That the Canon EOS 60D was introduced was no surprise.
A long history of xxD bodies and a leak from a prominent software
company pointed to a fall 2010 availability of the EOS 50D successor,
the EOS 60D.
The big question remaining in my mind was - "How would Canon slot a 60D
between the 50D, the Rebel T2i/550D and the 7D?"
The 60D needed to be an upgrade from the 50D - otherwise, why bother releasing a new model. The 60D had to have advantages over the very-feature-filled, lower model line Rebel T2i/550D. At the same time, the 60D could not approach the 7D's excellence and thereby cannibalize sales of this recent model. And by now, your logical conclusion to my question is probably right on. The Canon EOS 60D slots very nicely between the T2i and the 7D, gaining some new features over the 50D - but also losing some.
As usual for a new DSLR release, the Canon EOS 60D contains a roll-up of recently added Canon DSLR features along with some brand new ones. Here is a quick summary of the new and advanced features found in this DSLR:
The 60D needed to be an upgrade from the 50D - otherwise, why bother releasing a new model. The 60D had to have advantages over the very-feature-filled, lower model line Rebel T2i/550D. At the same time, the 60D could not approach the 7D's excellence and thereby cannibalize sales of this recent model. And by now, your logical conclusion to my question is probably right on. The Canon EOS 60D slots very nicely between the T2i and the 7D, gaining some new features over the 50D - but also losing some.
As usual for a new DSLR release, the Canon EOS 60D contains a roll-up of recently added Canon DSLR features along with some brand new ones. Here is a quick summary of the new and advanced features found in this DSLR:
- 18-megapixel Canon APS-C CMOS sensor
- 9-point cross type Autofocus system as seen in the 40D and 50D
- DIGIC 4 Imaging Processors with 14-bit A/D data conversion driving 5.3 fps capture
- New 63-zone iFCL (Intelligent Focus, Color, Luminance) Metering System
- 96% coverage pentaprism viewfinder
- ISO speed settings from 100-6400 (expandable to 12,800)
- Full 1080p HD video capture with NTSC or PAL frame rates of 24p, 25p or 30p (50p or 60p at 720p HD and SD)
- New buttons including the Quick Control Button and a dedicated Live View/Video Recording button
- Vari-angle, 3.0” (7.7cm), 3:2 ratio, 1.04 million dot LCD
- New Integrated Speedlite Transmitter for control of multiple off-camera EOS Speedlites
- New built-in Single Axis Electronic Level featuring an artificial horizon for vertical pitch
- Weather sealing
- In-camera RAW processing, Advanced creative features with Basic +
Use the mouseover feature in these comparisons to see the similarities and differences in resolution using an ISO 12233 Chart:
Canon EOS 60D vs. EOS 50D Comparison
Canon EOS 60D vs. EOS 7D Comparison
Canon EOS 60D vs. EOS Rebel T2i Comparison
Let's review image/high ISO noise next. Following are a pair of 100% crop comparisons between the Canon EOS 60D and the Canon EOS Rebel XS / 1000D, Canon EOS Rebel XSi / 450D, Canon EOS Digital Rebel T1i / 500D, Canon EOS Digital Rebel T2i / 550D, Canon EOS 50D, Canon EOS 7D and Canon EOS 5D Mark II.
Comparing apples to apples. Identical camera setup, identical targets, identical lighting, identical framing and identical processing. These manually-exposed samples were shot from a Foba Gamma Studio Camera Stand-mounted Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens set to 100mm and f/6.3. RAW images were captured with auto white balance, no noise reduction and the "Standard" Picture Style. Sharpness was set to "1" (very low).
I use Canon's Digital Photo Pro (DPP) image processing software (free/included) for my RAW file processing. DPP is easy to use and delivers image quality as high as or higher than anything else available (though more full-featured and easier/faster/nicer to use software is available - such as Adobe Lightroom). And DPP always supports the latest Canon camera models. For the examples below, RAW images were converted to 16 bit TIFF files and Photoshop CS4 "Save for Web" was used to create the 70% quality JPG crops shown below.
Lighting is from a hot 4,000 watts of Photoflex Starlite tungsten lights in a pair of daylight-balanced Photoflex SilverDome softboxes.
