Is replacing my Canon Power Shot with a Nikon d60 worth it?

Question

I bought a 4mb Canon Power Shot 5 years ago and love it. I think the pictures are great. Recently I have been reading a lot about how a D SLR camera produces far superior images over "point and shoot" cameras. I don't know if the Power Shoot is considered "point and shot" but would a D SLR , specifically the Nikon D60 , produce noticeably better quality photos?

Answer 1

Here's the thing... the Nikon D60 is better than the Canon Powershot (and yes, the powershot is a point and shoot), but only if you are willing to take the time to learn how to use it properly. If you only plan on using it in automatic mode, then you might as well just keep your point and shoot.

Answer 2

in short yes, if you want something fairly lightweight get a Nikon D40 (cheaper than D60 and reviewed very very well) or an Olympus E-420, if you can find a good deal on a sony alpha A-200 or 300 they are also praiseworthy cams, see below for some sample images!

Answer 3

No camera will make a person a better photographer. Only practice, experience study and work do that. The DSLR will give you a bigger sensor which means each pixel get more light which means the ability to produce a better quality photo. Also it wll have more MP which will give you more data to work with and the ability to elarge further. It will let you shoot in RAW format which will give you ultimate control over your output. It will let you select the shooting mode and settings so you can control how the photo is taken. It will let you use different lenses to meet different needs. The D60 give you a number of things you want. It has newer firmware and image processors, designed for the 10 mp sensor. It has an "Active Dust Reduction System with Airflow Control ". Nikon not putting a system on the D40 to deal with dust is one of the biggest drawbacks I see to the D40 ( though I think its still a great camera for the money) If you change lenses dust will get in and the camera needs a system to deal with it. With the D60 you get a VR lens. That will help with low light situations ( they may offer that now with the D40 but originally it was not) . The D60 has Adaptive Dynamic Range. Nikon calls it "Active D-Lighting," it lets you save some highlights that my otherwise be lost

So if give you the ability for better photos if you learn the camera, how to use it and how to compose photos well. whatever camera you get take lots of photos, read books, magazines, go to seminars and if one is near you join a camera club. And most of all enjoy the journey

Answer 4

The D60 has the capacity of producing much, much higher quality images (its sensor is over 15 times larger than the P&S camera you now have) ... P&S cameras are nearly fully automatic ... the camera decides everything.  The D60 DLSR, while it can be shot like a P&S using the program mode, you have the ability to make any adjustments necessary for complete control of your camera.

Before you spend your hard earned money, read this.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d60.htm

And this

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.h...

And perhaps, most importantly, this

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/notcamer...