Welcome to the Nikon D60 owner’s manual! This guide helps you master your camera, covering photography basics, advanced features, and troubleshooting tips for optimal shooting experiences.
Key Features of the Nikon D60
The Nikon D60 is a versatile and user-friendly DSLR camera designed for both beginners and enthusiasts. It features a 10.2-megapixel CCD sensor, delivering crisp and detailed images. The camera is powered by Nikon’s EXPEED image-processing engine, ensuring efficient performance and high-quality results. With its 3D Color Matrix Metering II system, the D60 accurately captures colors and lighting. It supports a wide range of shooting modes, including Auto, Scene, and Manual modes, offering flexibility for various photography needs. The D60 also includes a 2.5-inch LCD monitor and an optical viewfinder for precise framing. Compatible with SD and SDHC memory cards, it provides ample storage for photos. Additionally, the camera supports wireless flash control and is compatible with AF-S and AF-I Nikkor lenses, making it a robust tool for creative photography.
First-Time Setup and Initialization
Before using your Nikon D60, follow these steps to set it up properly. First, unpack the camera and charge the battery using the provided charger. Insert the battery into the camera and power it on. Next, format a memory card in the camera to ensure compatibility. Navigate to the menu to set the language, date, and time. Familiarize yourself with the camera’s buttons and dials, and refer to the manual for detailed instructions. Finally, attach a compatible lens and test the camera by taking a few photos to ensure everything is functioning correctly. Proper initialization ensures optimal performance and helps you get started with capturing high-quality images effortlessly.
Camera Overview
The Nikon D60 is a versatile 10.2-megapixel D-SLR camera designed for photographers of all levels, offering excellent image quality, intuitive controls, and a range of shooting modes.
Exterior and Build Quality
The Nikon D60 features a durable and lightweight body, constructed from high-quality materials for reliability and comfort. Weighing approximately 522 grams, it offers an ergonomic design with a secure grip, making it easy to handle for extended periods. The camera’s exterior is built to withstand regular use, with a rugged finish that resists wear and tear. The mode dial and buttons are strategically placed for intuitive access, ensuring quick adjustments during shooting. The D60 also incorporates environmental sealing, providing protection against dust and moisture, though it is not fully weather-sealed. This balance of durability and portability makes it suitable for both casual and professional photography needs.
LCD Monitor and Viewfinder
The Nikon D60 is equipped with a 2.5-inch LCD monitor, offering a resolution of 230,000 dots for clear and detailed image playback. The screen provides excellent visibility in various lighting conditions, with an anti-glare coating to reduce reflections. The optical viewfinder features a pentamirror design, delivering approximately 95% frame coverage for accurate composition. It includes a diopter adjustment (-1.7 to +0.7 m⁻¹) to accommodate users with vision impairments. The viewfinder also displays essential shooting information, such as aperture, shutter speed, and focus confirmation. The LCD monitor supports histogram display and shooting data review, allowing for precise adjustments. Together, the LCD and viewfinder provide a comprehensive and intuitive interface for capturing and reviewing images effectively.
Lens Compatibility and Mount System
The Nikon D60 features an F-mount system, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of Nikkor lenses, including AF, AF-S, and VR models. It supports both DX-format and select FX-format lenses, offering versatility for various photography needs. The camera is optimized for DX lenses, which are designed to match the APS-C sensor size, providing excellent image quality. Autofocus is supported with AF-S and AF-I lenses, while older AF lenses can be used in manual focus mode. The F-mount system allows for easy lens swapping, enabling photographers to adapt their setup to different shooting scenarios. However, some older lenses may not support all advanced camera features, such as aperture control in auto modes. This compatibility ensures the Nikon D60 remains a flexible tool for photographers of all levels.
Essential Controls and Buttons
The Nikon D60 features intuitive controls, including the mode dial, exposure compensation button, and ISO sensitivity control. The multi-selector and zoom buttons provide easy access to key functions.
Mode Dial and Shooting Modes
The Nikon D60’s mode dial offers versatile shooting options, including Auto Mode, Scene Modes, Programmed Auto (P), Shutter-Priority (S), Aperture-Priority (A), and Manual (M) modes. Auto Mode is ideal for beginners, automatically adjusting settings for optimal results. Scene Modes cater to specific situations like Portrait, Landscape, and Night Portrait. Programmed Auto allows for quick adjustments while maintaining aperture and shutter speed balance. Shutter-Priority and Aperture-Priority modes enable manual control over one parameter, while Manual Mode provides full creative freedom. This variety ensures photographers can adapt to any shooting scenario with ease, making the D60 suitable for both amateurs and enthusiasts.