With those details out of the way, let's review the comparison images. There are many MB of files required to be downloaded to make all of the mouseovers and mouseclicks on this page function properly - please be patient while they load
While on the file size and storage requirements topic, I will note that the 60D uses SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards (class 6 or higher for video). The latest Rebel DSLRs utilize SDHC cards, but this format is a change from the xxD line. A consideration xxD owners must make when considering a DSLR upgrade is how much replacement memory cards will cost. The memory card cost will likely help offset the cost difference between the 60D and the higher-end 7D. At the same time, Rebel owners will save this cost by staying with the 60D over the 7D.
One of the features the Canon EOS 60D inherits from the EOS 7D is the
63-zone iFCL (Intelligent Focus, Color, Luminance) Metering System.
This system uses focus, color and illumination information in the
exposure algorithm.
As I said in the Canon EOS 7D Review,
I have been watching Canon's auto exposure systems improve over the
years.
I appreciate that they keep getting better - and the 60D's system works
very well.
Note that the 60D's exposure compensation range has been expanded to
±five stops - a very useful upgrade over the 50D - especially for those
working with HDR.
Auto ISO that uses the full range of ISO settings is once again featured in this DSLR. Starting at ISO 100 and going through ISO 6400, Auto ISO is fully featured (Auto ISO settings used to be limited) and works in most modes including M mode. This creates what is essentially an Aperture AND Shutter Priority Mode. I can dial in the M mode fixed aperture and shutter speeds I want and let AE determine the ISO setting needed. I can set the shutter speed I need and the aperture I want to track sports players from shade to full sun, under changing skies and with a rising or setting sun without exposure setting worries. Very nice. It is especially good that AE works well because there is no provided way to set exposure compensation while using Auto ISO in M mode - a shortcoming that Canon has still not addressed.
Auto white balance also seems to improve with each new DSLR model iteration. There are infinite situations to present to the camera, but my subjective evaluation is that the 60D's AWB performs especially well compared to the rest of the Canon EOS DSLRs - including under tungsten light. AWB under tungsten lighting has been a long-time shortcoming of Canon DSLRs and has been significantly improved in the 60D. Though simply changing the white balance setting in-camera or during post processing easily resolved the tungsten WB issue, it is nice to have the camera's AWB take care of this for you.
If an image is OOF (Out of Focus), I will probably delete it with little other consideration. And I often rely on AF, so AF accuracy is important. Chuck Westfall (Canon USA) states "The EOS 60D has the same AF sensor as the EOS 40D and 50D, so all 9 points are standard-precision cross-type effective to maximum apertures as small as f/5.6. There is also an X-shaped high-precision cross-type focusing sensor on the center focusing point that is used with coupled lenses and lens/extender combinations that have maximum apertures of f/2.8 or larger."
So, you and I have seen this AF system before. It worked well in the 40D and the 50D, and it works similarly in the 60D. It works especially well in One Shot AF mode, where Canon's DSLRs typically focus very quickly and accurately (lightning fast if you are used to point and shoot autofocus).
In AI Servo mode, all Canon DSLRs attempt to predictively focus the attached lens at the precise location the subject will be at the moment the shutter opens, but AI Servo AF performance is often a big differentiator between bodies. AI Servo AF performance is also very hard to fully evaluate - simply because there are an infinite number of situations that can be presented to the AF system.
My subjective evaluation, based a large part on shooting thousands of frames at soccer games, and using the best available sports lenses (including the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens and Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens) is that the 60D delivers reasonable AI Servo AF performance. My opinion is that this camera's AI Servo performance falls in line with its position in the Canon DSLR lineup - better than the Rebel models and not as good as the 7D. Of note is that I had consistently better success with the wider angle 300 f/2.8 Lens than with the longer 400 f/2.8 Lens. AI Servo focus shortcomings will be less noticeable in images shot with narrower aperture/consumer grade lenses due to the deeper DOF (Depth of Field) covering for any focus tracking lag. Subjects not rapidly moving toward or away from the camera are less challenging to the AF system and the 60D worked very well in these circumstances.
If your living depends on your ability to capture action quickly moving toward or away from your camera, I recommend that you get a Canon 1-Series body. If you can afford to have a higher percentage of missed shots in these situations, the Canon EOS 60D performs very well for the price.
A focus feature notably missing from the Canon EOS 60D is the AF Microadjustment feature found in the EOS 50D.
