D60 vs D3000?

[itsatrapski]

Hey all,

I'm sort of between the "entry" and "enthusiast" levels at the moment, and looking to get a hardware upgrade! I use a Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D, with various lenses from 20 years ago (they're mostly my Father's). I've been looking at Nikons (I'm not sure why, maybe because I've dealt with Canon printers and don't really like the name... or I've tried the D90?) and have been using the Nikon website as a reference. I'm looking at either the D60 or the D3000. My question is this: What difference is there between the two cameras? Looking at the specs on each, they look fairly similar.

Or, alternatively, I'm open to any other recommendations, since I'm not well versed in the DSLR market at the moment. Though preferably something that won't run me over $800 or so. I'm only a poor college student

I shoot for my University's newspaper and, more recently, our satirical newsletter. Also shoot aviation, since I am a pilot.

Thanks!
-Alec

[OsmosisStudios]

If you've got some really good Minolta glass, you could look at Sony: Theyre using the Minolta mount, so your lenses transfer over.

Otherwise, the D60 and D3000 are similar for a very simple reason: the D3000 is the replacement for the D60. With it you get better AF system, larger screen, some improved ergonomics (menus and such) and the GUIDE mode which is, arguably, valuable.

[itsatrapski]

Really. I figured the D90 as the newer D60, since they've got a similar numeral designation. But that makes sense then!

Like I said, the Minolta lenses are upwards of 20-25 years old. Do you think they would still be able to mount on Sony cameras?

[kirbinster]

I would stretch a little and get the D5000 over the D3000. It has the image sensor used in the D90 and D300 and will give you much better images, particularly at higher ISO settings. The articulated display is a great feature too.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by itsatrapski

Really. I figured the D90 as the newer D60, since they've got a similar numeral designation. But that makes sense then!

Like I said, the Minolta lenses are upwards of 20-25 years old. Do you think they would still be able to mount on Sony cameras?

The D90 is a newer camera than the D60: they're both pretty old models. The D90 is a higher-level body, thouugh. In much the same way the D300 is a step up from the 90.

The minolta mount hasnt, IIRC, changed in quite some time. You could always bring your collection down to a camera store and test it out.

[vandergus]

Originally Posted by itsatrapski

Really. I figured the D90 as the newer D60, since they've got a similar numeral designation. But that makes sense then!

Like I said, the Minolta lenses are upwards of 20-25 years old. Do you think they would still be able to mount on Sony cameras?

From this site

All AF (precisely: Minolta A mount) lenses from Minolta, KonicaMinolta and Sony work on Sony Alpha DSLRs (and, of course, on the Minolta 7D and 5D, too). Minolta MC/MD (precisely: Minolta SR mount) lenses do not work on these cameras directly. Also see question “Do my Minolta manual focus lenses work on the Minolta 7D or 5D or Sony Alpha DSLRs?”.

[nokiN]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

The D90 is a newer camera than the D60: they're both pretty old models. The D90 is a higher-level body, thouugh. In much the same way the D300 is a step up from the 90.

The minolta mount hasnt, IIRC, changed in quite some time. You could always bring your collection down to a camera store and test it out.

The D3000 is the replacement for the D40 and the D5000 is the replacement for the D60.

The D90 hit the market 16 months ago, the D60 23 months ago.

The D5000 and the D90 share the same image sensor. That image sensor is also used in the D300s.

So, the newever D5000 has better ISO performance and image quality than a D60, while the D3000 has comparable ISO performance and image quality to the D60.

The other big change in the D3000 and D5000 is the improved Auto Focus module and number of focus points.
The D60 has 3 focus points and uses Nikon's Multi-CAM530 TTL phase detection autofocus module.
The D3000 and D5000 use Nikon's Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including 1 cross-type sensor) and AF-assist illuminator.

I would recommend getting the D5000 as it has better ISO performance and image quality than the D3000 or D60.

The difference between the two is the image sensor: the D3000's CCD 10MP sensor, a hold over from the D60, and the D5000's CMOS 12Mp sensor inherited from the D90.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by nokiN

The D3000 is the replacement for the D40 and the D5000 is the replacement for the D60.

Im challenging this.

The D60 was the replacement for the D40x. It was essentially the same camera. When it came time, though, Nikon brought a new model (the D5000) but it was not a replacement for anything. The D40 and D60 both continued for some time. Then they discontinued the D40. The D3000, even to the Nikon reps, is the replacement for the D60.

[Shokinen]

Nikon is not the firts manufacturer that came out with a new category.

Taken from DPReview.com:
So here we have a camera that genuinely seems to sit above the D60 (rather than continuing in parallel until the stock runs out), and below the D90. [...] The idea of an upper-entry-level DSLR (for want of a better term), that sits below the 'enthusiast' grade D90 (with its twin control dials, big battery and pentaprism viewfinder), is hardly a radical one - the Canon EOS 500D and Olympus E-620 seem to cater to a similar market.


If you look at the timeline/category, this is the actual Nikon hierarchy (not including the tweaks for each model ie. D40x, D300s, etc.):

oldest --------> newest

Entry level: D40, D60 and D3000

New category: D5000

Enthusiast level: D70, D80, D90

Semi-Pro: D100, D200, D300

Pro: D1, D2, D3

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by Shokinen

Entry level: D40, D60 and D3000

New category: D5000

Enthusiast level: D70, D80, D90

Semi-Pro: D100, D200, D300

Pro: D1, D2, D3

So where's the D700 on this?