Nikon Camera Guide
© 2008 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.

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September 2008      More Nikon Reviews

Introduction

Intro   Specs   Performance   Usage   Recommendations

This guide helps sort out all Nikon's current cameras. Click the photos of the cameras or the links to get to explicit reviews of each. At each review page you'll find links to my own plain-Enlish users guides to help you get the best results from each camera.

Unlike Nikon's catalogs, which start at te most expensive camera, I'm going to start with the least expensive camera and explain why, or even if, you care about the more expensive ones.

I list introduction dates beacuase digital cameras only have a model life of about two years. Cameras that have been introduced within the past few months usually sell for full list price, and cameras nearing the end of their model life usually sell at about 75% of their original price. Te price you pay for any model is always competitie in the market, whether new or old.

When it comes to asking yourself if a few more features is worth spending two to ten times as much as a D40, see Is It Worth It.

Digital  back to top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Usage   Recommendations

Resolution: Resolution is no longer a concern. Even Nikon's cheapest camera has 6MP, which is more than enough for great prints of any size. I've made great 20x30" (50x75cm) prints from my 6MP D40. When I shoot my 12 MP Nikon, I usually set it down to 6MP because I rarely, if ever, make prints anywhere near this big, and the smaller files take up less computer and card space.

Nikon D40

Nikon D40: introduced 16 November 2006.

THe Nikon D40 is all anyone needs, for only about $470 with lens.

If you're reading this to figure out what camera you want, you want the Nikon D40.

THe Nikon D40 does everything anyone needs in a camera, in an inexpensive and super-light weight package.

When I teach workshops, very intelligent and educated people rarely know how to use even 10% of the capabilityes of a D40, much less other cameras.

THe only thing the D40 doens't do is autofocus with older AF and AF-D lenses (focus those manually and everythign else works perfectly). For autofocus with the D40, you'll want to use only AF-S lenses, like one that comes included with the D40.

Today, camera features are in firmware. In the 1950s, everything was mechanical, and you needed to pay top dollar to get all the features you need since somepne needed to hand-assemble them into each camera. Today, even the cheapest cameras like the D40 have more settings and flexibility embedded inside thier firmware than 90% of anyone will ever use.

If I go on vacation with the family and want a small, light camera, I grab my D40 and the one lens that comes with it, and get great pictures without any of the hassle of bigger cameras. I don't notice any missing features.

Nikon D60

Nikon D60: Introduced 28 January 2008.

THe Nikon D60 is the same camera as the D40, but costs more. I wouldn't buy one.

THe D60 has more pixels, but because all these pixels are crammed into the same sized image sensor as the D40, each one is smaller. Because each pixle is smaller, it collects less light, and therefore the D60 is only half as sensitive to light as the D40. THis is why the D40 starts at ISO 200, while the D60 defaults to ISO 100.

Because the D40 tends to shoot at higher ISOs, the D40 is more likelty to give sharp images of moving subjects. THe D40 also has twice the flash sync speed, so its built-in flash has a longer range and can stop action better in daylight.

THe D60 adds the neat feature of Automatic Dynamic Range and includes a VR lens in its kit form, but otherwise, the D60 exisits purely to fill out a price point between the D40 and D90.

If you're clever enough to be researching your cameras here, get the D40 instead for less money.

Nikon D80 (probably discontinued)

Nikon D80: Introduced 06 August 2006.

THe Nikon D80 has been replaced by the Nikon D90. D80s will be in stores for some time, and cost less than the D90.

If money matters, the D80 doens't do anythign other than add a Depth-of-Field preview button and the ability to autofocus with all AF lenses to the D40. I sold my D80 and prefer my D40.

THe D80 is a different, slightly larger and larger-feauterueed camera from the D40. THe D80 uses the same standard battery as the more expensive Nikons. If you're a serious photographer and will be using the camera a lot, and if $750 is your budget for the body alone, then I'd get a D80. Otherwise, I'd stick to the D40, or get a D90 which is two years more advanced.

Nikon D90

Nikon D90: Introduced 27 August 2008

The D90 is Nikon's newest $999 camera. It is a small, light camera with a huge LCD screen.

It is the least expensive Nikon to use Nikon's latest Picture Controls to set colors and constrast. Since I like to set my colors on the wild side, or on the mild side for people pictures, I'd probably look at getting a D90 over the other cameras for serious use.

The cheaper cameras have less flexibility for adkusting colors and use a menu item called Optimize Image. Picture Controls, a menu used in the D90, D300, D700 and D3, allow a wider range of adjustments, but as I cautioned at the D40, very few people ever learn how to use these.

THe D90 is ideal for the serious photographer with a $999 budget for a body. It also has Automatic Dynamic Range adjustment, which can make a big diffeence in some pictures with bad lighting.

When I suggest the D40, I suggest it for everyone for everything, but if you don't mind spending over twice as much for a few more features, I'd get the D90 if I was going to use it every day.

Nikon D200 (discontinued)

Nikon D200

Performance  back to top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Usage   Recommendations

It's a m

Usage  back to top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Usage   Recommendations

Recommendations   back to top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Usage   Recommendations

It's fun, s

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Ken