Body elements
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As befits its positioning bang in the middle of the EOS range, the 60D loses the joystick standard on high-end models, but it does retain the all-important rear control dial (something you don't get with a Rebel). Inside the control dial is a multi-way controller and SET button that replaces the joystick. Note that the dial is now unlocked using a button rather than a physical switch. |
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Like the 7D above it and the Rebel below, the 60D gets a combined live view/movie record button, well-positioned for operation by your right thumb. Its behavior is more Rebel-like, though; only when the command dial is set to the Movie position does it start and stop video recording. In all other modes it's used to enter and exit live view. |
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The 60D uses the new LP-E6 Lithium-Ion battery (as seen on the 5D Mark II and 7D), which provides 13Wh of capacity (5Wh more than the BP-511A used in the EOS 50D) and also communicates more detailed battery status information back to the camera. |
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The 60D sees Canon's mid-range migrate to SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (the 50D and all its predecessors were CompactFlash). Given that you can already buy 64GB SDXC cards and that the 60D is being sold as a step-up model for Rebel users, this seems an eminently sensible decision (though one that will frustrate anyone with a large collection of CF cards). |
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Under a rubberized flap you'll find the EOS 60D's various connection ports. From top to bottom: 3.5mm stereo mike socket, HDMI socket, a combined A/V output & USB port, and remote release terminal. The latter is now of the E3 type, and shared with the models below it in Canon's range, rather than the 'pro-level' N3. |
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The EOS 60D has a metal EF / EF-S lens mount which means that it can use the full range of Canon EF lenses as well as the designed-for-digital EF-S lenses. Because the sensor is smaller than a 35 mm frame all lenses are subject to a field of view crop (sometimes called focal length multiplier) of 1.6x, thus a 18 mm lens provides the same field of view as a 29 mm lens on a 35mm camera, a 50mm becomes equivalent to 80mm, etc. |
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The 60D's mode dial offers a very similar range of options to the EOS 550D (Rebel T2i) - and the EOS 50D for that matter. Where the EOS 50D had two user-configurable custom modes, though, the new model only gets one. Directly below the mode dial is the 7D-like main power switch. The biggest change is that the dial must be unlocked (by pressing the button in the middle) before you can turn it, making accidental mode changes a thing of the past. |
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The top plate controls have been simplified so they all have a single function, which certainly makes them a lot easier to use. They give access to the core camera controls of AF and drive modes, plus ISO and metering pattern, with the ISO button having a little raised to dot to make it easier to identify by feel with the camera to your eye. Next to these is a button for the top-plate LCD panel's illumination light. This does mean you lose direct access to white balance and flash exposure compensation (which are now accessed via the Q menu). |
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The flash has the same spec as the one found on the EOS 550D (Rebel T2i) and the EOS 50D.
It can sync up to 1/250s and has an electronic pop-up release, so in Auto exposure mode will raise itself when required. |
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The EOS 60D's hot-shoe can be used with Canon and third party flashes (although sync only on most third party units), and is E-TTL II compatible. Compatible flashes include the Speedlite 220EX, 270EX, 380EX, 420EX, 430EX, 430EX II, 550EX, 580EX, 580EX II, Macro-Ring Lite MR-14EX, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX and Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2. |
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Another new body design means another new (optional) battery grip - in this case it's the BG-E9. We haven't seen one so you'll have to make do with this pretty picture. |
