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Employing some of the technology and features developed for the pricey EOS 7D, the new EOS 60D is lighter, more compact and more affordable. It fills the gap between that semi-pro camera and the entry-level EOS models, clearly targeting the serious hobbyist. In addition to some new functions, this DSLR is the first in the EOS series with two entirely new features: a fully articulated LCD screen and image modification features in Playback mode.

Other benefits include Canon's latest DIGIC 4 processor for superb quality and 5.3 frame per second Burst mode, the latest 63-zone metering sensor, full HD 1920x1080 movie mode with overrides and an AF module with nine cross-hatched focus detection points for maximum reliability. Note too that this is only the second EOS model with "integrated Speedlite transmitter." Because the built-in flash can trigger a wireless off-camera EX-series Speedlite, there's no need to buy extra accessories.

Design and Features 

The EOS 60D is not built with a magnesium-alloy body like the EOS 7D. Instead, it's made of a polycarbonate resin and glass fibre over an aluminium chassis with a stainless steel lens mount. The camera — with its large, comfortable handgrip — is certainly not tiny and it's not a featherweight; it feels as solid as any competing model. The body sports several external controls — though fewer than average — including a rear quick control dial that's also a four-way controller. I missed the more convenient "joystick" available with some EOS cameras but eventually became comfortable with the new type of control.  

Other controls provide only a single function, a benefit over some other DSLRs. The Q button provides quick access to 16 functions, minimizing the need to use the full Menu. In Creative Auto and Scene modes only, the EOS 60D offers two new features for novices. These include nine Ambience presets (such as Vivid, Soft, Warm, Monochrome). These are similar to the familiar Picture Styles available in other modes but produce a stronger effect. Options are also available for setting White Balance in a simplified manner: for daylight, shade, cloudy and sunset conditions.  

Anyone who is not a Photoshop expert will appreciate the image enhancing tools in Playback mode. Creative Filters allow for enhancing a photo with any of five options: Grainy B/W, Soft focus (both with intensity level control), Toy camera effect and Miniature effect. The modified image is saved as a new JPEG to the memory card and another filter can then be applied, if desired. The EOS 60D also allows for converting a RAW file to JPEG with control over parameters such as the Picture Style, brightness, WB, Noise Reduction and Auto Lighting Optimizer.

Pull the 3" LCD away from the body and you'll note that it's fully articulated. This allows for placing the screen at any desired angle, ideal in Live View or Movie mode for shooting with the camera at waist level, at ground level or held above the heads in a crowd. The 1.04 million dot resolution provides a very finely detailed and bright display; dual anti-reflection coating minimizes glare, a useful feature on sunny days. If you prefer to use the viewfinder, you'll find that it's quite bright and adequately large.

Evaluation: Frankly, the EOS 60D is not exactly simple to use considering its 11 Menu pages and 20 custom functions with 59 options. But the wealth of advanced and simpler options should make it particularly attractive to families with novices and experienced shooters. And most of the default settings are very suitable for many types of photography.

Experienced photographers will want to try some of the advanced features, including depth of field preview, two dynamic range expansion functions, automatic correction of lens peripheral illumination (vignetting) and the Dual Axis Electronic Level gauge. The latter provides a display that makes it easy to prevent crooked photos. Note too that copyright information can be permanently added to images using an alphanumeric "keyboard."

When the optical viewfinder is used, autofocus is quick. After shooting several races, including cyclists, go-karts and horses, I checked all the photos made with a 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens. Roughly 70%  were sharply focused in spite of the fast erratic motion of the competitors.

Live and Movie Modes

 Live View is particularly convenient thanks to the articulated ultra high resolution LCD screen with high sharpness and accurate colours. The preview image brightness is also quite accurate when the Exposure Simulation option is set. With most DSLRs, data is displayed in a bar at the bottom of the screen where it's easy to see. The EOS 60D overlays data on the preview image instead; this allows the camera to fill the entire LCD with the display. You can choose the amount of information — including the electronic level feature — to be overlaid by pressing the DISP button.

In Live View, Quick AF provides phase-detection AF that takes under a second. As with any DSLR, however, there's a lot of distracting noise from the reflex mirror and display blackout during autofocus. Switch to Live AF — with Face Detection AF or with Quiet mode — and the camera will use contrast-detection AF. While autofocus is slower in this second mode (about 1.5 seconds) the LCD screen does not black out during focusing.

