The 60D isn't a Rebel so quit saying it is :-)

First, let me warn you all this rant is going to take you a few minutes to read so bear with me...

First, coming from a person that has owned Rebels for quite a few years now, I can say with a whole mess of certainty and confidence that the 60D is NOTHING like a Rebel. Not in the slightest. nada.

Second, there are 3 types of 60D haters in this world:

1. The 40D/50D owner: Hates the 60D because he/she needs a way to justify not upgrading their current body because they like it and/or can't afford to upgrade. So they look at what their camera has that the 60D doesn't and uses it as ammo to attack a camera they probably have never seen let alone actually used. It makes them feel better about themselves knowing that their camera is still numero uno and the 60D is trash. The 50D owner feels vindicated when they classify the 60D as an entry level because then they in their head at least can fantisize that they still have the latest, greatest XXD model out there... live it up, bud.

2. The 7D owner: The 7D owner is an interesting yet confusing individual. They hate the 60D because they need to justify spending the money they did on their 7D and need to find something, anything to make their camera the more advanced to make themselves feel good about their purchase and to breath a sigh of relief. So they call the 60D a "Super Rebel" and knock it down to an entry level just because it isn't made of metal...yawn.

3. The actual people who tried out the camera yet didn't like it. They gave it a go. Some even bought it. But it just wasn't for them. That's okay. You gave it a try. Kudos. These people actually had the smarts to try the camera before judging it, unlike the majority of groups 1 and 2 that simply looked at a spec sheet and didn't even bother to consider actually trying it out.

The point of this whole rant is to make it very clear that the 60D is by no means an entry level Rebel, and even though it may not be what snooty people call "pro level", it still offers one hell of a bang for your buck. In the end, however, it isn't about pro/semi-pro/amateur. It is about the photographer's needs.

Does a studio photographer who spends his time photographing kids and families really need a Canon 5D MkII? For them the right camera might be a 60D or maybe even a 550D. Does that make him less pro because he chose a practical camera for his needs? If he were a photographer that climbs in the Andes and scales Amazon trees then maybe a rugged 5D would be good. It is about the photographer's needs and what his camera can do, not what it can't.

Take the main differences between the 60D and 7D.

1. 7D has a Micro lens adjustment feature. Do I need it? No. Most cameras out there, pro level or not do not have this feature and quite frankly I never even knew about it until a week ago so I wasn't missing anything.

2. 7D has a metal alloy weather sealed body. Big deal. So you can surf and shoot at the same time. yeehaw. The 60D, by comparison is almost as big and heavy as the 7D, so the 7D isn't gaining anything major (unless, like I said you're a big waterfall photographer or someone who likes getting wet)

3. The 7D has a 19 point autofocus system. Well the 60D has the same system as the 5D MkII and I haven't heard any major complaints from them.

4. The 7D has 8fps continuous shooting. Who cares. Most photographers don't need a continuous shooting speed that high and only a certain few will get any use out of it. It would be an added bonus for the 60D to have it, but it in no way does it degrade the enjoyment of the camera.

The 60D is a great camera, has a great build and is solid and responsive. The image quality is superb and the high ISO capabilities are a nice touch. The top screen for all the camera features whole shooting is a big bonus for me and ads to the "pro" feel of the camera. The shutter is a big improvement over my Rebel, with a simple click as opposed to the mirror slapping around. The LCD screen turns all the way in so you can protect it while in transit. The camera feels great to hold and the 1080P video is amazing, even on a slower SD card (I have a 100x 16Gig)

Those people who are so against it will find ANY reason to bash it. Success in photography starts and ends with the photographer, not the camera.