ...

Agreed. I almost never move mine past ISO 400.


It only takes about 2 images per second, ...


Eight frames in three seconds is about three per second.


The image buffer is small and takes a long time to clear so you can resume shooting. This can be a disaster if you fill the buffer with 5 or 6 shots, the action resumes and you want to start shooting again right away. I have recently acquired a Scandisk Extreme CF card and this has improved transfer speed quite a bit.

It sounds like your camera was bound by slow CF cards. The buffer is eight, and it takes around six seconds per frame to clear the buffer with a slow CF card.

---Bob Gross---

[tim]

Ok, RAW is only available in the creative zone, not the basic zone.

[stevechoi]

Update: I just picked up a D60 from a local guy for 650 with lens. Now I need to just start playing with it so i can learn more about this camera. I hope you all can help me along the way!

Steve

[robertwgross]

Steve, here is the standard advice. Read the manual, cover to cover. Then shoot a few shots and see what you get. Then read the manual again, and this time read each page and shoot a few shots just on what you read there. Then a day or two later, read the whole thing again.

For a new Canon user, there is a lot to read and remember, but it sinks in after a while.

---Bob Gross---

[Andy_T]

Steve, which lens did you get with it?

Did he give you the grip (as you mentioned in your old post)? That alone should be worth $150. If so, you got a very good deal.

Best regards,
Andy

[stevechoi]

nah didnt get the grip. the guy wanted way too much for that camera. the lens is a 50 mm 1:1.8 lens, which i dont mind because i have a EF lens at home from my dad's ond elanII.

Steve

[Cordell]

Steve,

Keep something in mind as you learn. Don't blame the camera when something goes wrong. And something will go wrong often! Learn the tool and the many options you have with it given each situation you attempt to capture. There are far to many photogs who blame their equipment and not their techniques. It's a very good camera that you can learn a lot with. It will make you appreciate your next purchase because you will know how to use what you have learned with the D60.

Good luck and remember to search here and other places on the net for answers. A class at your local CC or something the local pro camera shop will help too.

[booggerg]

I went to Best Buy to check out the 20D and was surprised of how "cheap" it felt. My D30 (same for D60) feels much better built. Maybe it's just that I'm not used to the new material? What do you guys think?

[FlyingPete]

I went to Best Buy to check out the 20D and was surprised of how "cheap" it felt. My D30 (same for D60) feels much better built. Maybe it's just that I'm not used to the new material? What do you guys think?

After owning a 50 and 30 (Both metal bodies), when I first picked up the D30, I thought it felt cheap and plasticy, same with the D60.

When I got my 20D, too me it felt nice and solid like the 30 I had, picked up a 300D the other day, that too me felt like the D30/60, then I have heard the same thing from 1D users who pick up 20D's.

Anyway at the end of the day, does it affect the picture quality?

[booggerg]

potentially..

[evilenglishman]

I went to Best Buy to check out the 20D and was surprised of how "cheap" it felt. My D30 (same for D60) feels much better built. Maybe it's just that I'm not used to the new material? What do you guys think?

doesn't feel any different to me, except being a bit smaller

[photoshooter]

i have 2 things to say i am a track photographer at 4 local speedways last year i took 53,353 pics with my d60 as for slow focus i disagree with that i do drag racing pics also and i have shot several frames in a row with no focus promblems it is very good all around:)

[Jon]

Take your Digital Rebel, via Menu set it to shoot RAW files, then set it to Green Box exposure mode. Shoot the shot. Now see what file got stored.

---Bob Gross---
The D60 will also let you set ISO in the "Basic" modes as well as the "Creative" ones.

[robertwgross]

I had been using my D60 for 18 months or so, and I had become familiar with it. Then a friend had a brand new Digital Rebel that he handed to me to try. I (falsely) assumed that the Digital Rebel did everything the same way as the D60, but then I ran into the RAW/JPEG difference, and I ran into the ISO difference, and then more. My friend operated almost purely in the Basic Zone, and I operated almost purely in P mode.

---Bob Gross---

[Jon]

Yeah. Seems like after the D60 they decided to "dumb down" the Basic modes. 20D lets you choose JPEG resolution and Red-eye reduction.