15 Dec 2010 - We were trying to work out who the 60D is aimed at and judging by what weʼve seen so far, quite a wide range. Sounds like more of a conclusion than a mid-review statement, but it needs quantifying long before we get to the end piece. I think this is where Canon have been quite clever, the 60D is accessible from all angles and from all levels, whether you’re moving up, buying a main or even a second body...
Read our full Canon 60D Review...
Key features of the Canon EOS 60D
- 18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor
- Advanced creative features
- Vari-angle 7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 ratio LCD
- Full HD movies
- DIGIC 4
- ISO 100-6400, H:12800
- Up to 5.3fps shooting for up to 58 JPEGs
- 9-point cross type AF System
- iFCL metering with 63-zone Dual-layer Sensor
18 MP CMOS sensor - Ideal for those who want to create large, poster-size prints – or crop images without losing any of the detail necessary for printing – EOS 60D’s 18MP CMOS sensor is outstanding in low light, and produces images with incredibly low noise. Advanced creative features - Use your imagination to enhance your stills with a range of creative filters such as toy camera effect or soft focus. These filters can be applied to RAW and JPEG images giving you creative control after the shot has been taken. Basic+ allows you to apply a creative ambience, when shooting in the Basic modes, giving you creative control without extensive photographic knowledge. Vari-angle 7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 Clear View LCD - Perform detailed checks on images and video or shoot unique or awkward angles with a 7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 Clear View LCD screen, which features an ultra-high 1,040,000 dots for increased clarity. Switch to Live View mode and use real-time visual feed to help capture the best angle. Full HD movie recording - The EOS 60D combines exceptional still shooting with the ability to shoot Full HD (1080p) video. To satisfy your creativity the EOS 60D features full manual control and selectable frame rates. You can also shoot high speed 50/60fps movies at 720P for when the action is really fast. An HDMI connection allows High Definition playback of footage and images on any HDTV. With HDMI enabled TV sets playback can be controlled using the remote control. DIGIC 4 - Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor works with the CMOS sensor to deliver 14-bit image processing, for smooth gradations and natural looking colours. DIGIC 4 also powers advanced Noise Reduction when shooting at higher ISO speeds, plus split-second start-up times and near-instant image review after shooting. High ISO for low light - When light levels fall, the EOS 60D offers an ISO range of up to 6400 – expandable to 12800 for those environments where using flash is undesirable. iFCL metering system - A 63-zone dual layer metering sensor analyses Focus, Colour and Luminance information, providing accurate and consistent metering. Quick Control screen - Accessible using a dedicated button it provides easy access to commonly used functions, ensuring that you are ready to take the shot as it happens. Create a shooting system as unique as you are - The EOS 60D is compatible with Canon’s full range of EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites. Key features of the Canon 18-55mm II Lens
- Lightweight, compact design
- Wide-angle to short telephoto range
- Four-stop Image Stabilizer
- Aspherical lens elements for control over distortion
- 0.25m close-focusing distance
- Super Spectra coatings
- Circular aperture diaphragm
- High-speed AF
Key features of the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS II Lens
- A compact and affordable telephoto zoom lens for use with all EOS EF-S mount bodies EG Canon 1100D, 60D, 50D etc. This lens will not work with cameras that feature a full frame sensor such as the Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 1D X
- The versatile 88-400mm equivalent focal length is ideal for long distance subject shooting
- 4-stop Image Stabilizer with automatic panning detection combats camera shake
- UD element helps deliver crisp, sharp, high-contrast images every time
- Super Spectra coatings combat ghosting and flare whilst ensuring accurate colour balance
- The circular diaphragm creates smooth, even blur for shots taken at large apertures
View Canon's EOS 60D product walkthrough video
Technical Jargon
- What does it all mean? EOS - Stands for Electro Optical System.
SLR - Stands for Single Lens Reflex: Means the camera has one lens that is used for both composing the frame and capturing the image to memory.
EF-S - Are designed specifically for cameras with an APS-format sensor, such as the Canon 1100D, 600D, etc. Cameras that support the Canon EF-S lens mount can also take the Canon EF lens mount. The 'S' stands for 'short back focus', which means that the rear element of the lens is closer to the image sensor.
APS-C - A type of digital camera sensor with an integral x1.6 magnification factor. This means that for all lenses (Canon, Sigma & Tamron) you have to x the focal length of your lens by the crop factor, which is 1.6 (Nikon 1.5). For example - Canon 50mm x 1.6 = 80mm. For a camera with a cropped sensor the field of view you actually get is 80mm.
IS (Image Stabiliser) - Image stabilization technology allows the lens to sense movement from 'shake' or vibrations and instantly apply an optical correction by moving a group of lens elements. Today’s IS systems allow photographers to shoot up to 5 stops slower with no increase in blur. Since the image is stabilised within the lens instead of the camera, the IS system can be optimised for each model. What’s more, the auto focus system has a steady image to work with and the photographer gets a steady image through the viewfinder.
CMOS - Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor – A type of image sensor used in many digital cameras.
f-number - A numerical designation that indicates the size of the aperture. It is inversely proportional; a smaller number like F2.8 is a large opening whereas a larger number like F16 is a relatively small opening.