D60 owner looking for a more responsive camera in lower light.

I have a D60 that has worked well in outdoor lighting, but leaves me irritated in low light settings. I've seen a few higher ISO cameras (7200 & 7500) and have also researched Nikon 750 & 610. While the ISO ranges on the DX models is higher, would the FX models be more responsive in lower light? I'm not sure if their is a little give and take between tha higher ISO capabilities and the larger sensor size

I'd say I'm more enthusiast than beginner and enjoy landscape photography as my primary passion. Fond of sunrises and sunsets and similar low light situations.

The cameras you listed are some very fine models and I think you would be happy with each of them. If you buy full frame, then there will be a higher cost for the lenses, too.

For the sake of quality itself, the difference between DX and FX has become a lot more difficult to recognize (but that is just my personal opinion).

FX does allow a wider field of view, which is nice for landscapes.

If you do landscapes, perhaps you are using a tripod, in which case, you might end up to prefer using lower ISO?

At any given level of sensor technology FX has just about 1 stop better light collecting by definition.

But today's DX cameras are much better than the 60. You can get a good ISO 3200 out of a 33/34, 55/56, 71/72/75. A reasonable 6400, and even 12800 with some good exposure and Noise reduction software.

I'm in similar boat ... and decided on D5600 (although I'm still thinking about D7500).

If you go FX route though there are couple of negatives:

- check your lenses - FX bodies need FX lenses, you can put DX on FX but no point of doing that.

- weight ... those things are heavy bricks. I'm doing a lot of outdoor stuff, I don't want to carry that thing neither on my neck or even in my bag.

- price ... those things aren't cheap. D5600 runs $650 new, and D7500 runs ~$1200. FX bodies are much more expensive.

You do get slightly better quality ... but ... for me if a camera is so heavy that stays in the drawer then I get 0 quality photos out of it and my iPhone wins. That's why I'm sticking with DX and even trying to decide between D5600 and D7500. I want D7500 but I think D5600 has everything that I would need plus it is smaller ...

Just my $0.02 ...

Any new camera will perform better than your D60 in terms of noise and ISo performance. they will also focus better especially using the central focus point.

Exactly which camera depends on your feature needs, but the D5x00 series should be good for you.

I'll take a closer look at the 5x00 series.

The reason i posted here is that i wanted a user's perspective.

I hadn't considered weight, and I am beginning to appreciate the cost difference between the DX & FX lenses. Thanks for your feedback.

SteveinColonie said:

I have a D60 that has worked well in outdoor lighting, but leaves me irritated in low light settings. I've seen a few higher ISO cameras (7200 & 7500) and have also researched Nikon 750 & 610. While the ISO ranges on the DX models is higher, would the FX models be more responsive in lower light? I'm not sure if their is a little give and take between tha higher ISO capabilities and the larger sensor size

I'd say I'm more enthusiast than beginner and enjoy landscape photography as my primary passion. Fond of sunrises and sunsets and similar low light situations.

Click to expand...

Cameras passed a major performance "knee" just after the D60 generation - marked by the D90 and D5100, both CMOS based (the D60 was CCD). Nikon DX cameras from of the current generation and the last one or two perform significantly better than your D60. This is across the board, but can be seen easily in landscapes and base-ISO applications - dynamic range has increased by at least 2 stops over the CCD generation cameras like yours, and the quality of the noise has improved - no more technicolor confetti and very clean files. There has been a slight change in the color discrimination of the newer cameras - even though the color depth has increased, some CCD users complain that the colors aren't the same owing to changes in the Bayer filter characteristics. This may not be visible to you, and shouldn't be a roadblock to upgrading.

My advice would be to acquire a D5500 or D5600 body, particularly if you're wanting to keep things small and light. The improvement will please you. The flippy LCD will make taking landscapes on tripods easier.

SteveinColonie said:

I'll take a closer look at the 5x00 series.

The reason i posted here is that i wanted a user's perspective.

Click to expand...

I have a professional D800 FX kit and a general use D5300 kit.

There are obviously features, IQ and capability which the D800 has over the D5300. What I needed though was a lightweight kit which I could carry around with ease so I chose the D5300.

This meets all my needs and in most situations is equal to the D800. I use the D800 when I need the extra pixels, IQ and noise/Dr capability. I don't need the extra buttons of the D800 but they are nice to have. I find I can switch between the D5300 and the D800 with ease.

I have also found that the new DX AFP VR lens are wonderful things which you should buy with your D5600.

Roki303 said:

I'm in similar boat ... and decided on D5600 (although I'm still thinking about D7500).

If you go FX route though there are couple of negatives:

- check your lenses - FX bodies need FX lenses, you can put DX on FX but no point of doing that.

- weight ... those things are heavy bricks. I'm doing a lot of outdoor stuff, I don't want to carry that thing neither on my neck or even in my bag.