Rebel (and point & shoot) owners especially will appreciate how large the 60D's pentaprism viewfinder is. The 60D's viewfinder has approximately 96% coverage, a slight increase over the 50D's 95% coverage. 96% is still not 100%, which leaves you to a small amount of surprise in your captured frame. Here is a real life example of what can happen.
Auto ISO that uses the full range of ISO settings is once again featured in this DSLR. Starting at ISO 100 and going through ISO 6400, Auto ISO is fully featured (Auto ISO settings used to be limited) and works in most modes including M mode. This creates what is essentially an Aperture AND Shutter Priority Mode. I can dial in the M mode fixed aperture and shutter speeds I want and let AE determine the ISO setting needed. I can set the shutter speed I need and the aperture I want to track sports players from shade to full sun, under changing skies and with a rising or setting sun without exposure setting worries. Very nice. It is especially good that AE works well because there is no provided way to set exposure compensation while using Auto ISO in M mode - a shortcoming that Canon has still not addressed.
Auto white balance also seems to improve with each new DSLR model iteration. There are infinite situations to present to the camera, but my subjective evaluation is that the 60D's AWB performs especially well compared to the rest of the Canon EOS DSLRs - including under tungsten light. AWB under tungsten lighting has been a long-time shortcoming of Canon DSLRs and has been significantly improved in the 60D. Though simply changing the white balance setting in-camera or during post processing easily resolved the tungsten WB issue, it is nice to have the camera's AWB take care of this for you.
If an image is OOF (Out of Focus), I will probably delete it with little other consideration. And I often rely on AF, so AF accuracy is important. Chuck Westfall (Canon USA) states "The EOS 60D has the same AF sensor as the EOS 40D and 50D, so all 9 points are standard-precision cross-type effective to maximum apertures as small as f/5.6. There is also an X-shaped high-precision cross-type focusing sensor on the center focusing point that is used with coupled lenses and lens/extender combinations that have maximum apertures of f/2.8 or larger."
So, you and I have seen this AF system before. It worked well in the 40D and the 50D, and it works similarly in the 60D. It works especially well in One Shot AF mode, where Canon's DSLRs typically focus very quickly and accurately (lightning fast if you are used to point and shoot autofocus).
In AI Servo mode, all Canon DSLRs attempt to predictively focus the attached lens at the precise location the subject will be at the moment the shutter opens, but AI Servo AF performance is often a big differentiator between bodies. AI Servo AF performance is also very hard to fully evaluate - simply because there are an infinite number of situations that can be presented to the AF system.
My subjective evaluation, based a large part on shooting thousands of frames at soccer games, and using the best available sports lenses (including the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens and Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens) is that the 60D delivers reasonable AI Servo AF performance. My opinion is that this camera's AI Servo performance falls in line with its position in the Canon DSLR lineup - better than the Rebel models and not as good as the 7D. Of note is that I had consistently better success with the wider angle 300 f/2.8 Lens than with the longer 400 f/2.8 Lens. AI Servo focus shortcomings will be less noticeable in images shot with narrower aperture/consumer grade lenses due to the deeper DOF (Depth of Field) covering for any focus tracking lag. Subjects not rapidly moving toward or away from the camera are less challenging to the AF system and the 60D worked very well in these circumstances.
If your living depends on your ability to capture action quickly moving toward or away from your camera, I recommend that you get a Canon 1-Series body. If you can afford to have a higher percentage of missed shots in these situations, the Canon EOS 60D performs very well for the price.
A focus feature notably missing from the Canon EOS 60D is the AF Microadjustment feature found in the EOS 50D.
Rebel (and point & shoot) owners especially will appreciate how large the 60D's pentaprism viewfinder is. The 60D's viewfinder has approximately 96% coverage, a slight increase over the 50D's 95% coverage. 96% is still not 100%, which leaves you to a small amount of surprise in your captured frame. Here is a real life example of what can happen.
This image was shot with the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens
at 29mm, f/8, 1/100 and ISO 200.
I wanted a very clean border to this horse and rider picture, but notice
the tip of the barn roof near the bottom left of the image.
The roof was not visible in the viewfinder (and is more obvious in the
full-size image).
Removing the stray object during post processing is not hard in this
example, but it is another step required in finishing the photo.
