Camera Labs

Hello!

i´d like some advise about upgrading my photographic equipment
as i am thinking to buy some better lens to use with my D60
but from what i could read in this website tests

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Lenses ... ns-Ratings

to upgrade my camera kit zoom lens (classified by DXO Labs as poor)
with the better 2.8G Nikon Nikkor zoom lenses available
never reaches up a classification as good as with a top DSLR Nikon camera.
So, if i am to invest in these lenses should i upgrade my camera?

Thanks in advance
Antonio

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Nikon D60 + 18-55mm & 55-200mm kit lens + SB-400 + TT UD20 bag

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Antonio- ... 28?sk=wall

Hi Antonio,

May I wish you a warm welcome to the CameraLabs forum.

Not being a Nikon owner I'll leave advice to others but you might want to check out the reviews at PhotoZone.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Welcome to Cameralabs forum!

The D60 will not auto-focus with non-AF-S lenses, if I recall correctly, though you can manually focus. The D60 will not meter light with many older Nikon manual-focus lenses, such as pre-AI, AI, and AI-S lenses, though it is possible to meter light by another means, such as a light meter, and shoot in manual mode. These two situations may not affect you, in which case your D60 may be a very useful camera. I will defer to the more experienced digital Nikon shooters to provide more specific information and recommendations. (My Nikons use film.) This being a weekend, many photographers are shooting, rather than being on the internet, so I elected to provide this limited reply.

Moreover, DXO measures lens performance in a technical way, but photography need not be technical. A photographer may favor a lens that is technically poor, for its artistic qualities, or for convenience. Few kit zoom lenses are technically superior, but may balance the equation by being compact, relatively light in weight, and convenient.

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

Welcone Antonio,

If you are happy with the D60 and it does what you want, I'd say keep it and invest in lenses.

Below is an extract from Nikon site for the D60


Lens Compatibility at a Glance*** AF-S Lens Required for Autofocus

Compatible Lenses AF NIKKOR for F3AF not Supported
AF-S, AF-I: All Functions Supported
IX NIKKOR Lenses Cannot be Used
Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All Functions Supported Except Autofocus
Type D PC NIKKOR: All Functions Supported Except some Shooting Modes

http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/ ... -TechSpecs

Cheers

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Nikon D7000, D40X, Nikkor 18- 200 VR II, f3.5-5.6, 70-300 AF non VR, Kit Lenses.

Hi!

Thank you all for the replies.
Yes, i´ve been happy with the D60 but i am wondering about my kit lens.
What i am really thinking is to upgrade first to the 24-70mm 2.8g Nikon Zoom.
Will i really gain something with this move now or is this lens too much for the D60 to handle
and i better spare some more money and buy it when i am ready to purchase a better camera?

Cheers
Antonio

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Nikon D60 + 18-55mm & 55-200mm kit lens + SB-400 + TT UD20 bag

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Antonio- ... 28?sk=wall

I bought a 18-200 for my D40x, the model before yours and was ecstatic with the IQ over my kit lenses, like the D60 the lens had to be AF S for autofocus on the D40. Have a look at the lens reviews on the forum. Not sure why anyone would buy a non autofocus nowadays.

What lens you buy will be dependent on what you want to shoot.


Cheers

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Nikon D7000, D40X, Nikkor 18- 200 VR II, f3.5-5.6, 70-300 AF non VR, Kit Lenses.

The Nikon AF-S 24-70/2.8G Zoom is an excellent lens (my review pending) and will last up to a D800 body. And good glass is always more important than a better body.
But why not consider upgrading to a D5100? It has the same great sensor than as the excellent D7000 and shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg. But it can only AF with AF-S lenses.

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Hi!

Thank you again for your replies.
Yes, i´ve thought before of the 18-200mm because of the inconvenience of changing lens but i ended thinking that i wouldn´t gain much more than that because they are more or less comparable to the kit lens in terms of aperture range. Am I wrong about it? Is it really a much better lens?
I would say in DX, i have been quite satisfied to be able to shoot from 18 to 200mm.
On the other end, when i say upgrade i really mean to upgrade right up to the new FX D800 but i can only make that happen more to the end of this year.

Cheers

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Nikon D60 + 18-55mm & 55-200mm kit lens + SB-400 + TT UD20 bag

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Antonio- ... 28?sk=wall

I think it is over the kit lenses, I bought mine firstly as I was getting frustrated missing shots because of having the wrong lens on, it was only after I reliased the better IQ.

If you are thinking about the D800 later this year I would make sure any lens you buy will be suitable for FF.


Cheers

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Nikon D7000, D40X, Nikkor 18- 200 VR II, f3.5-5.6, 70-300 AF non VR, Kit Lenses.

Aiming for a D800 later leaves only three option really: 24-70/2.8, 24-120/4.0 VR or 28-300 VR.
Of that the 24-70 has the best IQ, followed by the 24-120 and then the 28-300.
Btw. initial impressions of the 28-300 on my D800 have not been too bad. But perhaps the 24-120/4.0 VR is the best compromise in IQ and reach/range. Plus it is stabilized.

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Thanks again to both of you!

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Nikon D60 + 18-55mm & 55-200mm kit lens + SB-400 + TT UD20 bag

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Antonio- ... 28?sk=wall