Gizm0 - Gadget Blog for the Technology Obsessed.

Let’s start with the basics. The Sigma DP-1 is what you might call a fancy point and shoot. Its also a thousand dollars. Oh yeah, its also not a Canon or a Nikon. Worse, there’s no built in flash (just a hotshoe), and no zoom - just a 16.6 mm fixed local length lense (roughly equal to 28 millimeter S.L.R. point of view). For goodness sake, it doesn’t even have an optical viewfinder standard. So what’s so hot about it? Well, try a brand new 14 megapixel Foveon image sensor. Do we have your attention yet?

Guess who they’re gunning after? The Leica M8. Do you remember how much one of those bad boy costs? $7,500. That’s right. Besides, that optical viewfinder thing, well you can buy one as an add-on for $150, so while annoying, its still roughly $6,350 less then the Leica M8.

Oh we’d wish they’d use a little red paint in the design though - a splash here, a line there. Something that takes this camera from not only a perfomer, but a design as well. That’s what the Leicas are - digital versions of Rolex and Omega watches, something that not only works but shows off well.

We’ll get you reviews as soon as we can but for now, we can’t recommend something that takes this much work to take good pictures and look sexy at the same time.

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With the announcement of the Canon Eos Rebel XSi (e.g. the Canon 450D), one has to pause.  Yes, the newly unveiled Nikon D60 is a great update to the D40 and D40x, but being resolution whores, its hard to miss that the Rebel XSi is 12 megapixels to Nikon D60’s 10 megapixels.   Despite Nikon fanboy assertions otherwise, Canon is not a toy company, 12 megapixels is not just a number.  Canon  has their sites set on killing the megapixel race (24 megapixels on their top camera, the Mark III).  Even hardcore Nikon man Ken Rockwell  has given Canon props for their superior resolving ability when he compared the Canon 5D to Nikon D3.  We also noticed that Canon has a much more generous 3″ LCD “Live View” display, as compared to Nikon D60’s 2.5″.  That’s a huge difference if you want to enjoy the photo you just snagged.  2.5″ sucks.

Nikon D60 does have one very sweet feature - its called Active-D Lighting.  Basically it compensates  for all of those blown highlights that make digital photography and cinematography so challenging.  According to Senor Ken Rockwell, “This feature automatically identifies highlight areas that will be lost, and does its best to bring them under control. It works, and it works automatically.”

So which do we get for our entry level DSLR?  Well the Nikon D60 is slightly more affordable then the Rebel XSi,  (about $750 with lense kit at Adorama vs Canon Rebel’s $799 at J&R).

This reminds us of the battle between Sony and Panasonic camcorders.  The Panasonic HVX200 never had the resolution of the Sony FX-1 or Z1 (they’re both HD camcorders).  The Panasonic was always given credit for producing better looking, more filmic images - probably because of the way they handled dynamic range and highlights, while Sony always resolved better, which matters when you’re considering blow-up to theatrical size screens.

Therein lies your answer.  Are you planning on printing your pics to enormous gallery size displays?  If so, all the way to the high end, Canon is a better choice.  If the D3 can’t resolve as well as the Canon 5D, which is half the price, then resolution whores should stick to Canon.  If however, glorious photos without too much photoshop work is what you’re after, the Nikons are better choices, all the way down to the Nikon D40 (which is what the D60 essentially replaces).  Us?  We’re resolution whores, because we can do whatever the hell we want with the pic in Photoshop, except pretend we shot it in 12 megapixels!

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Sony is showcasing their Sony Alpha 24.8 Megapixel DSLR for all the world to salivate.  Referring to this pixel beast as the “flagship” Sony Alpha, experts suggest that the 24.8 megapixel chip will “only” be able to produce about 24 effective megapixels due to sensor limitations.  Still, that’s more than twice the megapixels of the upcoming Nikon D60 DSLR.

Now you can take pictures of your pet cat and turn into a billboard for all the world to see.  The Sony Alpha flagship (model not yet determined) will still feature the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lense, and upgrade options will include a lense with a minimum f2.8 aperture and manual focus override.

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 According to our favorite Nikon source, KenRockwell.com, Ritz is taking orders at $750 WITH 18-55mm lense.  Should be available in early March, pretty darn soon.  This is the sweet spot for those that love DSLR quality but at a reasonable price.  What’s more exciting, Ken is saying that ”

The D60 will most likely smoke the old D80 in real image quality, since it appears to incorporate Nikon’s latest tricks which make last year’s D300 and D3 yield visibly better images than older cameras: broader color range because the saturation can be cranked higher (if you like), superior WB adjustment range, and adaptive dynamic range processing to give superior film-like looks to highlights.

I have not confirmed, but experience tells me that the “look” of D60 images ought to match the look from the superior D3 and D300, much as the last generation’s cameras (D2, D200, D80, D40) tended to be similar when set accordingly.

If the D60 matches the look of the D300, then the D60 ought to be the camera to get if you’re on a budget, since last year’s D300 costs about three times as much as I expect a D60 will.”

