Canon EOS 60D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD (Body Only) -

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C. Vincent (Rochester, NY) –

  

Simply put: Chances are good that your expectations and what you are looking for will determine whether or not you like this camera.

The newest addition to Canon’s XXD line might initially seem like a minor downgrade to the previous XXD cameras, but several new capabilities actually help make this a nice, well-featured camera that will appeal to many people who don’t get caught up in whether or not this is a better camera than it’s predecessor. Canon certainly made this camera for the price point and was careful to add just enough features to make it desirable over the T2i, but not desirable enough to compete with the 7D. In some respects though, it seems like a beefed-up version of the Rebel line (a “Super-Rebel”) instead of a new addition to the XXD line.

As someone who has now had the opportunity to use all three of Canon’s mid-range lineup (the T2i, 60D, and 7D), I have to say that I really like the feel of the 60D. Even though it no longer has the magnesium alloy body, it feels solid. In no way does it feel cheap. I have fairly small hands and the 60D feels like it was made for me. It’s significantly lighter than the 7D and feels like it would be much more friendly on long hikes. The 7D feels much more robust; however, the 60D feels much more “comfy”. It is definitely bigger in size than the T2i, but the angles and design of the camera have a nicely updated feel to them that makes it seem like you are getting a much more substantial camera. The articulating screen was also done very well. My initial worries that the screen would feel cheap and break easily were immediately relieved after using it. The hinges are very solid and feel almost stiff to the point where you are comfortable with it staying right where you want it. It also is very flush with the rest of the body and offers little space in between.

Aside from the feel, the camera takes beautiful pictures. Quality-wise, there is very little difference between the pictures that come out of the T2i, 60D, and 7D. ISO performance is very similar and therefore can not be much of a deciding factor between the models. Most of the decision factors really will focus on which user interface and camera system best appeals to your type and level of photography. Each of Canon’s mid-range models has it’s own pros and cons, and while there are MANY differences between each camera, these are the main points I considered when deciding between cameras to purchase (hopefully it helps those going through the same decision I did):

60D vs. 50D:

(+) New Sensor – the same 18MP sensor that the 7D and T2i have, better ISO coverage/performance
(+) 63 zone dual-layer metering
(+) Better viewfinder – 96% coverage vs 95% coverage
(+) Video
(+) Articulating screen
(+) Wireless flash control
(+) Horizontal electronic level
(+) In camera processing (new RAW processing feature and in camera filter effects)
(+) Control over max auto-ISO
(+) Eye-Fi wifi file transfer functions

(-) The magnesium alloy body of the 50D has been replaced with a polycarbonate body
(-) 6.3 fps shooting is down to 5.3 fps
(-) No lens microadjustment in 60D

(+/-) Compact flash card slot has been changed to a SD card slot
(+/-) Joystick replaced by directional pad

60D vs. T2i

(+) 9 all cross-type AF points vs T2i’s 9 points w/ 1 center cross-type
(+) 96%, .95 magnification pentaprism viewfinder vs T2i’s 95%, .87 magnification pentamirror viewfinder
(+) Articulating screen
(+) Wireless flash control
(+) Horizontal electronic level
(+) In camera processing (new RAW processing feature and in camera filter effects)
(+) Top LCD screen
(+) 5.3 fps vs 3.7 fps
(+) Built in adjustable audio level capability in video

60D vs. 7D

(+) Articulating screen
(+) In camera processing (new RAW processing feature and in camera filter effects)
(+) Control over max auto-ISO
(+) Eye-Fi wifi file transfer functions
(+) Built in adjustable audio level capability in video

(-) 9 all cross-type AF points vs 7D’s 19 all cross-type points
(-) Less AF features (such as Zone AF and Point Expansion)
(-) Polycarbonate body vs 7D’s magnesium alloy
(-) 96%, .95 magnification pentaprism viewfinder vs 7D’s 100%, 1.0x magnification pentaprism viewfinder
(-) Transmissive LCD screen on focus screen on 7D
(-) Only horizontal electronic level vs both horizontal and vertical level on 7D
(-) 5.3 fps vs 7D’s 8 fps
(-) No lens microadjustment in 60D
(-) Shutter life of 100,000 vs 7D’s 150,000
(-) Dual DIGIC 4 processors in 7D
(-) 3 custom settings in 7D; 1 custom settings in 60D
(-) No PC Sync in 60D…

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The three dSLRs in the Canon consumer line-up (60D, 7D, T2i) all share a number of specifications and features, a similar exposure metering system, as well as an image sensor that is very similar, and all with 18 megapixels. Due to this, the image quality and ISO performance of these three cameras will be nearly identical, and all are capable of taking high quality images. So why choose the 60D over the T2i (550D) or the 7D?