- price ... those things aren't cheap. D5600 runs $650 new, and D7500 runs ~$1200. FX bodies are much more expensive.

You do get slightly better quality ... but ... for me if a camera is so heavy that stays in the drawer then I get 0 quality photos out of it and my iPhone wins. That's why I'm sticking with DX and even trying to decide between D5600 and D7500. I want D7500 but I think D5600 has everything that I would need plus it is smaller ...

Just my $0.02 ...

Click to expand...

I was like you and spent about 3 months going back and forth between the D5600 and D7500. Finally I decided I really didn't need all the features on the D7500, so I bought the smaller and lighter D5600, and I'm finding that I really love this camera. The smaller size really does make a difference, and I find it extremely comfortable and easy to hold. It has fewer topside controls, and I worried about accessing things to change them through the menus, but I've found that the menu system on the D5600 is beautifully laid out and was quick to learn. To change a whole bunch of settings such as ISO, focus area, etc. it's literally the push of one button on the touchscreen you another touch to choose the different setting from a screen of settings to choose. EV is through a button on top and spin the dial right under it. I really like how the video button is set up...so I don't accidentally turn it on like I do on a couple of my other cameras. So far I like everything about the D5600 and don't miss a thing compared to the D7500. I had the D7500 to play with for a week awhile back so I know how it operates, and I actually like the D5600 better for my purposes. I didn't need or care about the 4K video which is only on the D7500. I love the small size and handling of the D5600.

My previous camera was the D70s from 2004, and I just got the D5600. What a world of difference, like night and day. The D5600 is wonderful and incredibly easy to use and learn.

SteveinColonie said:

I have a D60 that has worked well in outdoor lighting, but leaves me irritated in low light settings. I've seen a few higher ISO cameras (7200 & 7500) and have also researched Nikon 750 & 610. While the ISO ranges on the DX models is higher, would the FX models be more responsive in lower light?

Click to expand...

Yes, but the difference between a D610 or D750 and a current DX camera will be much less than the difference between your D60 and a current DX camera.

In terms of dynamic range, a basic D3400 entry level camera or upper entry level D5600 will be about 2.3 stops better than your D60. A D7500 will be about half a stop better then that at ISO 400 or higher, and the D610 and D750 will be about another half stop better then that.

SteveinColonie said:

I'm not sure if their is a little give and take between tha higher ISO capabilities and the larger sensor size

Click to expand...

The higher capabilities between current designs are mostly due to the difference in sensor size.

SteveinColonie said:

I'd say I'm more enthusiast than beginner and enjoy landscape photography as my primary passion. Fond of sunrises and sunsets and similar low light situations.

Click to expand...

You might also want to consider the differences between the D3400, D5600 D7200 and D7500. All are DX bodies, like your D60, The D3400 and D5600 are more like your D60 in that they have a more minimal set of controls, such as only one control dial, and cannot autofocus older lenses. The D7200 and D7500 have a more complete control set, so you don't need to do as much menu diving, Many more settings changes can be made with your eye to the viewfinder. They also will let you AF with older Nikkor lenses that need an AF motor in the body. The D7200's sensor is a bit better than the D3400 or the D5600 at all ISO levels. The D7500's sensor performance is about the same as the D3400 and D5600 below ISO 400, but about half a stop better at ISO 400 and above due to its dual conversion gain sensor architecture. On the whole, the D7500 is a better camera than the D7200, but it did lose a few features like: support for a battery grip, support for old lenses that need an Ai index tab, and a second memory card slot -nothig tht you have now.

If you move to an FX camera, you will need to get a whole new set of lenses. This won't be necessary on DX.

Hey, thanks for that input ... my thoughts exactly ... I don't care about video as I don't plan on using the camera for that beyond 'once in a blue moon'.

Things that I like about D7500 are:
- weather sealing
- never sensor, less mpix but 1 stop higher iso
- viewfinder seems bigger
- eye sensor thing that turns off screen while looking via viewfinder

After playing around with both cameras in the store D7500 feels much bulkier. D5600 doesn't feel much worse in hand to my surprise - my hands are rather small. I though I will miss the buttons but I'm finding that touch screen and virtual buttons work as well (actually if not better) for my needs. Maybe if you are constantly switching those settings and maybe doing it quickly (like not looking at the camera, just like typing on the keyboard) maybe buttons offer something over touch screen in that scenerio. That's not my use case though. I think flip touchscreen + the app would work nicely for like group shots as well.

Roki303 said:

Hey, thanks for that input ... my thoughts exactly ... I don't care about video as I don't plan on using the camera for that beyond 'once in a blue moon'.

Things that I like about D7500 are:
- weather sealing
- never sensor, less mpix but 1 stop higher iso
- viewfinder seems bigger
- eye sensor thing that turns off screen while looking via viewfinder

After playing around with both cameras in the store D7500 feels much bulkier. D5600 doesn't feel much worse in hand to my surprise - my hands are rather small. I though I will miss the buttons but I'm finding that touch screen and virtual buttons work as well (actually if not better) for my needs. Maybe if you are constantly switching those settings and maybe doing it quickly (like not looking at the camera, just like typing on the keyboard) maybe buttons offer something over touch screen in that scenerio. That's not my use case though. I think flip touchscreen + the app would work nicely for like group shots as well.

