To consider the Canon 60D as a potential successor to Canon’s semi-professional EOS 50D is only sensible.
In addition to following on in the usually numbered sequence, Canon also announced at the same time that it was announcing the new camera that the EOS 50D would no longer be supported.
In point of fact, the Canon 50D was unquestionably showing its age, since it was outperformed in many aspects even by the more beginner-friendly EOS 550D, such as sensor resolution and the capacity to record movie clips.
Indeed, the Canon 60D comes equipped with a number of brand-new features, including as a sensor with 18 megapixels, the ability to record 1080p high-definition movies at a variety of frame rates, and Canon’s brand-new iFCL metering technology.
Canon EOS 60D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera Body Only
- 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor
- 5.3 frames per second continuous shooting
- 1080p HD video recording with manual controls
- 3.0 inch articulated Clear View LCD with 1,040,000 dots
- 9-point AF system (all cross-type)
- 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor
- 5.3 frames per second continuous shooting
- 1080p HD video recording with manual controls
- 3.0 inch articulated Clear View LCD with 1,040,000 dots
- 9-point AF system (all cross-type)
- Wireless flash control
The LCD has the same 3:2 aspect ratio and 1,040k pixel resolution as the one on the Canon 550D; however, this time it comes with complete pivoting capability, which is a first for any Canon digital single-lens reflex camera.
On top of that, in comparison to the 50D, you gain an additional stop in the usual sensitivity range, which results in an upper maximum of ISO 6400 being available (ISO 12800 in expanded mode).
The Canon 60D is the successor to the Canon 50D, and as such, it inherits quite a lot from its predecessor. You receive the same 9-point autofocus system and DIGIC 4 image processor, which makes it appear to be a bit of a poor relation in comparison to the Canon 7D, which has a more generous 19-point AF system and two DIGIC 4 processors. You get the same 9-point autofocus system and DIGIC 4 image processor.
The Canon EOS 60D is even slower than the EOS 50D, decreasing from 6.3 frames per second to 5.3 frames per second, but the Canon EOS 7D is somewhat of a speed freak, enabling continuous shooting at up to 8 frames per second.
The body of the 60D is made of plastic, whereas the body of the 50D was made of magnesium alloy and was as robust as old boots, in line with the semi-professional goals of the 50D. This is another significant shift in the design of the 60D.
When you combine this with the fact that the Canon 60D uses SecureDigital memory rather of CompactFlash, the camera begins to resemble more of an upscale consumer camera than a semi-professional competitor.
Body And Design
We are not the least bit pretentious about plastic, but even if we were, we would never guess that a current Formula 1 race vehicle would be made out of cast iron. The Canon EOS 60D is constructed on an aluminum chassis and features a shell that is composed of polycarbonate resin that has been stiffened with glass fiber. Because of these features, it is anticipated that the 60D would be relatively durable.
It’s just that, in comparison to other cameras such as the Canon 7D and 50D, or the Nikon D90 and D300s, the Canon 60D really does have a plasticky feel to it, more like Canon’s line of budget cameras such as the EOS 450D, EOS 500D, and EOS 550D. The only advantage it has over the Canon 50D is that it’s 67 grams lighter than the body of the 50D.
The dials, buttons, and switches all have a generally high sense of quality, albeit some of them can be a bit tricky to use. For instance, because the primary on/off switch is located on the periphery of the primary shooting mode dial, it is rather simple to inadvertently change the shooting mode when turning the camera on or off.
Because of this, Canon has included a locking button to the top of the mode dial. In order to use the dial, you will need to push down the locking button with one finger while spinning it with your thumb and another finger.
Controls And Features
Around the rear of the camera, the control panel has been substantially simplified in comparison to the one on the 50D. This may be because the pivoting LCD requires additional room behind the camera. The result of this is that the row of buttons that ran down the bottom of the rear plate no longer exists, but a few of the buttons have been moved to other locations.
Because of the superb Quick Control menu that Canon has developed and that is shown on the primary LCD of the Canon 60D, this is not too much of an issue. When you press the ‘Q’ button, you will have instant access to the ISO setting, exposure compensation, drive mode, picture style, white balance, auto lighting optimization levels, image quality settings, custom features, and a cool virtual horizon display. Despite this, having access to the white balance adjustments with just one click would have been quite convenient.
The separate multi-controller and fast control dial seen on the majority of Canon DSLRs aimed at professionals have been integrated into a single concentric arrangement as part of another aspect of the makeover. This consists of the Set button located in the middle of it, a thumb pad with 8 different directions around it, and the quick control ring located around the circle of the device. However, its operation of it might be a little bit finicky at times.
