Nikon D60: same body, different beast

We’ve seen this fella somewhere before. That’s because Nikon’s new D60 uses exactly the same body as last year’s entry-level DSLR, the D40X.

Is this a cheeky rebadging job, then? Not a bit of it. It may be the same 10.2mp sensor nestled inside, but Nikon’s been hard at work making other improvements. It now gets two flavours of dust reduction to keep the innards free of debris and your snaps speckless. In too goes D-lighting, to stop highlights from blowing and shadows from being, er, shadowy.

It’s also pinched some features from the likes of the Sony Alpha range, with a screen that shuts itself off as the camera is brought to your face and menus that automatically revolve as you rotate the camera.

But the real leap is in the lens. As well as offering the old kit lens, for £30 more it’ll also be available with the newly crafted 18-55mm Nikkor with built-in anti-shake, or ‘VR’ as it is in Nikon-speak – a piece of glass that’s definitely worth the extra outlay.

Not to be outdone by the Sony, Canon, Samsung, Pentax and Fujifilm announcements last week, Nikon’s also unveiled seven new compacts. Catching our eye is the 10mp Coolpix S600 with a 4x zoom and OIS (optical image stabilisation) wrapped in a brushed aluminium shell. Other all-metal snappers include the world’s smallest 10mp cam with 5x zoom (but no OIS), the S550; and the super svelte 8mp S210 with 3x zoom.

Look out for the D60 from next month, with the rest following up between now and April. 

Nikon D60 body only, 18-55mm kit, 18-55mm VR kit, Coolpix S600, S550, S210

Price: £450, £500, £530, £250, £200, £180

On sale: February-April

Contact: Nikon