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Nikon D60 pic is here!  What do you think?  Here are the detailed Nikon D60 specs , some notable Nikon D60 specs include .18-second start up time - very handy for journalists on the run (and those who play one in the backyard).  There’s also “improved sensor cleaning system that tweaks airflow inside the camera to prevent dust particles from sticking to the 10.2 megapixel image chip in the first place.”  We like best, in-camera editing, so you don’t need to pull up Photoshop all the time.  Price is TBD but expect around $699.

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As far as we know, these Nikon D60 leaked specs, first outted by PhotographyBay.com, are from Nikon’s own marketing material:

Nikon D60 digital SLR camera : Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the D60, one of the smallest Nikon digital SLRs ever. The Nikon D60 makes it fun and easy to take breathtaking pictures while also offering plenty of features for those who want to deepen their interest in creative shooting. With a split-second shutter response, the Nikon D60 captures pictures that cameras with longer time lags miss. Ease of use and creative options both come standard with the Nikon D60, whose exclusive Nikon technologies help deliver high-quality pictures with vibrant color and stunning, edge-to-edge detail. Such superior results are achieved through a high-resolution image sensor utilizing 10.2 megapixels and the world-famous Nikkor lenses delivering razor-sharp pictures.

Nikon D60 DSLR camera - 3D Color Matrix Metering II

Many cutting-edge Nikon features enhance your picture-taking experience. Nikon’s advanced 3D Color Matrix Metering II ensures consistently balanced exposures for images with natural color and contrast, while Nikon’s new digital image processing concept, EXPEED, makes it possible to deliver smoother tones and more accurate colors. Nikon’s fast, quiet and precise autofocus system adds significantly to the performance of the D60, capturing exact moments with astounding clarity.

Nikon D60 - Dust reduction & Image Sensor Cleaning function

Such clarity is reinforced by Nikon’s dust reduction countermeasures. To avoid picture-degrading dust particles accumulating near the imaging sensor, the Nikon D60 comes equipped with the innovative Image Sensor Cleaning function and Nikon’s exclusive Airflow Control System. These functions both reduce dust accumulation to give you even better picture quality.

Nikon D-60 reflex camera - Retouch menu

In addition to new dust reduction features, the Nikon D60 offers a variety of ways to experience more fun and creativity when taking pictures. Users can easily capture dynamic images in different shooting situations with a simple turn of the mode dial. The Retouch Menu offers even more creative excitement, letting you change your pictures into even more striking images – all fast, all simple and all without the need for a computer.

Nikon D60 body - Integrated Dust Reduction system

Compact and comfortable, the Nikon D60 has so much to offer: amazing picture quality, simple operation, an Integrated Dust Reduction System for clearer pictures and an extensive selection of creative features. The result: fun, fantastic and inspired pictures. The world of stunning photography is just a step away, with the Nikon D60.

Nikon D60 sensor - 10.2 Megapixels

The Nikon D60’s image sensor utilizes 10.2 megapixels to produce superb, high-quality images with incredible resolution, allowing you to make large prints, even if you only use part of an image. And thanks to EXPEED, Nikon’s unique digital image processing concept, your pictures will contain fine detail and smooth, natural tonal reproduction.

Nikon D 60 SLR - Integrated Dust Reduction System

The Airflow Control System used in the Nikon D60 leads air within the mirror box towards small ducts near the base, directing dust away from the image sensor. The Image Sensor Cleaning function also reduces dust accumulation near the sensor using specifically determined vibrations, which activate automatically or whenever the user chooses. This team of dust reduction countermeasures lets the user switch lenses confidently, taking advantage of the extensive lineup of Nikkor interchangeable optics while worrying less about the effects of dust in the camera.

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According to the gadgerati, the excellent Nikon D40x is set to be replaced by the Nikon D60. Don’t get too excited, the word on the street is that it is still going to be a 10 megapixel chipset. Ken Rockwell, camera enthusiast, boldly suggests that it “might” appear on January 31st. He expects the price to be $599 for body only, with a modern EN-EL3e battery, 2.5 FPS and a 2.7″ LCD monitor.

While he also expects a 10 megapixel sensor (same as D80 and standard DX sensor size), he expects there to be few less features overall then the D80 and D200. We assume the D80 is going upstream to perhaps the D90 but we’re focusing on the possible D60 because that would represent a true sweet spot of a DSLR.

An Electronista commenter in an earlier post expressed doubt that they would call it a D60, simply because the Canon already sports the EOS D60 moniker. The EOS D60 is the upgraded D30 and a right behind the Canon 10D (which was replaced by 20D, 30D and 40D respectively).

Electronista further reported that Nikon has pulled the D40x listing from its Japanese online store, indicating that they’re also pulling it from production and a new announcement is imminent.

Perhaps the earliest attribution of this “rumour” is from Matthew Lin at DPReview who cites a “very reliable source” that a D60 is in the works for Spring of 2008. He believes Nikon may borrow the high-end EXPEED chipset from the D300 while stripping a few other features not necessary for us over-achieving amateurs.

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