I have not made my self-diagnosed HLDS (Horizon-Level Deficiency Syndrome) a secret - it seems that no matter how hard I try to keep the horizon level, I still don't get all scenes framed perfectly level. I typically use grid focusing screens to assist me with this issue (note that the 50D and 60D share focusing screens). A great feature implemented in the 60D is the Single-Axis Electronic Viewfinder Level. To use the Viewfinder Level, C.Fn-IV-2 (Custom Function Menu IV, Option 2) must be used to assign the Set button to option 5 - Viewfinder Level. The Set button is then used to display horizon-level indication in the exposure scale at the bottom of the viewfinder (in landscape/horizontal shooting orientation only). Pressing the camera's shutter button halfway down clears the level indication.
The level has ± 1 degree of accuracy. Handholding the camera to this level of accuracy is not always easy - and any time spent after the shutter button is pressed half way is time during which the camera may be going out of level. I really like the feature, but it is not a 100% guarantor of a level frame.
Easier to adjust the camera for perfect level is the Live View implementation of the Electronic Level (which is again rated at ± 1 degree) when the 60D is tripod-mounted. I have bubble levels on my tripod legs, my self-leveling tripod base, my tripod head and my tripod clamp. Problem is, they are not all accurate for all of my DSLRs. They may be close, but not always right on.
The Manfrotto hotshoe bubble level is my most-consistently-accurate level tool and it is only right on when installed in a specific orientation (and it only works if I don't forget it, lose it - or send it through the laundry). The 60D's built-in level is accurate and always available in Live View with a press of the Info button - in both vertical and horizontal camera orientations. Adjusting a ballhead to +/- 1% accuracy requires a little finesse (and there is some pendulum-like swing in the indicator), but this procedure assures a level frame. The 60D's Electronic level detects roll in vertical or horizontal orientation but does not indicate pitch as the 7D does.
The EL is a great feature. I use Live View a lot for still life, product and landscape photography, so I welcome this additional tool. Live view of course uses the rear LCD - which leads us to another Canon DSLR first. The Canon EOS 60D has a Vari-Angle 3" Clear View LCD screen with anti-reflective and smudge-resistant coatings. Check it out:
I have not made my self-diagnosed HLDS (Horizon-Level Deficiency Syndrome) a secret - it seems that no matter how hard I try to keep the horizon level, I still don't get all scenes framed perfectly level. I typically use grid focusing screens to assist me with this issue (note that the 50D and 60D share focusing screens). A great feature implemented in the 60D is the Single-Axis Electronic Viewfinder Level. To use the Viewfinder Level, C.Fn-IV-2 (Custom Function Menu IV, Option 2) must be used to assign the Set button to option 5 - Viewfinder Level. The Set button is then used to display horizon-level indication in the exposure scale at the bottom of the viewfinder (in landscape/horizontal shooting orientation only). Pressing the camera's shutter button halfway down clears the level indication.
The level has ± 1 degree of accuracy. Handholding the camera to this level of accuracy is not always easy - and any time spent after the shutter button is pressed half way is time during which the camera may be going out of level. I really like the feature, but it is not a 100% guarantor of a level frame.
Easier to adjust the camera for perfect level is the Live View implementation of the Electronic Level (which is again rated at ± 1 degree) when the 60D is tripod-mounted. I have bubble levels on my tripod legs, my self-leveling tripod base, my tripod head and my tripod clamp. Problem is, they are not all accurate for all of my DSLRs. They may be close, but not always right on.
The Manfrotto hotshoe bubble level is my most-consistently-accurate level tool and it is only right on when installed in a specific orientation (and it only works if I don't forget it, lose it - or send it through the laundry). The 60D's built-in level is accurate and always available in Live View with a press of the Info button - in both vertical and horizontal camera orientations. Adjusting a ballhead to +/- 1% accuracy requires a little finesse (and there is some pendulum-like swing in the indicator), but this procedure assures a level frame. The 60D's Electronic level detects roll in vertical or horizontal orientation but does not indicate pitch as the 7D does.
The EL is a great feature. I use Live View a lot for still life, product and landscape photography, so I welcome this additional tool. Live view of course uses the rear LCD - which leads us to another Canon DSLR first. The Canon EOS 60D has a Vari-Angle 3" Clear View LCD screen with anti-reflective and smudge-resistant coatings. Check it out:
I have to admit that I wasn't interested in this feature when I first read about it. The additional parts would simply consume more space on the rear of the camera - and I was concerned about the nose relief issue this LCD could cause. Would the hinge be another point for failure? And I didn't figure on using it.