-Exterior buttons and controls: Greater ease and control of changing camera settings as you work vs. the T2i. The 60D has nearly every control one needs on the exterior of the camera and it has the rear dial and top LCD display screen that are not on the T2i. Any other controls can be easily accessed with the Q button and menu or in the other menus on the rear LCD monitor. The top buttons of the 60D set only one setting each, so this is less complicated than the multiple-setting buttons of the 7D. Canon has removed the WB button that the 7D and 50D have, but that isn’t a big deal – use the Q Menu. Another change is that the Multi-controller has been moved from the thumb joystick like the 7D and 50D and placed in the middle of the rear Quick-control dial. This doesn’t change how it functions, and should just be a matter of getting used to the difference.

-Menus and custom functions: Greater control over customizing how the camera functions vs. the T2i. The 60D has many more Menu and Custom Function settings than the T2i and nearly as many as the 7D. These settings allow you to customize the operation, function, and controls of the 60D to work how you want them to, including things like exposure increments, peripheral illuminations correction for lenses (fixes dark corners) and customizing which button does what.

-Auto focus systems: The 60D shares a similar autofocus system to the T2i and the previous 50D, with 9 focus points and three auto focusing modes. However the 9 AF points of the 60D are more sensitive than those of the T2i: all are cross-type in the 60D, only the center is cross-type in the T2i. The 60D autofocus system is much less complex than the sophisticated AF system of the 7D with its 19 AF point system and its additional Zone, Spot, and Expansion focus modes – not to mention the custom settings of the 7D which will allow one to customize how the AF system works. However, if you are not an avid sports photographer, a wildlife shooter, or someone who understands, needs, and will use the elaborate features of the 7D AF system, then this shouldn’t dissuade you from the 60D.

-Exposure Metering: The three cameras all share the latest 63-zone exposure metering system and 4 metering modes. That means they will all determine the exposure virtually identically and enable you to take properly exposed photos in most every situation, including difficult back-lit scenes. The size of the areas metered for Partial and Spot metering vary slightly between the cameras, but that isn’t anything critical.

-ISO: Since the 60D shares a very similar sensor with the other two cameras, its ISO sensitivity and performance at high ISO settings is virtually the same. But don’t take my word for it, don’t be swayed by pixel peepers on forums, instead check out the camera sensor tests at dxomark to verify this.

-Continuous Shooting Speed: While the 60D can’t shoot a blazing 8 frames per second like the 7D, it can shoot a respectable 5.3 fps which is generally a more useful rate, and is a higher rate than the T2i rate of 3 fps.

-Size and Weight: The 60D is larger and heavier than the T2i but smaller and lighter than the 7D. It is a very nice size, weight, feel, and design that should be comfortable for most users.

-Construction: The 60 has relatively strong construction of aluminum and polycarbonate. It is better built than the T2i but not as strong as the 7D’s magnesium alloy frame. The 60D also has some amount of weather sealing – more than the T2i, less than the 7D. But for most users, including even those using the camera daily or in travel situations, the construction of the 60D is far more than good enough, strong enough, durable enough, and weather resistant enough.

-Articulating Rear LCD Screen: The 60D is the only current Canon dSLR with this handy feature. This may prove useful for videographers, as well as for setting up compositions while the camera is on a tripod, for macro use, or for using it from unusually low or high vantage points. There is also an electronic level, visible in the viewfinder, rear LCD, or top LCD.

-Viewfinder: The 60D has a large, bright viewfinder with 96% coverage of the actual resulting image, a tiny bit better than the T2i but not quite as nice as the nearly 100% view of the 7D.

