Nikon D40 vs. D60?

http://www.cameralabs.com/buyers_guide/budget_DSLRs/best_budget_DSLR.shtml

Have a look there is it will give you some ideas.  If you want to spent as little as possible then the D40 is a good bet.  As for the D60 not read much on it but it still isn't that great.  You would be as well looking at some other options such as: Canon Rebel XS/XSi/XTi or if you look used a Canon 40D or a Nikon D80 (reviews of all can be found either here: http://www.dpreview.com or here: http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/digital_camera_and_lens_reviews.shtml

At the end of the day go into a shop and have a feel/test of the cameras and see which you like the best and then make a decision from there.  You'll also need to remember that the more you spent on the body the less you can spent on the lenses.

Also take a look here as it is a good summary: https://www.newschoolers.com/web/forums/readthread/thread_id/401808/

Look at Nikon D70, it's got unlimited flash sync and it's just good in general. Also, check keh.com for lots f really good used gear, I order lots of stuff from there and it's always good.

ahhh, thank you kindly. thats the sort of review i needed.

with the fact that I am looking for a very entry level DSLR, and and dont really have that much experience, i will ask these threemore questions:

1. is there really that big of a difference between a auto focus motor in a lens like the Nikkor AF-S's or Sigma HSM's, or in the body? like is it really that big of a deal or is it more just the hassle of having to manually focus some lenses?

2. if im getting a camera like the Nikon D40, will 6 mpixles be enough? im not planning on ever making huge prints, but i have a feeling i will do a decent amount of editting.

3. ive noticed that most DSLR's in this price range ($0-1000) have a very similar fps rate. for whatever reason i seem to have a love afair with sequence shots and thats a prime reason for the DSLR in the first place, so my question is will there be a noticable difference in say the 2.5fps of the Nikon D40, the 2.8fps of the Pentax K200D, and the 3.0fps of the Nikon D60?

1) The difference between a body mounted motor and a lens mounted one is just that (one has the autofocus motor mounted on the body the other has it on the lens), with certain lenses you will have to manual focus them which can be a pain.

2) 6MP is a little low and unless you want to print large scale prints (which you don't).  Because of this you would be fine with the D40 but of the cameras listed it is the worst performer. 

3) For sequences the faster fps the better the sequence shot, so the D60 would be the best of that lot.  But there are others if you look second hand (see site above - www.keh.com).  There won't be that much of a difference between 2.5 and 3.0 fps but it will be noticeable.

If you are looking for a new camera (rather than used) then depending on budget you would be looking at the D60 or the Rebel XS but you could get a lot more with a second hand one.  With second hand you can get a better camera and also a better fps - look at what you can find and the look up reviews (then go have a feel of it a shop).  Again D70/D80/40D can be found fairly cheap nowadays and would be worth looking into.

At the end of the day it is better to look at the big 2 of the SLR world (Nikon and Canon) because of the lens choices.

 also, im going to obviously be shooting a lot in the snow, so durability is a prime concern.

like with the D40/60, how does that do in the weather?
i know the Pentax K200D is "weather proof" but what about those nikons?

I shoot Canon as well and would recommend the same thing (if it is within his budget).

again i ask, how does it handle the snow and ice?

not necessarily, pentax makes alright cameras, however olympus, sony, and sigma,  all suck.

the pentax 200d is a great camera, and is built very well unlike other entry level cameras, however it has a lot less fetures then the equvalent canon or nikon. so its more of a photographers camera imo.

what do you shoot with?

film cameras, my school has 100d's, and there not to bad, the auto white balance sucks but i hear its better on the k200d. and i am saving up for a 5d mark 2.

dude i have the d40 and im a camera gaper (if you will) and i use the d40 in snow, usually feep a hand cait over it, but naw, its not too sensitive