But what I've discovered is that I indeed like being able to use the camera in positions that were otherwise very inconvenient. I am constantly finding new angles to shoot from - resting directly on the ground and shooting straight up to standing on a counter with my arms fully extended and shooting straight downward. Yes, these positions were available before, but framing the subject from them was always a guess. The closed-reversed LCD (image "One" above) is well-protected from damage during transport, storage or even use (including nose prints). So, I really like the new twist on the LCD.
The 60D inherits the T2i's wide 3:2 aspect ratio LCD - matching the aspect ratio of the image sensor and better-matching the 16:9 HD Video aspect ratio. The Canon EOS 60D's high quality LCD is 3" and contains 1.04 million dots (a relatively small increase from the 50D and 7D's 3" 920,000 dot/VGA resolution). The LCD's image quality is great.
Along with the articulated LCD, the entire rear of the 60D has been changed from the 50D. I'll start with the grip. The thumb position gains a more substantial bump-out for your thumb to hold onto but shifts the grip position to the right slightly, creating a less-full-feeling grip than the 50D has. More fingertip room added on the front of the 60D body is welcomed. The 60D is much more comfortable for me to use than the Rebel bodies (the downside being the additional size required to create this comfort).
The 50D's joystick is gone - replaced by a new Multi-Control Dial. The MCD is basically the old Rear Control Dial with an 8-way controller added between the Set button and the Dial. I found the joystick to give me better control, but the new feature works fine. A bit more care must be taken to select the right function on the MCD. I occasionally hit a directional key while trying to make a dial change. What I really like about the MCD is that it is easily accessible when using the Canon BG-E9 Battery Grip in vertical orientation. The 50D's joystick location is a big stretch for the thumb to reach from the vertical grip position.
Most of the 60D's rear buttons have been moved to the areas above and below the new Multi-Control Dial and many take on new shapes. The delete button remains the left-side button, now residing below the 2-position power switch at its new top-left location. A Lock button works in conjunction with a menu option to enable the Multi-Control Dial to be locked - and functions as the print button (remember - the one that used to get a dedicated button?) in image review mode. There are reasons to lock the rear dial, but I much prefer this new menu-driven option over the power switch position. This setup eliminates the occasion when I do not move the 50D power switch far enough to enable the RCD and am left wondering why the RCD is not working - perhaps even missing a shot while trying to make a setting change. The 7D shares this new power switch location - but ... I'm growing less sure that I prefer it to the previous position.
The Play button has good placement on the bottom right of the raised area on the camera back. The new Live View (Video Start/Stop) button is nicely located. A new Quick Control Button ("Q") opens an easy-to-use settings change menu on the LCD. The three top-right buttons retain their locations and functions.
Though positioned somewhat like the Rebel bodies, I am finding the new, mostly-designed-for-one-handed use button layout to take a bit of time to get used. Once familiar, the controls seem nicely located.
Moving to the camera top shows more changes received by the 60D design.
The change on the top that I am finding hardest to adjust to is the lock release on the Mode Dial. I would still say that I do not like having to press a button to change the Mode Dial. I have not experienced inadvertent changes to my mode setting without the lock, so ... I do not prefer the extra button press being required.
The other big change on the top is that the row of three dual-function buttons has grown to four single-function buttons with White Balance and Flash Exposure Compensation options disappearing. The LCD light button was and remains a single-function button as it should. The center button of the 60D's five has an locator bump on it. From this bump, the other buttons can be found, but they are flush enough to not be so obvious to the searching finger.
The 60D's top LCD (a nice feature that is missing on the Rebel models) is no longer a rectangle but is stylishly designed to better follow the contour of the camera.
The Canon EOS 60D has a total of 15 shooting modes available via the top dial that offer something for shooters of all skill levels. The fully-automatic point and shoot green square mode and near-fully automatic "P" (Program) modes are included along with the "CA" (Creative Auto) setting. Creative Auto mode allows the photographer to adjust the shot settings using easily understood words instead of using f/settings and 1/zzz time value shutter speeds. CA settings are displayed on the rear LCD while adjustments are being made. Missing from the 50D's modes are A-Dep and C2. Video mode is new as is B (Bulb) mode.
As can be seen in the side view image above, the 60D's eyecup still protrudes beyond the Vari-Angle screen -
though not as much as the 7D's eyecup - and not nearly as much as the 1D IV's eyecup.
