Canon EOS Rebel XS / 1000D vs Nikon D60 — Which Is Better?

The Canon EOS Rebel XS / 1000D and the Nikon D60 are both APS-C DSLRs released in 2008, each built around an optical pentamirror viewfinder. They are close in the hand too: the Rebel XS measures 126 x 98 x 65 mm and weighs 502 g, while the D60 is 126 x 94 x 64 mm and 522 g, so the Canon is the lighter carry by 20 g.

The native lens systems are the practical fork. The Rebel XS uses Canon EF-S and the D60 uses Nikon F DX, so any lenses you already own or plan to buy should guide this choice more than any other difference here.

The Rebel XS is the stronger pick for off-centre subjects, because it offers 7 autofocus points against 3 on the D60. That gives you more positions to place over a face or a flower without recomposing. Resolution is effectively a match, 10.1 MP against 10.2 MP, so neither has a practical cropping edge.

The sensor designs differ, CMOS in the Canon and CCD in the Nikon, and their standard ISO ranges both run from 100 to 1600. In expanded mode the D60 reaches 3200 ISO while the Rebel XS stays at 1600, an extra setting when light drops. The maximum shutter of 1/4000 second and 3 fps shooting are shared.

Neither camera records video, so this choice comes down entirely to stills. Both lack movie modes completely, including built-in timelapse. Anyone who wants even occasional clips alongside photographs should look at other cameras; a photographer focused on stills gives up nothing here by either pick.

Live View is the practical split: the Rebel XS lets you compose on the LCD, while the D60 does not. That makes the Canon more convenient for tripod work, macro shots and any angle where the optical viewfinder is awkward. On the D60, every frame goes through the viewfinder.

For flash, both are equally equipped, each offering a built-in flash plus a hot shoe for an external unit. Their rear screens also match, a fixed 2.5-inch LCD with 230,000 dots. Neither offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, a touchscreen, a flip screen or weather sealing.

Battery life is a match at a rated 500 shots under their standard test conditions, and both use a single card slot. The Rebel XS takes an LP-E5 battery and the D60 an EN-EL9, so spare batteries are brand-specific, and neither charges over USB.

Card support differs at the edges. Both accept SD and SDHC cards, but the Rebel XS also accepts SDXC, while the D60 accepts MMC instead. If you already own high-capacity SDXC cards, the Canon puts them to direct use.