The rotating LCD screen may appear to be more of a novelty than a useful feature, yet it performs exceptionally well in Live View mode and when recording movie clips. It is particularly helpful when photographing from extremely high or very low places, and it makes it quite easy to take photographs of oneself. Another advantage is that the LCD screen can be flipped over and folded in on itself to prevent the surface from becoming scratched while it is being transported.
The Canon 60D is a first for Canon DSLRs in that it allows you to edit photographs in-camera as well as apply a few creative effects, and even better, it can process RAW images and convert them to JPEGs. This capability is a first for Canon DSLRs. There is also a rating system built right into the camera, allowing you to give each shot a mark out of a possible five.
A built-in wireless flash controller is one of the features inherited from the 7D, and it is one of the most helpful features. This enables you to use off-camera flash without the need to use a connection cable, or to buy a separate wireless flash controller, or to resort to setting up multiple flashguns in master and slave modes. Instead, you can use this to bypass all of those requirements and use off-camera flash directly from your camera.
Image Quality
It is reasonable to assume that the image quality of the more expensive 550D and the cheaper 60D, both of which have identical 18-megapixel sensors, DIGIC 4 image processors, and iFCL metering systems (see further below), will be almost identical.
In point of fact, we put the Canon 60D through its paces in a variety of different lighting scenarios, and the results were virtually the same every time. The only significant difference was that the 60D generated photos that were significantly smoother and less noisy at high ISO settings, although producing photographs that were slightly less detailed in the finer details.
The Standard picture style choice produces colors that are quite true to life, while the Landscape mode achieves a delightful vibrancy thanks to an increase in the saturation of blues and greens in particular. However, there are some concerns regarding the 17-85mm IS lens that comes as a kit lens option with the camera. This lens has very noticeable chromatic aberrations, particularly at the wide-angle end of the zoom range, and this raises some doubts about the quality of the photographs produced by the camera.
Because there is no in-camera processing to filter out chromatic aberration, as is the case with the majority of Nikon’s more modern DSLRs, the only feasible alternative is to shoot in RAW mode and apply repairs using the Digital Photo Professional software that comes along with the camera.
Canon’s Auto Lighting Optimizer provides three levels of control over the dynamic range: low, standard, and strong, in addition to the ability to turn off the feature entirely. It performed a fantastic job of increasing shadows in high-contrast settings when we tested it, but it had an annoying habit of lowering contrast in general images more than we would have liked it too. Active D-Lighting from Nikon performs noticeably better than its competitors.
Even when using the evaluative metering mode, the exposure is weighted toward the active focus point thanks to Canon’s brand-new iFCL (intelligent Focus Colour Luminance) metering system, which not only incorporates luminance and color into the calculation but also gives more weight to the color component.
It is especially useful for backlit portraits, in which getting the exposure right on the subject’s face is considerably more crucial than controlling how the backdrop turns out. However, when shooting high-contrast subjects, even when numerous focus points latch on to bright and dark portions in the frame, the 60D frequently appears to expose the shadows, which causes the entire shot to be far too bright and requires an exposure adjustment of -1EV or more.
Again, in comparison to the metering methods that are currently used by Nikon, the 60D produces results that are considerably more erratic, and you really do need to keep a close check on the exposure settings.
Autofocus is based on a 9-point system, similar to the one found in the 50D; however, each point is of the cross-type, meaning it can resolve detail in both the vertical and horizontal planes. In spite of the fact that individual lenses cannot be fine-tuned (for more information, check the page before this one), we discovered that the autofocus was quite precise, even in extremely challenging low-light settings.
The fact that the center AF point is more sensitive than the others is an additional perk that allows users to make the most of fast f/2.8 lenses. If you are willing to keep an eye on the camera’s metering irregularities, the image quality is pretty high overall; but, in order to get the most of the camera’s capabilities, you will need a lens that is more capable than the kit lens, which is a 17-85mm IS lens.
Final Verdict
When everything is taken into account, it appears that the Canon 7D has surpassed the Canon 60D in terms of sophistication as a sophisticated successor to the Canon 50D.
The Canon 60D seems more like a camera that was created to bridge the gap between the relatively basic EOS 550D and the more complex EOS 7D, as though it is trying to carve out a new niche in the market. This is because the EOS 550D is pretty simple, while the EOS 7D is relatively advanced. As a result, it does not meet the criteria of serious and semi-pro players, but it should suit the requirements of most amateur aficionados.