As would be expected at this point in time, the Canon EOS 60D has received the renowned, game-changing EOS HD video capabilities. While it is not a perfect-for-everyone video package, the 60D, with its huge-to-video-camera-standards sensor, delivers very impressive video image quality. Because of this quality, EOS bodies are much more frequently being used to capture video for everything from interviews to motion pictures. The large sensor combined with the huge range of lenses available gives even those on a tight budget the ability to create incredible video projects utilizing shallow DOF and low/available light. Those with larger budgets can use the HDSLRs as disposables - crashing them or risking destruction of them on set.
What you get with the 60D's HD video is most similar to the 7D's feature set. Here is the list: The EOS 60D HDSLR camera will record full HD at 1920 x 1080 pixels in selectable frame rates of 24p (23.976), 25p, or 30p (29.97); 720p HD recording at 50p or 60p (59.94) and SD video at frame rates of 50p or 60p (59.94). The EOS 60D will also record 720p HD at 50p or 60p (59.94) and SD video at frame rates of 50p or 60p (59.94). Cinematic frame rates for both NTSC (National Television System Committee) and PAL (Phase Altering Line) standards are selectable.
The 60D includes a built-in monaural microphone (gets the job done) and a 3.5mm jack for an external stereo microphone such as the Rode Stereo Video Mic. The 60D audio recording levels can be manually set and an electronic Wind Filter can be enabled. In-camera video trimming is available and Canon's Movie Crop mode is featured. The Maximum movie clip size is 4GB (or about 12 min at full resolution) due to file system limitations.
Live View contrast detection AF is available during video recording (as welll as in Live view), but ... it is still very slow and definitely not smooth. Plan on using manual focus or pre-focusing for video recording.
As would be expected at this point in time, the Canon EOS 60D has received the renowned, game-changing EOS HD video capabilities. While it is not a perfect-for-everyone video package, the 60D, with its huge-to-video-camera-standards sensor, delivers very impressive video image quality. Because of this quality, EOS bodies are much more frequently being used to capture video for everything from interviews to motion pictures. The large sensor combined with the huge range of lenses available gives even those on a tight budget the ability to create incredible video projects utilizing shallow DOF and low/available light. Those with larger budgets can use the HDSLRs as disposables - crashing them or risking destruction of them on set.
What you get with the 60D's HD video is most similar to the 7D's feature set. Here is the list: The EOS 60D HDSLR camera will record full HD at 1920 x 1080 pixels in selectable frame rates of 24p (23.976), 25p, or 30p (29.97); 720p HD recording at 50p or 60p (59.94) and SD video at frame rates of 50p or 60p (59.94). The EOS 60D will also record 720p HD at 50p or 60p (59.94) and SD video at frame rates of 50p or 60p (59.94). Cinematic frame rates for both NTSC (National Television System Committee) and PAL (Phase Altering Line) standards are selectable.
The 60D includes a built-in monaural microphone (gets the job done) and a 3.5mm jack for an external stereo microphone such as the Rode Stereo Video Mic. The 60D audio recording levels can be manually set and an electronic Wind Filter can be enabled. In-camera video trimming is available and Canon's Movie Crop mode is featured. The Maximum movie clip size is 4GB (or about 12 min at full resolution) due to file system limitations.
Live View contrast detection AF is available during video recording (as welll as in Live view), but ... it is still very slow and definitely not smooth. Plan on using manual focus or pre-focusing for video recording.
Like the rest of the xxD DSLR models, a built-in, pop-up flash in
provided - as seen above.
New to the xxD line and similar to the EOS 7D, this pop-up flash
includes an Integrated Speedlite Transmitter for control of multiple
off-camera EOS Speedlites.
No Canon 580EX II Flash or
Canon ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter
is needed to completely control as many remote flashes as desired.
Using one of 4 available channels, take complete control of up to 2
groups of flashes (A & B, but C is missing) with ratios of up to
8:1.
Flash settings are controlled from the 60D's menu which includes an
extensive range of controls for both the built in and remote flashes
including ±3 stops FEC (Flash Exposure Compensation) (the 50D has ±2
stops FEC).
The Integrated Speedlite Transmitter feature alone, if needed, will save
you the purchase of a device that costs a significant amount of the
cost difference
between a Rebel T2i and the 60D - and the convenience factor of having
this feature built-in definitely has value.
