The Nikon D60 and the Nikon D70 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in January 2008 and January 2004. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The D60 has a resolution of 10 megapixels, whereas the D70 provides 6 MP. Show Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.  Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D60 and the Nikon D70? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparisonAn illustration of the physical size and weight of the Nikon D60 and the Nikon D70 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter. If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D70 is notably larger (31 percent) than the Nikon D60. Moreover, the D70 is markedly heavier (30 percent) than the D60. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the D60 nor the D70 are weather-sealed. The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Nikon Lens Catalog. Concerning battery life, the D60 gets 500 shots out of its EN-EL9 battery, while the D70 can take 400 images on a single charge of its EN-EL3 power pack. The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there. The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The D60 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 37 percent) than the D70, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.
Sensor comparisonThe size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider , and richer than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses. Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the D70 is 1 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2. With 10MP, the D60 offers a higher resolution than the D70 (6MP), but the D60 has smaller individual pixels ( of 6.11μm versus 7.85μm for the D70). However, the D60 is a much more recent model (by 4 years) than the D70, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. The resolution advantage of the Nikon D60 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the D60 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 19.4 x 13 inches or 49.2 x 32.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 15.5 x 10.4 inches or 39.3 x 26.3 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 12.9 x 8.6 inches or 32.8 x 21.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D70 are 15 x 10 inches or 38.2 x 25.4 cm for good quality, 12 x 8 inches or 30.6 x 20.3 cm for very good quality, and 10 x 6.7 inches or 25.5 x 16.9 cm for excellent quality prints. The Nikon D60 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 100-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D70 are ISO 200 to ISO 1600 (no boost). Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CCD (Charged Coupled Device) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras. Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. Of the two cameras under review, the D60 provides substantially higher image quality than the D70, with an overall score that is 15 points higher. This advantage is based on 2.1 bits higher color depth, 1.1 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.1 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras. Sensor Characteristics # Camera Model Sensor Class Resolution (MP) Horiz. Pixels Vert. Pixels Video Format DXO Portrait DXO Landscape DXO Sports DXO Overall 1. Nikon D60 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.511.4562652. Nikon D70 APS-C 6.0 3008 2000none20.410.3529503. Canon Rebel APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none21.010.8544554. Nikon D5600 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.01306845. Nikon D3200 APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/30p24.113.21131816. Nikon D3100 APS-C 14.2 4608 30721080/24p22.511.3919677. Nikon D3000 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.311.1563628. Nikon D5000 APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.712.5868729. Nikon D90 APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.712.59777310. Nikon D40X APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.411.45166311. Nikon D80 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.111.25246112. Nikon D50 APS-C 6.0 3008 2000none20.910.85605513. Nikon D70s APS-C 6.0 3008 2000none20.410.35295014. Nikon D100 APS-C 6.0 3008 2000none20.49.93944815. Olympus E-420 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.510.45275616. Panasonic L10 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.310.842955 Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
Neither the D60 nor the D70 offer , so that they cannot project the live image that the sensor receives onto the rear screen. Moreover, both cameras are still-image focused and cannot record videos.
Feature comparisonApart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The D60 and the D70 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (95%), but the viewfinder of the D60 has a higher magnification than the one of the D70 (0.53x vs 0.50x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Nikon D60, the Nikon D70, and comparable cameras. Core Features # Camera Model Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) Control Panel (yes/no) LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) LCD Attach- ment Touch Screen (yes/no) Max Shutter Speed * Max Shutter Flaps * Built-in Flash (yes/no) Built-in Image Stab 1. Nikon D60optical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n 2. Nikon D70optical n1.8 / 130 fixed n 1/8000s 3.0/s Y n 3. Canon Rebeloptical n1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n 4. Nikon D5600optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n 5. Nikon D3200optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n 6. Nikon D3100optical n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n 7. Nikon D3000optical n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n 8. Nikon D5000optical n2.7 / 230 full-flex n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n 9. Nikon D90optical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 4.5/s Y n 10. Nikon D40Xoptical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n 11. Nikon D80optical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n 12. Nikon D50optical n2.0 / 130 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n 13. Nikon D70soptical n2.0 / 130 fixed n 1/8000s 3.0/s Y n 14. Nikon D100optical Y1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n 15. Olympus E-420optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n 16. Panasonic L10optical n2.5 / 207 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
The D60 writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the D70 uses Compact Flash cards.
Connectivity comparisonFor some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D60 and Nikon D70 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer. Input-Output Connections # Camera Model Hotshoe Port Internal Mic / Speaker Microphone Port Headphone Port HDMI Port USB Port WiFi Support NFC Support Bluetooth Support 1. Nikon D60Y- / --2.0- 2. Nikon D70Y- / --1.0- 3. Canon RebelY- / --1.1- 4. Nikon D5600Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY 5. Nikon D3200Ymono / monoY-mini2.0- 6. Nikon D3100Ymono / mono--mini2.0- 7. Nikon D3000Y- / --2.0- 8. Nikon D5000Ymono / mono--mini2.0- 9. Nikon D90Ymono / mono--mini2.0- 10. Nikon D40XY- / --2.0- 11. Nikon D80Y- / --2.0- 12. Nikon D50Y- / --2.0- 13. Nikon D70sY- / --2.0- 14. Nikon D100Y- / --1.1- 15. Olympus E-420Y- / --2.0- 16. Panasonic L10Y- / --2.0-
Both the D60 and the D70 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D70 was replaced by the Nikon D70s, while the D60 was followed by the Nikon D5000. Further information on the features and operation of the D60 and D70 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D60 Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon D70 Manual.
Review summarySo what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon D60 and the Nikon D70? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below. Reasons to prefer the Nikon D60:
Arguments in favor of the Nikon D70:
If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the D60 is the clear winner of the match-up (13 : 2 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one. D60 13:02 D70 How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D60 and the Nikon D70 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop. In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the D60 and the D70 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. Expert reviewsThis is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice. Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time. Other camera comparisonsDid this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
Specifications: Nikon D60 vs Nikon D70Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features. |
