Nikon makes D60 amateur DSLR official [U]

(Updated with pricing) Nikon tonight has been quick to end speculation and has introduced the D60, the successor to both the D40x and D50 starter digital SLR cameras. True to leaks, the camera uses the same 10.2-megapixel resolution as its ancestors but draws on the same EXPEED image processor as the top-end D300 and D3 to improve color balance as well as speed; in JPEG mode, the camera can shoot as many as 100 frames at three frames per second until the memory buffer runs dry. The D60 also comes with both passive (airflow channeling) and active (sensor shake) dust removal systems to keep the image clean despite constant use.

Other touches applied to the camera itself include on-camera retouching and a smart eye sensor that automatically switches off the main 2.5-inch LCD when the optical viewfinder is in use. Like its rival the Canon EOS Rebel XSi, the D60 is the first entry digital SLR from the camera maker to ship with an image-stabilizing lens: the kit version of the D60 ships with an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR unit that can improve most shots regardless of the photographer's actual skill level. Nikon expects to ship the new camera relatively quickly and will have it ready by February for $750 with the bundled lens.