Like the 50D, the 60D's built-in flash covers lens angle of view as wide as 17mm (the 7D covers 15mm).
Also like the 50D, the 60D's flash has a guide number of 13/43 (ISO 100, meters/feet) (the 7D's specs are 12/39).
The fastest standard flash synch speed is 1/250 - high Speed Sync flash is supported.
The 60D, 7D and 50D all have a full power flash recycle time specification of 3 seconds.
As shown in the images above, the Canon EOS 60D has received the same level of weather sealing as the EOS 50D. This amount is slightly less than the 7D's level of sealing.
The 60D feels solid in the hand, but, it does not have the magnesium alloy chassis that the 7D and 50D have - substituting polycarbonate instead. The lack of a magnesium alloy chassis was one of the most vocally complained about missing features on the 60D at announcement time. I wouldn't say I that was happy with the change, but ... I don't think many people will notice the difference unless subjecting their cameras to significant abuse.
The Canon EOS 60D breaks new DSLR ground by offering in-camera RAW image processing and creative digital filters.
Brightness, Picture Style, White Balance (WB), Color Space, High-ISO Noise Reduction, Peripheral Illumination Correction, linear distortion correction and chromatic aberration correction changes can be made to RAW images while still in the camera. The RAW images can then be output to ready-to-use JPG images of various resolution and compression settings including the new 1920 x 1280 and 720 x 480 sizes - in camera. JPG-captured images can also be resized (down) in-camera. Images can also now be rated in-camera.
To be completely honest, I wasn't interested in the in-camera RAW processing features when the 60D was announced - and I'm still not interested in them at review time. I find my 13.3" laptop display too small for serious image editing and it is huge compared to the 60D's 3" LCD. It is likely that, in most cases other than direct printing, a computer will be needed in the image transfer pipeline, so ... I'd rather process the images there. I will note that RAW conversion software is now not needed on this computer - and it is easy to use in-camera. Perhaps editing with a larger HDMI device attached is a viable solution. Not everyone is like me and I'm sure some will find the in-camera RAW processing feature useful. The in-camera RAW processing features are definitely not in the way, so no harm to anyone in having them in place.
The Canon EOS 60D offers 4 creative filters: Grainy B/W, Soft Focus, Toy Camera Effect (vignetting and color shift) and Miniature Effect (reverse tilt-shift look). These filters can be applied to a RAW or JPG image in-camera. A new image file is created using the selected filter and filter settings leaving the original file unaffected. EXIF information for the resulting files contains the name of the filter used along with the setting strength (no setting for Miniature).
The Canon EOS 60D is shown above with an optional Canon BG-E9 Battery Grip mounted.
Want more battery life? Shoot in portrait orientation a lot? Add a BG-E9 Battery Grip as shown above. It accepts two LP-E6 batteries (or 6 AA batteries in the included tray). Better yet, it provides a larger horizontal grip and a complete vertical grip with the appropriate buttons. The BG-E9 adds a lot to the size and weight of the 60D, but it is easily installed or removed to give you the best of both worlds.
The BG-E9 works great - I like it a lot. Canon has done a good job integrating this grip to the camera, and as I said earlier in the review, it works very well with the new Multi Control Dial.
A Canon Wireless File Transmitter has not been announced for the EOS 60D. Instead, Eye-Fi SDHC Memory Card support is built into the 60D's menu system. WiFi functionality can be turned off when not required to save battery life.
The Canon EOS 60D is not compatible with the N3 standard remotes that the 50D used. The Remote Switch RS-60E3 (wired) is supported and the small, inexpensive Canon wireless remotes including the Canon RC-6 Wireless Remote are great options. Want to be part of your on family picture? Or just don't want to deal with a remote release cord? This is the accessory you want.
Studio shooters especially need to know that the Canon EOS 60D does not include a PC port.
Want more battery life? Shoot in portrait orientation a lot? Add a BG-E9 Battery Grip as shown above. It accepts two LP-E6 batteries (or 6 AA batteries in the included tray). Better yet, it provides a larger horizontal grip and a complete vertical grip with the appropriate buttons. The BG-E9 adds a lot to the size and weight of the 60D, but it is easily installed or removed to give you the best of both worlds.
The BG-E9 works great - I like it a lot. Canon has done a good job integrating this grip to the camera, and as I said earlier in the review, it works very well with the new Multi Control Dial.
