Canon 1000D vs Nikon D60: Performance

Canon 1000D vs Nikon 60 – Performance

Canon EOS 1000D
 Performance

One of the major differences between the Canon EOS 100D and Nikon D60 is the design and functionality of each camera’s graphic user interface. The 1000D’s menu system follows the same styling as previous EOS models, with six tabs and a My Menu option. It’s not quite as friendly as that of the D60, and at times its structure can be a little disorientating, but as with the D60 there’s the option of a display which consolidates all current shooting parameters for quick assessment.                  

Perhaps one of the 1000D’s biggest strengths is its Direct Access buttons, which, once you familiarise yourself with their layout and customise the Set button, pretty much live up to their name. Changing key settings is much easier on the 1000D than on the D60, which together with the camera’s faster burst rate makes it better for fast-paced action, where the camera may need to have its settings changed on a whim. An unfortunate caveat to all this is the camera’s relatively small buffer, which begins to run out of breath after just a few Raw files are shot in succession.          
                                  
Autofocusing with the 1000D kit lens is fairly speedy, and the cross-sensor centre point is impressively sensitive. With more AF points than the D60, subjects are brought to focus much quicker when all the points have been activated, though when the camera does need to work the lens through its range to find focus, the motor doesn’t make the nicest of sounds. It’s not terribly loud but there’s a certain drilling to it that’s perhaps not as suited to environments where discretion is key. Fortunately, other Canon lenses containing a USM motor perform much better in this respect.    

The Canon EOS 1000D is, however, ideally suited for macro and general tripod-based work thanks to Canon’s implementations of live view, and for an entry-level model such as the 1000D its functionality is hard to fault. With the system’s ‘traditional’ internal construction, it can’t hold a candle to that of the Sony A350 insofar as live-view focusing speeds go, but then neither can any other DSLR. It’s also slightly slower than the system seen in Nikon’s better-specified DSLRs, but against other models in its price range it puts in a commendable performance. The EOS Utility program that comes with the 1000D also allows for live-view tethering, maximising its potential for studio and general indoor use.   

Nikon D60 Performance

In the menu department the Nikon D60 wins over the Canon 1000D by a mile – not just because of its clearer and more colourful design, but because of its instructional nature, too. Turning the camera on with its lens cap still attached, for example, prompts a ‘the subject is too dark’ message, which also appears if you go beyond the camera’s maximum exposure values. Pressing the ‘?’ button the rear instructs you how best to set your image parameters prior to shooting – so, for instance, if you’re shooting in low light it will suggest that you activate the flash. The Nikon D60 also allows for you to choose a virtual diaphragm to be displayed, showing whether you’re increasing or decreasing its opening as you change exposure settings. The menu itself is logically structured and tabbed into five sections, and, again, the ‘?’ button may be called upon to explain whatever feature you come across.

With just three AF points the D60’s system is not quite up to the standard of the 1000D’s, though the size and illumination of each focusing bracket is much clearer than the tiny dots of the 1000D. Considering that there’s no cross-type AF points, the centre point still manages to achieve focus fairly quickly (and with the kit lens fairly silently, too), but subjects off centre – or for that matter, those not directly covered by an AF point – take a while for the system to find. Live view aside, this is perhaps one of the major downsides of the D60’s performance, making it slightly less ideal for those situations where spontaneity is critical.

Canon EOS 1000D standalone review | Nikon D60 standalone review