The picture quality is nearly comparable to that of the EOS 550D, with the exception that it produces somewhat cleaner images at higher ISO settings. However, when compared to the dependability of Nikon’s current metering and Active D-Lighting systems, the Canon 60D’s iFCL metering and Auto Lighting Optimizer frequently produce inconsistent results; as a result, getting great shots requires a little bit more intervention on the photographer’s part.
Additionally, it places a greater focus on shooting in RAW mode, despite the fact that RAW files cost around 25MB apiece, only so that you may modify shooting parameters when you are processing the image.
Canon EOS 60D Specs
| Price (lens kits) | • $ 1,399 (18-135mm) • € 1,249 (18-55mm) • € 1,399 (18-135mm) • € 1,449 (17-85mm) • £ 1,199.99 (18-55mm) • £ 1,399.99 (18-135mm) • £ 1,499.99 (17-85mm) • £ 1999.99 (17-55mm F2.8) |
|---|---|
| Body material | Aluminum and polycarbonate resin with glass fiber** |
| Sensor* | • 22.3 x 14.9 mm CMOS sensor • RGB Color Filter Array • Built-in fixed low-pass filter (with the self-cleaning unit) • 19 million total pixels • 18 million effective pixels • 3:2 aspect ratio |
| Image processor* | DIGIC 4* |
| A/D conversion | 14 bit |
| Image Sizes ( Still) * | RAW • 5184 x 3456 • 3888 x 2592 • 2592 x 1728 JPEG 3:2 • 5184 x 3456 • 3456 x 2304 • 2592 x 1728 • 1920 x 1280* • 720 x 480* 4:3* • 4608 x 3456 • 3072 x 2304 • 2304 x 1728 • 1696 x 1280 • 640 x 480 16:9* • 5184 x 2912 • 3456 x 1944 • 2592 x 1456 • 1920 x 1080 • 720 x 400 1:1* • 3456 x 3456 • 2304 x 2304 • 1728 x 1728 • 1280×1280 • 480 x 480 |
| Image Sizes (Movie)* | 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps) 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps) 640 x 480 (59.94, 50 fps) |
| File formats (Still)* | • JPEG (EXIF 2.3*) – Fine / Normal • RAW • M-RAW • S-RAW • RAW + JPEG • M-RAW + JPEG • S-RAW + JPEG |
| File formats (Movie)* | MOV (Video: H.264, Sound: Linear PCM) |
| Lenses | • Canon EF / EF-S lens mount • 1.6x field of view crop |
| Dust reduction | • EOS integrated cleaning system with fluorine coating • Self-cleaning sensor unit (filter in front of sensor vibrates at high frequency at start-up and shutdown – can be disabled) • Dust Delete Data – Data from a test shot is used to ‘map’ dust spots and can be later removed using Canon DPP Software |
| Auto focus | • TTL-CT-SIR CMOS sensor • 9 cross-type AF points (f/2.8 at center) • Center point additionally sensitive with lenses of F2.8 or faster • AF working range: -0.5 – 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100) |
| Focus modes | • One-shot AF • AI Servo AF • AI Focus AF • Manual focus |
| AF point selection | • Auto: 9 point* • Manual |
| AF Lock | Locked when the shutter button is pressed halfway in One Shot AF mode or the AF-ON button is pressed |
| Predictive AF | • Up to 8 m |
| AF assist | • Stroboscopic flash |
| AF micro adjust | No** |
| Metering | • TTL full aperture metering with 63 zones Dual Layer (iFCL) • Metering range: EV 1 – 20 EV |
| Metering modes | • Evaluative metering (linked to all AF points) • Partial (6.5% at center)* • Spot metering (approx. 2.8% at center)* • Center-weighted average |
| AE lock | • Auto: One-Shot AF with evaluative metering • Manual: AE lock button |
| Exposure compensation* | • +/-5.0 EV • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments |
| Exposure bracketing | • +/- 3.0 EV • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments |
| Sensitivity * | • Auto ISO (100-6400) • ISO 100-6400 in 0.3 or 1.0 EV increments • H (12800) expansion |
| Shutter | • Focal-plane shutter • 30 – 1/8000 sec • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments • Flash X-Sync: 1/250 sec • Bulb |
| Aperture values | • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments • Actual aperture range depends on the lens used |
| White balance | • Auto • Daylight • Shade • Cloudy • Tungsten • White Fluorescent light • Flash • Custom • Kelvin (2500 – 10000 K in 100 K steps) |
| WB bracketing | • +/-3 levels • 3 images • Blue / Amber or Magenta / Green bias |
| WB shift | • Blue (-9) To Amber (+9) • Magenta (-9) to Green (+9) |