A Canon Wireless File Transmitter has not been announced for the EOS 60D. Instead, Eye-Fi SDHC Memory Card support is built into the 60D's menu system. WiFi functionality can be turned off when not required to save battery life.
The Canon EOS 60D is not compatible with the N3 standard remotes that the 50D used. The Remote Switch RS-60E3 (wired) is supported and the small, inexpensive Canon wireless remotes including the Canon RC-6 Wireless Remote are great options. Want to be part of your on family picture? Or just don't want to deal with a remote release cord? This is the accessory you want.
Studio shooters especially need to know that the Canon EOS 60D does not include a PC port.
Like the 50D, the 60D shares the APS-C-sized sensor and accepts both EF and EF-S lenses TS-E and MP-E lenses are also compatible. The 60D is available in a body-only kit or in a kit with the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens. The EF-S 18-135mm IS Lens alone currently sells for about $450, but it is only $300 extra in the kit, making the kit a very good value.
Because the quality of the lens makes a big difference in the image quality delivered by a DSLR, I recommend buying, now or later, one of the better Canon general purpose lenses available. At this review date, the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens and Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens are my most-recommended APS-C/1.6x lenses with the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens and the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens being excellent alternatives.
Then add one of the Canon EF 70-200mm L Lenses to your kit.
The Canon EOS 60D used in this review was purchased retail. Owning a Canon product gives you access to Canon support. The support provided by Canon's USA division is excellent (sorry, I have no experience with the other Canon divisions). When I call for support, I get an intelligent person who sincerely wants to help me with whatever my question or problem is. Repair service, though I have seldom needed it, is fast and reliable.
At this point, we (you and I) have reviewed most of the new DSLR features found in the 60D, but the list of not-new-but-great 60D features is still huge. Self-cleaning Sensor, High ISO Noise Reduction, Long Exposure Noise Reduction, Highlight Tone Priority, Auto Lighting Optimizer, Peripheral Illumination Correction ... It is easy to get lost in the huge list of features this DSLR. As I've said before ... when I sit down to write a DSLR review, I feel like I'm about to write a book. Canon did write one - it's called the owner's manual. It is a whopping 324 pages long (for reference, the 50D owner's manual is only 228 pages). The owner's manual and the other useful links can be found in the Other Reviews and Information section below.
Perhaps the remaining question is - who should buy a Canon EOS 60D? This is of course a big question with many answers, but I'll pick a few.
Anyone who owns no camera or owns a film camera of any type will love the image quality and features in the 60D. Anyone who owns a point and shoot camera (but does not mind the additional size of the 60D) will find the image quality (especially in low light), fast AF and large viewfinder of the 60D especially valuable. Rebel owners will likely find the grip and control the 60D gives them to be a nice upgrade - and the larger viewfinder will be appreciated for sure. Rebel owners of course must insure that the 60D's additional size and weight are not a problem for them.
The older the xxD body owned, the more sense an upgrade to the 60D makes. But the Canon EOS 7D may also make as much or more sense to this group - especially if a significant memory card investment is part of the equation. I'm tempted to say that Canon has "Rebel-ized" the xxD line with the 60D model iteration, but that statement is probably too harsh. But some features/advantages certainly have been lost - and the "Prosumer" designation has changed to "Consumer" for the latest xxD model.
The 7D holds a number of advantages over the 60D including a more advanced and configurable AF system with 19 cross-sensitive AF points. The 7D utilizes Canon's 100% view, 1.0x magnification, Intelligent Viewfinder that uses a liquid crystal overlay to provide various displays of focusing points and zones, on-demand grid lines and a spot metering circle. This LCD overlay can also be illuminated or turned off completely. The 7D's 8 fps frame rate is clearly faster than the 60D's 5.3 fps rate and the shutter has a 50% higher durability rating.
The least compelling upgrade will of course be from the Canon EOS 50D. To make this decision, you will have to evaluate how the 60D's enhancements affect you personally.
Anyone needing high HD video quality may be able justify a 60D purchase (understanding any limitations in this regard of course). I don't know if the Vari-Angle LCD will justify the upgrade cost for many, but it helps. Fortunately, the Canon EOS 60D's price tag is significantly lower than that of previous xxD bodies - a feature we can all celebrate.
The bottom line is that the Canon EOS 60D turns in very good performance, has great image quality and comes in a very affordable package. It is a camera that many of us will be happy to own.
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