Nikon D40, D40x & D60 - Which Lens to Buy?
Reviewed on 13 May 2008

The Nikon D60 is the latest compact DSLR offered by Nikon and together with its predecessors, the D40x and D40, they make up some of the most popular lightweight DSLRs around. One of the perks of DSLRs is the range of different lenses you can attach to the body. The trouble is, with so many different lenses on offer, where do you start?

One of the things that set the D60, D40/x apart from other Nikon cameras is that they cannot autofocus with many older Nikkor lenses. In order to be as light as they are, they've sacrificed the autofocus mechanism in the body, and instead you need to find lenses that come with it. If you are looking at Nikkor lenses, look for the AF-S in the name, while with Sigma, anything that ends with HSM will work with the D60, D40/x.

All three come with Nikkor's 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G kit lens which is a great walk-about lens. It gives you a nice 3x zoom and takes nice crisp clear images. However if you aren't happy with your kits lens, there are alternatives. The Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC MACRO HSM has a nice large aperture of f/2.8 at the wide end. Having a big aperture helps with taking fast action shots, since a shorter shutter speed needs a bigger aperture. It also works as a Macro lens which is an added perk.

While the kit lens is excellent for most photography needs, it doesn't have a very long reach, lets face it 55mm isn't that much. For birdwatchers and wildlife lovers, you might want a zoom lens such as the Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR. There are two versions, one that comes with Nikkor's VR (Vibration Reduction) and a slightly cheaper version that doesn't. Image stabilisation in the lens is pretty useful, it allow you to take photos at slightly slower shutter speeds without worrying about tremors but they are pricier so you can choose lenses without them and just invest in a tripod.

If you need more zooming range beyond 200mm, you could always try the Tamron's AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2, which will really get you close to the action and also works as a macro lens for those close-up shots of flowers and insects. At 300mm you can practically count the feathers on the swallow flying overhead. There is a Nikkor version without the macro function but it does come with VR which tends to be more important the more zoom you have but it is slightly more expensive.

Macro photography often needs a little specialty lenses. Sometimes you can attach a macro filter, but if you are serious about seeing the microscopic world, the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG APO Macro HSM will let you get up to 38cm from the action. It will also give you some stunning photos, because it's a fixed focal lens. Prime lenses, or fixed focal lenses don't have the versatility of zoom lenses, but are often lighter with bigger (smaller f/stop) apertures which let more light in. Night shots and landscape shots often come out beautifully because of it.

Sometimes going on a hike can be unpleasant if you are carrying several lenses, they aren't exactly feather light. Besides, having to change lens frequently can get frustrating. Most photographers like to have an all round lenses for situations where they might encounter the unexpected. The Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR, is one of the most popular for Nikon photographers. A little bit of photo quality is lost within all that zoom range, but its versatility more than makes up for it.

There are many different situations that call for different lenses, not just for zooming into faraway things, or for taking wide angle landscape shots, but also if you want to take portraits or high speed action or macro shots. The beauty of DSLRs is the sheer range of lenses available, from several manufacturers. That means there are always alternatives and counterparts to different lenses. If a Nikkor lens is a little over your price range, you can always try a Sigma or Tamron lens. In the DSLR world, the body is only half the story, it's the lens that completes the picture to give you stunning images.