Exposure Compensation and ISO Settings
The Nikon D60 allows precise control over exposure through its exposure compensation and ISO settings. Exposure compensation adjusts the brightness of images, with a range of -5 to +5 EV, enabling fine-tuning for optimal results. The ISO setting, ranging from 100 to 3200, adjusts the camera’s sensitivity to light. Lower ISOs are ideal for bright conditions to minimize noise, while higher ISOs are suitable for low-light situations, though they may introduce grain. These settings can be adjusted independently or in combination, depending on the shooting mode. Understanding their interaction helps achieve balanced exposures, with exposure compensation overriding the camera’s metered exposure and ISO adjusting light sensitivity. Proper use enhances image quality, ensuring clarity and detail in various lighting conditions.
Focusing Modes and Autofocus System
The Nikon D60 features a versatile autofocus system designed for precision and flexibility. It offers three focusing modes: Single AF, Continuous AF, and Manual Focus. Single AF locks focus once the subject is detected, ideal for stationary subjects. Continuous AF tracks moving subjects, adjusting focus continuously until the shutter releases. Manual Focus allows users to adjust focus manually, useful for precise control. The camera employs an 11-point AF system, providing wide coverage for accurate subject detection. Custom settings enable users to tailor AF behavior, such as focus priority or release priority, enhancing responsiveness. These modes ensure sharp images in various scenarios, from still portraits to dynamic action shots, making the D60 adaptable to diverse photography needs with reliable autofocus performance. Proper mode selection maximizes image sharpness and minimizes focusing errors, ensuring optimal results.
Camera Modes
The Nikon D60 offers a range of shooting modes, including Auto Mode for simplicity, Scene Modes for specific scenarios, Manual Mode for creative control, and Custom Settings for personalized preferences.
Auto Mode and Scene Modes
The Nikon D60 features Auto Mode, designed for beginners, automatically adjusting settings for optimal results. Scene Modes, such as Portrait, Landscape, and Night Portrait, tailor settings for specific shooting scenarios. These modes simplify photography by adjusting aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and white balance to match the scene. Portrait Mode emphasizes subject sharpness, while Landscape Mode focuses on wide-depth clarity. Night Portrait Mode balances flash with ambient light. Access these modes via the Mode Dial, allowing you to capture stunning images effortlessly. This versatility ensures you can adapt to various situations without manual adjustments, making the D60 user-friendly for photographers of all skill levels.
Manual Mode and Custom Settings
The Nikon D60’s Manual Mode offers full control over aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, enabling advanced photographers to tailor settings for creative results. Custom Settings allow users to personalize camera behavior, such as autofocus modes, metering patterns, and burst shooting options. These settings can be saved for quick access, enhancing shooting efficiency. The D60 also supports custom white balance presets, ensuring accurate color reproduction in various lighting conditions. By leveraging Manual Mode and custom configurations, photographers can unlock the camera’s full potential, adapting to diverse shooting scenarios with precision and ease. This flexibility makes the D60 a versatile tool for both amateurs and professionals seeking to refine their photography skills and achieve unique artistic expressions.
Image Quality and Settings
The Nikon D60 delivers high-quality images with adjustable resolution and file formats, including JPEG and RAW. It offers precise control over white balance and color space for optimal results.
Resolution and File Formats (JPEG, RAW)
The Nikon D60 offers multiple resolution settings, allowing users to choose from various pixel densities to suit their needs. The camera captures images in JPEG format for convenience and RAW format for advanced editing flexibility. RAW files retain all image data, enabling superior post-processing capabilities. Users can select from different JPEG compression levels to balance file size and quality. The D60 also supports the NEF format for RAW files, ensuring compatibility with Nikon’s software tools. Properly setting resolution and file formats is essential for achieving desired image quality and workflow efficiency. This feature is particularly useful for photographers who require both convenience and professional-grade image control.
White Balance and Color Space
The Nikon D60 allows precise control over white balance to ensure accurate color reproduction in various lighting conditions; Users can choose from preset options like Auto, Daylight, Fluorescent, and more, or set a custom white balance for specific scenes. Additionally, the camera supports both sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces, offering flexibility for different workflows. sRGB is ideal for web and printing, while Adobe RGB provides a wider color gamut for professional editing. Properly setting white balance and color space enhances image quality and ensures consistency in color accuracy. This feature is particularly useful for photographers aiming to achieve natural hues and professional-grade results in their work. Adjusting these settings is straightforward, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced users.
Flash and External Lighting
The Nikon D60 features a built-in flash for versatile lighting and supports external Speedlights, enhancing creativity in low-light conditions with precise control over illumination and effects.
