About Canon's 60D SLR

After months of speculation, Canon has finally announced the 60D SLR. As the follow-up to the 50D, which has been on the market for over two years, the 60D sits between the Rebel T2i and the 7D in Canon's hierarchy. The camera features an 18-megapixel APS-C sensor, a bump up from the 50D's 15 MP resolution. It offers the same high-definition video functions as the 7D, able to capture 1080p footage at 24 or 30 frames per second and 720p footage at 60 frames per second. The 60D uses the3-inch live view LCD screen just like the 50D, but mounts it on a pivoting arm so the screen can be flipped out and tilted for difficult shots.

The 60D distinguishes itself from the T2i and the 7D with its wide selection of in-camera processing features. 


It can process RAW image files in the camera itself, letting users adjust white balance, color space, and other settings and tweaks using the non-destructive image format without having to load it on a computer. The camera can also copy and resize photos for display on HDTVs, and it features a full selection of artistic image filters, like those found on Canon Powershot compacts.

The other differences between the three cameras are more subtle, relating more to their image quality and physical build quality than quantifiable attributes. As a Rebel, Canon's entry-level SLR series, the T2i is lighter than the 7D and 60D at just 18.7 ounces, and its image quality (while still very good) is slightly inferior to the 7D. The 7D is a much more heavy duty camera, weighing 28.9 ounces and offering superior image quality out of the three. The 60D sits in the middle, heavier than the T2i but lighter than the 7D at 23.8 ounces. According to some reports, the 60D offers similar noise levels to the T2i, and is closer to the Rebel than the 7D in terms of overall image quality, but that analysis requires a comprehensive review. The three cameras also offer vastly different continuous shooting modes; the T2i is the slowest, topping out at 3.7 shots per second, while the 60D and 7D can respectively capture 5.3 and 8 shots per second.


At $1,099 for just the body or $1,399 for the body with an 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens, the 60D is definitely not an entry-level camera. It has the features  necessary for professional work, and while it doesn't offer the image quality or feature set of the 7D, 5D, or 1D Mark IV, it's still a solid that a skilled photographer can use professionally.