Nikon D60

The Nikon D40 is a perennial favorite with students and entry-level consumers who want a D-SLR. The value pricing, compact design, and a good mix of features make it a hot seller even today. The D40x had some improvements, but apart from the megapixel count there wasn't enough to warrant an upgrade.

The D60 is the successor to the D40x, and brings a host of new features while remaining as compact and light as ever. Officially it's replaced the D40X in the market, but the question remains: is it really worth the upgrade? That's exactly what we're going to find out.

Build Quality
Frankly it took me a while to figure out if there were any physical differences between this model and the D40X. They are perfectly identical in size and build. Only on close inspection did I notice the metal finish on the model dial, which is the one thing that physically sets the D60 apart from the D40X (apart from the label of course).

The D60's size is 126 x 94 x 64 mm, making it one of the most compact D-SLRs in the world. The fact that I used 'compact' and 'D-SLR' in the same sentence would be indication enough that the camera is simplistically designed and aimed to appeal to the crowd that wants to move on from regular cameras into something that gives them more control and better results.

Indeed, the controls are as straightforward as they can get; they give users access to scene modes and auto modes at the flick of a switch. But don't be fooled by all the simplicity, as the D60 packs enough power to please even hardcore enthusiasts.

The grip is very comfortable, especially since the design allows a good amount of free space between the grip and the lens, making the camera convenient to hold for long periods. Its weight of 522g with the battery (471g without) also helps to keep your camera bag light. But even though the camera body is light, it doesn't feel fragile in any way. All the components seem durable and secure, and the movable parts give a reassuring snap or click.