Click to expand...

Of the four things you have mentioned only the viewfinder makes a real difference.

Roki303 said:

Hey, thanks for that input ... my thoughts exactly ... I don't care about video as I don't plan on using the camera for that beyond 'once in a blue moon'.

Things that I like about D7500 are:
- weather sealing
- never sensor, less mpix but 1 stop higher iso
- viewfinder seems bigger
- eye sensor thing that turns off screen while looking via viewfinder

After playing around with both cameras in the store D7500 feels much bulkier. D5600 doesn't feel much worse in hand to my surprise - my hands are rather small. I though I will miss the buttons but I'm finding that touch screen and virtual buttons work as well (actually if not better) for my needs. Maybe if you are constantly switching those settings and maybe doing it quickly (like not looking at the camera, just like typing on the keyboard) maybe buttons offer something over touch screen in that scenerio. That's not my use case though. I think flip touchscreen + the app would work nicely for like group shots as well.

Click to expand...

I moved from a D90 to a D7100. I agree that the D7K series is noticeably bulkier than its lower end stablemates or its 2-digit predecessors - but then, they're far more capable cameras, and that bulk derives in part from that capability.

Personally, and as long as I wasn't shooting with big long lenses, I'd like to see a twin-wheel D5600 class body with a big viewfinder. Pentax shows that something like this is possible...Nikon simply doesn't want to provide it, because then not too many folks would see the need for a D7K - or a FF camera.

I agree an updated d5600 with a pentaprism like the 7xxx would be very nice. That plus a better focus system with more than 1 cross type sensor, auto exposure bracketing, and the flippy screen would be enough for me to want to upgrade my d3400. Hopefully Nikon releases a new d3400 or d5600 soon.

mosswings said:

SteveinColonie said:

I have a D60 that has worked well in outdoor lighting, but leaves me irritated in low light settings. I've seen a few higher ISO cameras (7200 & 7500) and have also researched Nikon 750 & 610. While the ISO ranges on the DX models is higher, would the FX models be more responsive in lower light? I'm not sure if their is a little give and take between tha higher ISO capabilities and the larger sensor size

I'd say I'm more enthusiast than beginner and enjoy landscape photography as my primary passion. Fond of sunrises and sunsets and similar low light situations.

Click to expand...

Cameras passed a major performance "knee" just after the D60 generation - marked by the D90 and D5100, both CMOS based (the D60 was CCD). Nikon DX cameras from of the current generation and the last one or two perform significantly better than your D60. This is across the board, but can be seen easily in landscapes and base-ISO applications - dynamic range has increased by at least 2 stops over the CCD generation cameras like yours, and the quality of the noise has improved - no more technicolor confetti and very clean files. There has been a slight change in the color discrimination of the newer cameras - even though the color depth has increased, some CCD users complain that the colors aren't the same owing to changes in the Bayer filter characteristics. This may not be visible to you, and shouldn't be a roadblock to upgrading.

My advice would be to acquire a D5500 or D5600 body, particularly if you're wanting to keep things small and light. The improvement will please you. The flippy LCD will make taking landscapes on tripods easier.

Click to expand...

All true...but what does still please me a lot, the true-to-life CCD colors, this is where the D80/D60/D200 and also D40(x) still excel, even into 2018!

I do have more fun making going outside for a walk, not always intending to take pictures, and to have a camera by my hands, i still like to shoot my D60, D80 DSLRs...even my D40, much.

Remember: it's about the photograph, not pixelpeeping, not the latest gear & tech...or what would one say, about my decades old film SLRs? i still love them - and use them.

May i remind you, about what Ansel Adams said, a long time ago....

"A photograph is usually looked at, seldom looked into." ~ Ansel Adams

And i don't need to remind you guys, about that a D40x (10 MP, DX) can look like a D800 (36 MP, FX) at normal viewing sizes, don't you think?

For the non-believers....watch this:


So much as for gear stuff.... go out, take more pictures, instead of discussing the whole thing. Yes, newer tech is better, but old(er) one is good enough.

Good Light !

Marc

I think that makes sense to us but probably not for Nikon. Who would but D7500 then? Same thinking brhind removing second SD slot to provide more value for d500.

Hey,

Please elaborate ... I am ancient D70s user here and I am looking to upgrade as well to d5600. Would love to hear more.

I know more megapixels (don’t care), better low light performance (one of the reasons that I want to upgrade), better AF system and a bit lighter.

My photos are 90% outdoor so iso is rarely an issue. Am I going to be blown away?

I need amo for my wife to approve the purchase!!!

what are your lenses