Canon EOS 60D - A New Kind of Rebel

Introduction

The double-digit numbers have traditionally belonged to Canon's semi-pro DSLR line-up, which offer features from the pro cameras at a lower price than a pro body.

That tradition came into question with the launch of the Canon 7D late in 2009 though, the 7D represented a new category of pro-camera which sandwiched the double-digit 50D and the higher-end 5D Mark II. That probably explains some of the consumer-centric changes which have been made to the 60D as it succeeds the 50D. Now is this a good thing or bad thing? It really depends on which fence of the consumer/pro field you're sitting on, and, as usual, read on to discover why.

Design & Handling

Although the 60D is smaller and lighter than the 50D, it's also no longer a metal body. It has a higher resolution sensor, but now uses SD rather than CF memory cards. ISO range has been extended to 6400 from 3200, and it features an articulated screen with a higher resolution than the 7D. The burst rate has dropped from approx. 6.3fps on the 50D to approx. 5.3fps. The joystick has been removed, but the wheel control on the back has been retained. HD video recording has been added. And the biggest clue that the 60D is being repositioned is the addition of creative filters like Soft Focus and Toy Camera.

But Canon hasn't skimped on the ergonomics of the 60D. Except for one detail which won't bother entry-level Canon DSLR users, the 60D handles beautifully. It has the top-facing LCD of the 50D, which displays helpful info at a glance, and the four single-function buttons along it give quick access to settings like AF mode and ISO. The Mode Dial now locks; a button in the center has to be pressed before you can turn it, and so modes won't get switched around by accident.

A new Live View button sits above the screen and toggles between the viewfinder and Live View on the LCD (similar to shooting with a compact camera using the screen). The same button becomes the Record button in video mode. The articulating screen vari-angle screen and Live View lets you shoot from more angles than before, and shooting from Live View feels responsive. The 60D feels solid, has a balanced heft and its textured grip helps you get a firm hold. A quick press of the Q button lets you gain access to and change settings using the main LCD screen, which is so vibrant it makes your previews look gorgeous.

In short, the 60D is a dream to use - except when changing AF points manually. It's a two-step move; you have to press the AF-Point button on the uppermost right corner and then select the AF point either using the d-pad or the control wheel on top. Photographers familiar with entry-level Canon DSLR cameras will be used to this kind of handling, but 50D owners used to the missing joystick will find this troublesome.

Image Performance

The 60D scores a high 2000 LPH horizontally and 1800 LPH vertically on our test chart, which looks similar in performance to the 550D; the step-below camera. ISO3200 looks like the upper limit for clear and noise-free photos, and that's an impressive number. Beyond that image noise becomes apparent, especially color noise, but we found that they could still be used with some image reducing in Lightroom.

We have to say that the 60D shows better image quality than the 550D. For example, at ISO6400,  images are cleaner than the 550D's. Keeping within the ISO limit, pictures look great, with pleasing colors and detail. The AF system is fast and mostly accurate, but it seems to neglect large masses (like people) for nearer ones (like decorations).

Shooting in JPEG is fast. At JPEG's best settings Canon lists a maximum burst of 58 shots at about 5 shots a second. Shooting in RAW, the 60D's buffer gets you about 16 shots before the camera locks up for a few seconds to write to the memory card. Interestingly, the RAW burst rate isn't too far from the step-up camera; the 7D has a maximum RAW burst of about 15 shots (but JPEGs get you about 94 shots), while the 550D only gets you 6 RAW shots before the buffer fills up.

The buffer is another point you'll need to watch when shooting HD video. Since the 60D records to SD cards instead of the faster CF cards, you'll need to watch for fast write speeds when selecting an SD card (which oddly, don't always correspond accordingly to SD card class) if you plan to record video. Auto-focus can be manually turned on and used during video recording, which consumers will likely appreciate. Manual overrides for settings exist including audio levels.

Sample Photographs

These are sample photographs shot with the Canon EOS 60D. The photos have not been post-processed and are copyright to SPH Magazines. We kindly ask that you do not reproduce them elsewhere. 

Conclusion

The Canon EOS 60D sits at an odd juncture as it makes a break from its semi-pro heritage into the serious enthusiast market. For around three hundred dollars less, you can get a competent 550D, with less able handling, more image noise at higher ISO settings and a smaller buffer. But whereas the 60D handles better than the 550D, the missing joystick makes switching AF points slower. If it matters to you, the next Canon with a joystick is the higher performing 7D, which costs nearly a thousand dollars more.

If you don't need to switch AF points on the go – and for most consumers that's probably so – then the 60D today sits at the best of what you can get from a serious consumer model from Canon with fantastic image quality and an incredible LCD screen with HD movie recording. But for 50D owners who are used to shooting with Canon's professional-style handling and have a lot invested in CF cards, it may be time to start saving and trade-up instead of upgrade.

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