Built-In Flash and External Speedlights
The Nikon D60 features a built-in flash for convenient lighting in various conditions. It supports external Speedlights like the SB-600 and SB-400, offering enhanced creativity. The built-in flash automatically pops up in low-light situations, providing optimal illumination. External Speedlights can be mounted on the hot shoe for more power and flexibility. Wireless flash control allows multiple Speedlights to be triggered remotely, expanding lighting possibilities. The SB-600 includes a lock mechanism to prevent accidental detachment, ensuring stability. These tools enable precise control over lighting, reducing shadows and enhancing image quality. Whether using the built-in flash or external Speedlights, the D60 offers versatile lighting solutions for capturing professional-looking results.
Wireless Flash Control and Sync Modes
The Nikon D60 supports wireless flash control, enabling remote triggering of external Speedlights for versatile lighting setups. This feature enhances creativity by allowing multiple flash units to be synchronized without physical connections. The camera offers various sync modes, including Front-Curtain and Rear-Curtain sync, to achieve different effects in images. Front-Curtain sync illuminates the subject at the beginning of exposure, while Rear-Curtain sync fires the flash at the end, creating dynamic motion blur effects. Wireless control simplifies positioning of external flashes, reducing setup time and expanding artistic possibilities. By mastering these sync modes, photographers can achieve professional results with precise lighting control, ensuring well-lit and visually appealing images in diverse shooting scenarios.
Accessories and Compatibility
Accessories and Compatibility
The Nikon D60 is compatible with a wide range of accessories, including lenses, external flashes, and grips, enhancing its functionality and versatility for photographers.
Lenses and Lens Accessories
The Nikon D60 is compatible with a wide range of Nikon F-mount lenses, offering flexibility for various photography needs. The camera is bundled with the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR kit lens, designed for versatility and image stabilization. Additional lenses, such as prime, zoom, and telephoto options, can be purchased separately to expand creative possibilities. Lens accessories like filters, hoods, and lens cleaning kits are also available to protect and enhance your gear. Proper lens care, including using front and rear caps, is essential to maintain optical quality. Refer to the user manual for detailed compatibility and maintenance guidelines to ensure optimal performance and longevity of your lenses.
Remote Shutter Release and Optional Grips
The Nikon D60 supports remote shutter release for minimizing camera shake during exposures, ideal for tripod-based shooting. This feature is enabled via the MC-DC1 remote cord or compatible wireless remotes. Optional grips, such as the MB-D80 battery grip, enhance handheld comfort and provide additional controls for vertical shooting. These grips are designed to match the camera’s ergonomic design, offering a secure hold and intuitive access to buttons. They also extend battery life by accommodating extra EN-EL9 batteries. For added convenience, the D60 is compatible with a variety of third-party grips and remotes, ensuring personalized shooting experiences. Always refer to the user manual for compatibility and installation guidelines to ensure proper functionality.
Storage and Data Transfer
The Nikon D60 features memory card slots supporting SD and SDHC formats, enabling ample storage for high-resolution images. USB connectivity allows seamless data transfer to computers via Nikon’s software solutions, ensuring efficient image management and backup.
Memory Card Slots and Supported Formats
The Nikon D60 is equipped with a memory card slot that supports SD (Secure Digital) and SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards, ensuring ample storage for your photos. The camera is compatible with memory cards up to 16GB in capacity, providing sufficient space for high-resolution JPEG and RAW files. For optimal performance, use SD cards with a minimum Class 6 rating to handle large files and burst shooting efficiently. Always format your memory cards in the camera to maintain compatibility and avoid data corruption. The D60 supports file formats such as JPEG for compressed images and RAW (NEF) for uncompressed files, offering flexibility in post-processing. Ensure your memory cards are compatible with the D60’s specifications for reliable performance and storage solutions.
USB Transfer and Software Connectivity
USB Transfer and Software Connectivity
The Nikon D60 allows seamless USB transfer of images to your computer using the provided USB cable. Connect the camera to your computer, and the device will automatically recognize the camera, enabling easy file transfer. Nikon’s ViewNX software, included with the camera, simplifies image management and editing. For optimal connectivity, ensure your computer meets the system requirements for Nikon software. Follow on-screen instructions to install and configure the software. Additionally, Nikon offers firmware updates and software tools to enhance functionality. Always use genuine Nikon cables and software to maintain compatibility and performance. This setup ensures efficient data transfer and expands your creative possibilities with Nikon’s suite of imaging tools.
Maintenance and Care
Regularly clean the sensor and mirror to ensure optimal image quality. Handle the camera with care, avoiding harsh chemicals and extreme conditions. Use Nikon-approved accessories for longevity.