Set the Mode dial to Movie and press the Record button while in Live View to shoot 1080p videos or excellent 720p movies. Before shooting a clip, you can pre-set a desired Picture style and its overrides, the ISO, WB and exposure compensation. During actual recording the AE Lock feature can be used as desired. If the camera is set for Manual mode, the aperture and shutter speed can be changed while filming; naturally, any change to either aspect will affect the brightness of the video clip.

Contrast detection autofocus is available, but the slow AF in Movie mode can be problematic producing a jerky effect. It's better to pre-focus before recording and then use manual focusing if necessary. Frankly, it's not always easy to judge focus accuracy on the LCD screen. In my view, video capture is most practical in situations where frequent focus adjustment is not necessary. It would work well especially when the camera is on a tripod during a party or a stage performance.

Evaluation: The AVI Motion (MOV format) clips can be edited with affordable software such as iMovie, QuickTime Pro or Adobe Elements 8 or 9 Premiere. For the absolutely best video quality use 1080p mode, but it's also very good at 720p but with occasional jagged lines. The built-in mic provides acceptable sound quality with nearby subjects, but serious video shooters will use an optional external stereo mic.

Video capture with a DSLR — even if equipped with an articulated LCD — is not perfect in every aspect. Autofocus is balky and the clip length is limited, to 12 minutes or 4GB with the EOS 60D. A dedicated camcorder is preferable in some aspects, but very few can compete with this DSLR in terms of very clean, richly detailed videos. While movies can be viewed on a computer monitor — using the Canon software — connect the camera to an HD TV for superb display quality. For the best results buy a Type C (Mini HDMI to HDMI) cable to get the most stunning display that your HD TV can provide.

Speed and Quality

The EOS 60D is very fast in conventional operation. It starts up in a half second, fires up to 58 JPEGs or 16 RAW photos at 5.3 shots per second and processes them quickly. Even while it's writing data to the memory card, extra shots can be taken especially when using a fast Class 6 or Class 10 card. The camera employs 14-bit processing for more tonal values and more accurate colours than you'd get with a 12-bit processor. It also allows for ISO levels as high as 12,800, although the extended ISO option must be enabled in the menu.

My JPEGs taken at more typical ISO levels look great, even in Standard Picture Style without overrides. Colour rendition is quite accurate; saturation is quite high and a bit excessive in the red spectrum. Exposures were often close to ideal, but occasionally +2/3 compensation was required for a light-toned scene. The default sharpening level is a bit low in Standard style but can be boosted in-camera, or preferably later using software. The resolution provided by RAW captures (converted to TIFF with the Canon software) is even more impressive.

My best JPEGs made at ISO 100 to 400 are perfectly clean and silky smooth, suitable for prints larger than 13x19" after a bit of sharpening in Photoshop. The RAW captures were even better exhibiting maximum resolution. Since no kit lens provides optimal image quality, it's worth using superior lenses if you intend to make (or order) oversized prints.

Digital noise is noticeable at ISO 800, but this level is still fine for all-purpose use. In spite of the very small size of the 18 million individual pixels, ISO 1600 quality is highly acceptable, suitable for very nice in 11x15" prints. By ISO 3200 there's a loss of color saturation, some visible mottled color specks and a bit of smudging of fine details. Even so, my photos — especially RAW captures — are suitable for good letter-size glossies. Digital noise — and blurring of fine detail due to Noise Reduction — becomes problematic at higher ISO's, but my ISO 6400 shots still made for decent 5x7" prints.  

The Bottom Line

When compared to the 15.1 megapixel EOS 50D that it replaced, the new EOS 60D is more suitable for serious photographers because of its additional features, higher resolution and the articulated LCD. It's also preferable to the 18 megapixel EOS T2i in terms of feature set, build quality and faster continuous burst speed. All in all, the EOS 60D offers the best value for serious shooters in the Canon DSLR line. If you're considering an upgrade, you should be impressed with its versatility, speed, convenience of operation and image quality under most types of conditions.

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Average Selling Price: $1100 body only, USA; $1200 in Canada. In some countries, the camera can be purchased in a kit with an EF-S 18-135mm lens or with the more versatile EF-S 18-200mm lens.

For the full Specifications, visit the Canon Web site http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slr_cameras/eos_60d