-Wireless Flash: Like the 7D, the 60D incorporates wireless flash triggering. It allows you to trigger multiple off camera flashes…

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Quick 1-sentence review: The 60D’s image quality (IQ), features and ergonomics are just as good as the 7D that will undoubtly stay in kit for a long time.

Background:
I come from an entry-level DSLR background and have never owned anything about the Rebel Series. However, I have played with my friend’s 40Ds, 50D’s, 7D’s, 5D’s and 5dMkII’s a lot. My style is a photo journalistic style, where I follow people and take candid pictures or posed pictures. I take pictures of children and at times, just still subjects like food products or decorations. I have previously taken a lot of photos from my old Canon S400 and SD800IS point and shoot cameras. My XSi was and still is a wonderful camera. I still find myself bringing the XSi for trips, so I don’t have to worry too much about the body. I’ve probably taken at least 20,000 pictures on it already. I have done some event photography as well for friends or friends of friends.

I was hesitant to purchase the 60D because of all the flak and hate people were throwing at it. Some of the complaints I heard were:
(-) A Polycarbonate aluminum chassis – a downgrade from the Magnesium alloy
(-) 5.3 fps – decreased from 6.3fps
(-) lack of lens microadjustment – only the 50D had this in the xxD line as I recall.
(-) SD cards – used to use CF cards
(-) Bad product direction seen in the xxD line – Seems like they are going to dumb it down for noobs.

I’ll try to address these separately, but won’t go really deep in them.

Polycarbonate Aluminum Chassis
The change back to a “Plastic” casing has quickly gotten the label of being cheap, less-durable and unprofessional. Cheap, it does seem cheaper, I will agree with that. Metal is more expensive. Less-durable? I don’t know about this. Plastics nowadays are so strong that could withstand a good fall on the floor, water damage and maybe even some fire. [...]. In my hand, the 60D feels very comfortable. It has weight and heft to not make it feel like a smaller cheaper camera. The feel is important here, because this is what you are feeling when you grip your hand to shoot photos. I think the 60D is almost at the borderline of being just large enough to fit fully and comfortably in one hand, meaning, don’t be smaller than the 60D in the future or else it might as well be a Rebel. As for being unprofessional. This is the one that I find that ego and pride get in the way of logic making it irrational. No one in their right mind is going to say you are unprofessional just because it isn’t build like a tank. How often are you going to drop your camera? I bet less than you drop your phone by a long shot. The only impact I get from my camera is knocking into walls or tables. It doesn’t do a thing. Thus, watch the video on durability on the plastics even on the Rebel series that I have already put a link to in this paragraph.

5.3fps – Slower than 6.3
This one is the case of losing something that has been in the xxD line for 2 generations. The 40D had 6.5fps, the 50D had 6.3fps. Now the 60D is only 5.3fps. I see how people are disgruntled here. Losing that extra frame sucks. I won’t argue that maybe that extra frame could have been the right frame. In some way, this is an argument of numbers. Mind you, if a photographer wanted to do some highspeed photography like sports, they probably wouldn’t have looked at the xxD line of products anyway. The would have looked at the xD (1Ds or 7Ds). Oh, also, did you notice that the 5Dmkii only has 3.9 fps? That is a professional Full Frame camera. Do people complain? yes they do. Should you worry about it? I don’t think so. Some people (not all people) just like to see higher fps numbers, but almost never use it. And when they do use it, it isn’t going to be the life saver they may think it is. I had shot with my 3.5 fps with the XSi and that was very good already. It is more about photography technique, and not the numbers and capabilities of the camera. So is it a huge loss of 1fps? Not a huge loss. I agree that is sucks and is a downside, but it is not a deal breaker at all.

Lack of lens microadjustment
Like the previous 5.3fps argument. This one is more of a case of been given something and then taken away right away. Only the 50D had this function. The 40D didn’t have the Lens microadjustment. Once again, it would be nice to have when you need it for sure. But once again, is it necessary to take good shots? No it isn’t. People can still take wonderful shots with the 30D or 40D and they didn’t have this functionality. When it is needed though, it is super helpful to adjust the lens for the body. Most of the time, you won’t have to worry about this. If you really really need it done, get the lens calibrated, hopefully that helps.

SD cards coming from CF cards for xxD line
Some will like and some will hate. Personally, I like this…

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