Cleaning the Sensor and Mirror
Regular cleaning of the sensor and mirror is essential for maintaining image quality. Turn off the camera and remove the lens before cleaning. Use a soft, dry brush to gently remove dust from the mirror. For the sensor, use a Nikon-approved cleaning solution and swabs. Avoid touching the sensor surface, as oils from your skin can cause smudges. If using compressed air, ensure it is free of moisture and chemicals. Clean in a well-ventilated area to prevent dust from resettling. For stubborn spots, refer to the manual or consult a professional; Never use harsh chemicals or abrasive materials, as they can damage the sensor or mirror coatings. Proper care ensures optimal performance and image clarity.
Battery and Power Management
The Nikon D60 uses the EN-EL9 rechargeable lithium-ion battery, providing ample power for extended shooting sessions. For optimal performance, charge the battery using the supplied MH-23 charger. Avoid overcharging, as it can reduce battery life. Store unused batteries in a cool, dry place, away from metal objects. To conserve power, enable the camera’s auto-off function, which turns off the LCD monitor after a set period of inactivity. Use the provided power-saving modes to extend battery life during long shoots. Clean the battery terminals regularly with a soft cloth to ensure proper connections. Replace the battery if it no longer holds a full charge. Always use Nikon-approved batteries and chargers to maintain reliability and safety.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Resolve errors like “Err” or “For” by checking firmware updates and ensuring proper lens attachments. Refer to the manual for detailed solutions and maintenance tips.
Error Messages and Solutions
Troubleshooting your Nikon D60 involves addressing common error messages. For instance, “Err” often indicates improper lens attachment or firmware issues. Ensure the lens is properly mounted and update firmware if necessary. The “For” error relates to incompatible memory cards—try formatting or replacing the card. If the camera fails to turn on, check battery levels or clean the contacts. Blurry images may result from incorrect autofocus settings or dirty sensors. Use the provided cleaning tools or visit a service center for professional maintenance. Refer to the manual for detailed solutions and guidelines to resolve these issues effectively and maintain optimal camera performance. Regular updates and proper care will ensure your D60 functions smoothly.
Firmware Updates and Reset Procedures
Updating your Nikon D60’s firmware ensures the latest features and bug fixes. Visit Nikon’s official website, download the firmware, and follow on-screen instructions for installation. Always use a fully charged battery and avoid interruptions during updates. If issues persist, perform a reset by pressing and holding the Menu and OK buttons while turning the camera on. This restores default settings without erasing images. For a factory reset, navigate to the Setup Menu, select Reset, and confirm. Regular firmware updates and resets maintain your camera’s performance and compatibility with accessories. Ensure to back up settings before resetting to avoid losing custom configurations. Refer to the manual for detailed steps and precautions during these processes. Proper maintenance ensures your D60 operates at its best.
Appendix
This section provides technical specifications, warranty details, and legal information for the Nikon D60. Refer to the manual for comprehensive details on compliance and service options.
Specifications and Technical Details
The Nikon D60 is a 10.2-megapixel DX-format DSLR camera featuring a CCD sensor and EXPEED image processing; It offers an ISO range of 100-3200, extendable to 6400, and a 3.0-inch LCD monitor. The camera supports JPEG and RAW file formats and is compatible with Nikon F-mount lenses. It includes 3D Color Matrix Metering II and an 11-area autofocus system. The built-in flash offers wireless control for external Speedlights. The D60 supports SD and SDHC memory cards up to 8GB. Its dimensions are 126x94x64mm, weighing 471g without the battery. The manual provides detailed technical specifications, ensuring optimal performance and compatibility with Nikon accessories and software.
Warranty and Service Information
Your Nikon D60 is backed by a limited one-year warranty covering manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship. For details, refer to the warranty section in your manual. Nikon Authorized Service Centers provide repair and maintenance, ensuring genuine parts are used. Extended warranties may be available through Nikon’s programs. Register your camera online for updates and support. For service, contact Nikon’s customer support or visit their website. Unauthorized repairs may void your warranty, so always use Nikon-approved services. This ensures your D60 performs optimally, maintaining its quality and reliability over time. Proper care and maintenance, as outlined in the manual, are essential to uphold warranty conditions and extend the camera’s lifespan. Always retain your proof of purchase for warranty claims.
Legal and Compliance Information
Legal and Compliance Information
The Nikon D60 complies with international regulations, including CE marking in Europe, ensuring adherence to safety and environmental standards. Nikon respects intellectual property rights, and all content in this manual is copyrighted. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Nikon disclaims liability for damages resulting from misuse or non-compliance with local laws. Users must adhere to applicable regulations when using the camera, especially in restricted areas or for sensitive subjects. Environmental compliance is a priority; proper disposal of batteries and electronic components is required. For details on compliance and legal notices, refer to the full manual or Nikon’s official website. This information ensures responsible use and alignment with legal requirements worldwide.