| Picture style | • Standard • Portrait • Landscape • Neutral • Faithful • Monochrome • User def. 1 • User def. 2 • User def. 3 |
| Custom image parameters | • Sharpness: 0 to 7 • Contrast: -4 to +4 • Saturation: -4 to +4 • Color tone: -4 to +4 • B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, Gvan • B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G |
| Image processing | • Highlight tone priority • Auto lighting optimizer (4 settings) • Long exposure noise reduction • High ISO noise reduction (4 settings) • Auto correction of lens peripheral illumination (vignetting) • Creative filters (Grainy B/W, Soft focus, Toy camera, Miniature effect) – during image Playback only RAW image processing – during image Playback only** |
| Color space | • sRGB • Adobe RGB |
| Viewfinder * | • Eye-level pentaprism • 96% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.95x (-1 diopter with 50 mm lens at infinity) • Eyepoint: 22 mm • Interchangeable focusing screen Ef-A standard (2 other types optional)* • Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 diopter |
| Mirror | • Quick-return half mirror (transmission:reflection ratio 40:60) • Mirror lock-up (once or multiple exposures) |
| Viewfinder info | • AF points • Focus confirmation light • Shutter speed • Aperture value • ISO speed (always displayed) • AE lock • Exposure level/compensation • Spot metering circle • Exposure warning • AEB. • Flash ready • High-speed sync • FE lock • Flash exposure compensation • Red-eye reduction light • White balance correction • CF card information • Monochrome shooting* • Maximum burst (2-digit display)* • Highlight tone priority (D+) • Grid • Dual Axis Electronic level* |
| LCD monitor | • 3.0 ” TFT LCD • 1040,000 dots** • 100% coverage • 160 ° viewing angle • Dual anti-reflection |
| LCD Live view | • Live TTL display of scene from CMOS image sensor • 100% frame coverage • 30 fps frame rate • Real-time evaluative metering using CMOS image sensor • Best view or exposure simulation • Silent mode • Grid optional (x2) • Magnify optional (5x or 10x at AF point) • Three AF modes – Live mode/Quick mode/Face Detection • Histogram • Multi aspect ratios** • Remote live view using EOS Utility 2.0 (via USB or WiFi/Ethernet using WFT) |
| Flash | • Auto pop-up E-TTL II auto flash • FOV coverage up to 17 mm (27 mm Equiv.)* • Guide number approx 13 m (ISO 100)* • Cycle time approx. 3 sec • Flash compensation +/-3.0 EV in 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments • X-Sync: 1/250 sec |
| External flash | • E-TTL II auto flash with EX-series Speedlites • Wireless flash support *(no multi-group support*) |
| Shooting modes | • Auto • No Flash • Creative Auto • Portrait • Landscape • Close-up • Sport • Night Portrait • Movie* • Program AE • Shutter priority AE • Aperture-priority AE • Manual • Custom |
| Drive modes | • Single • High-speed continuous • Low-speed continuous • Self-timer: 2sec + remote, 10sec + remote |
| Burst buffer * | Approx. 5.3 fps (speed maintained for up to 58 JPEGs, 16 images (RAW)) |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Auto rotation | • On (recorded and LCD display) • On (recorded only) • Off |
| Custom functions * | 20 Custom Functions with 59 settings |
| Menu languages | • English • German • French • Dutch • Danish • Portuguese • Finnish • Italian • Norwegian • Swedish • Spanish • Greek • Russian • Polish • Czech • Hungarian • Romanian • Ukrainian • Turkish • Arabic • Thai • Simplified Chinese • Traditional Chinese • Korean • Japanese |
| Firmware | User upgradeable |
| Portrait grip* | • Optional BG-E9 Battery Grip* |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • Video output (PAL/ NTSC) • HDMI connector • E3 type wired remote control • External microphone (3.5mm Stereo mini jack) |
| Storage** | • SD, SDHC, SDXC cards |
| Power* | • Lithium-Ion LP-E6 rechargeable battery (supplied & charger) • Built-in battery (date/time backup) • Optional AC adapter |
| Wireless connectivity | Compatible with Eye-Fi cards |
| Dimensions** | 145 x 106 x 79 mm (5.7 x 4.2 x 3.1 in) |
| Weight ** | • Including battery and memory card: 755 g (1.6 lb) |
Canon EOS 60D Price
