What are the significant differences between Nikon's D80 and D60? Which is the better camera?

Question

What are the significant differences between Nikon's D80 and D60? Which is the better camera?

Answer 1

The D60 has a few newer convenience features, but the D80 is a superior camera in several ways.

Both have 10mp resolution, and will take all Nikon mount lenses.  But the D60 doesn't have the internal AF motor that the D80 has, limited the number of lenses that will autofocus on it.

The D60 uses the rear lcd for image review, menu setting, and to show settings.  The D80 has a separate dedicated top-lcd that gives constant information to the photographer.

The D60 has 3 focus zones, while the D80 has 11 focus zones.

The D60 has a single control dial in the back, while the D80 has that plus a second control dial in the front of the grip area.  The D80 dials are programable and reversible.

Both camera bodies are capable of excellent photography and will aid you with your creative vision.

The D80 is just better prepared to the next level and won't be outgrown as quickly.

Here are some very detailed reviews for further reading.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond60...

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD80...

Answer 2

In a nutshell:

D60 is a newer model. Uses slightly newer technology.

D80 is a higher level camera - has more bells and whistles.

In detail:

Here they are side by side:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_...

(also follow the links for in-depth reviews for very-very detailed reviews of either)

What's important here:

1. D60 is cheaper.

2. Lens thread - D60 can only use Nikon AF-S lenses (with built in   focusing motor), D80 can also use most other F mount lenses and D-Type, it has it's own motor and a drive for focusing those. So your choice of lenses with D80 is much broader (pretty much any nikkor lens made in past 30 years or so). That can be important if you own some older lenses already.

3. D60 supposedly can take unlimited JPEG's at 3fps, D80 is limited to 23, though with reasonably fast memory card, I think D80 can do better than that. That's if you are going to take that many in a row....

4. D60 comes with remote control in a box, for D80 you need to buy it separately.

5. D80 has bigger and better viewfinder with higher coverage (Pentaprism on D80, Pentamirror on D60), though the D60's pentamirror is very good for it's type.

6. Different types of batteries. I think one on D80 lasts longer. I know my D80's battery life is amazing! Hundreds of shots before it even loses a single bar (out of 5).

7. D60 is smaller and lighter...

Ok, that was the tech stuff.

Now a few more words from me.

D80 comes with a few more little things that make working with it a bit faster and more comfortable. Though there's little you can't do with D60 that you can with D80, but there may be extra button presses or menys involved.

One thing D80 has that D60 doesn't and that bothers me personally is a small LCD screen on top. I can't imagine myself without it. But that's a matter of habit.

Also D60 only has one wheel, D80 has two. So in full manual mode on D60 you have to hold a button and spin the wheel for aperture, while in D80 both shutter and aperture have dedicated wheels. Little things like that....

I am pretty sure D80 also has a few extra buttons on the body here and there to make some other tasks, like changing ISO quick, without going through a menu. Also features a very convenient DOF preview button (which D60 doesn't have)....

So basically, I'd call it this way:

D60 - high end amateur camera

D80 - low end pro camera (because there are even more of those little things that more advanced pro cameras like D200/D300 have that D80 doesn't, plus D80 has a plastic body, while higher end ones have more rugged metal ones).

Hope this helps,

LEM.