What's wrong with plastic?

A lot about plastic in the 60D, other than thermal issues what's the problem? What kind of "plastic" is it? Anyone with a "plastic" Glock or Smith and Wesson handgun can tell you it's pretty strong. Seems to me it makes sense to use it, it's lighter and depending on the actual type probably stronger than anyone would ever need.

--
DeepJay

There is no legitimate reason why plastic is bad. It is just another thing that those disappointed with the 60D can mention.

The problem is perception - one that Canon and other manufacturers are guilty of promoting. Metal was always touted as a step-up feature. I guess their past marketing efforts worked.

But, you already knew that... You just wanted to mention Glock and S&W. Of course, only their frames are polymer, their slides are good ole metal.

Steve Novin said:

A lot about plastic in the 60D, other than thermal issues what's the problem? What kind of "plastic" is it? Anyone with a "plastic" Glock or Smith and Wesson handgun can tell you it's pretty strong. Seems to me it makes sense to use it, it's lighter and depending on the actual type probably stronger than anyone would ever need.

Click to expand...

Sidekicker said:

There is no legitimate reason why plastic is bad. It is just another thing that those disappointed with the 60D can mention.

The problem is perception - one that Canon and other manufacturers are guilty of promoting. Metal was always touted as a step-up feature. I guess their past marketing efforts worked.

But, you already knew that... You just wanted to mention Glock and S&W. Of course, only their frames are polymer, their slides are good ole metal.

Steve Novin said:

A lot about plastic in the 60D, other than thermal issues what's the problem? What kind of "plastic" is it? Anyone with a "plastic" Glock or Smith and Wesson handgun can tell you it's pretty strong. Seems to me it makes sense to use it, it's lighter and depending on the actual type probably stronger than anyone would ever need.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

The reason why the hand guns are a combination of plastic and metal is that the maker has chosen the best material for the required application.

The 60D bashers seem to forget that it is not a plastic camera, it is a plastic bodied camera. The chassis is metal. So it is exactly like the handgun scenario, Canon has chosen the best materials for each application.

Plastic is an insulator, holds heat in. The T2i with its one processor overheats during video faster than the 7D with its two processors. The reason is very possibly due to the thermal conductance of magnesium versus plastic. The same very likely would hold true with the 60D. Thus the 60D is not the ideal video camera Canon wants you to think it is.

As you said, thermal issues, but you didn't say what thermal issues. Therefore I pointed them out.

Hi Photog23,

Yes, I would think that the 60D's plastic body makes a better insulator, too, as metal is an excellent thermal conductor. Therefore, it would seem that metal bodies would heat up more on hot, sunny days, and freeze faster in the bitter cold, making them more susceptible to tempterature extremes. Another good point you make is that the T2i, and possibly the 60D, overheat faster while shooting video since they only have single, vs. dual, processors. I believe you're correct about the processor issue, but I seriously doubt that having a plastic body contributes to the problem.

Phil

Photog23 said:

Plastic is an insulator, holds heat in. The T2i with its one processor overheats during video faster than the 7D with its two processors. The reason is very possibly due to the thermal conductance of magnesium versus plastic. The same very likely would hold true with the 60D. Thus the 60D is not the ideal video camera Canon wants you to think it is.

As you said, thermal issues, but you didn't say what thermal issues. Therefore I pointed them out.

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archiebald said:

Sidekicker said:

There is no legitimate reason why plastic is bad. It is just another thing that those disappointed with the 60D can mention.

The problem is perception - one that Canon and other manufacturers are guilty of promoting. Metal was always touted as a step-up feature. I guess their past marketing efforts worked.

But, you already knew that... You just wanted to mention Glock and S&W. Of course, only their frames are polymer, their slides are good ole metal.

Steve Novin said:

A lot about plastic in the 60D, other than thermal issues what's the problem? What kind of "plastic" is it? Anyone with a "plastic" Glock or Smith and Wesson handgun can tell you it's pretty strong. Seems to me it makes sense to use it, it's lighter and depending on the actual type probably stronger than anyone would ever need.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

The reason why the hand guns are a combination of plastic and metal is that the maker has chosen the best material for the required application.

The 60D bashers seem to forget that it is not a plastic camera, it is a plastic bodied camera. The chassis is metal. So it is exactly like the handgun scenario, Canon has chosen the best materials for each application.

Click to expand...

I like your analogy regarding how polymers and metal are combined in both firearm and camera manufacturing. However, I am skeptical about the manufacturers choosing the BEST materials for each application. They choose materials that sufficiently exceed the minimum requirements. True, for most of us, that is all we need.

What the consumer defines as the best, may not be what the manufacturers define as the best. However, so long as no one gets hurt, its all good.

The funny thing (to me, at least) is that before the 60D was released, Canon released the new macro 100 2.8 L with plastic barrels, and nobody made a peep about it. Then along comes the 60D, and people are screaming bloody murder...

I had my XT/350D for four years before I got my 50D, and while I like knowing the 50 has a metal body, I never had any bad feelings about the XT's plastic body. It always felt perfectly solid, with no give or flex of any kind.

I suspect most people complaining about the plastic body 60D are more offended by the fact that the xxD line has been "dumbed-down" (with the gratuitous slap in the face of removing MFA), and feel that the plastic body is emblematic of that dumbing down.
--
Canon since 1969

Sidekicker said:

You just wanted to mention Glock and S&W. Of course, only their frames are polymer, their slides are good ole metal.

Click to expand...

The slides are metal not for strength, but for weight. A plastic slide would never weigh enough to do its job.

--
Canon since 1969

With maybe platinum trimming.
--

Darkness is the monster and your shutter is your sword, aperture your shield and iso your armor. Strike fast with your sword and defend well with your shield and hope your armor holds up.

Sidekicker said:

archiebald said:

Sidekicker said:

There is no legitimate reason why plastic is bad. It is just another thing that those disappointed with the 60D can mention.

The problem is perception - one that Canon and other manufacturers are guilty of promoting. Metal was always touted as a step-up feature. I guess their past marketing efforts worked.

But, you already knew that... You just wanted to mention Glock and S&W. Of course, only their frames are polymer, their slides are good ole metal.

Steve Novin said:

A lot about plastic in the 60D, other than thermal issues what's the problem? What kind of "plastic" is it? Anyone with a "plastic" Glock or Smith and Wesson handgun can tell you it's pretty strong. Seems to me it makes sense to use it, it's lighter and depending on the actual type probably stronger than anyone would ever need.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

The reason why the hand guns are a combination of plastic and metal is that the maker has chosen the best material for the required application.

The 60D bashers seem to forget that it is not a plastic camera, it is a plastic bodied camera. The chassis is metal. So it is exactly like the handgun scenario, Canon has chosen the best materials for each application.

Click to expand...

I like your analogy regarding how polymers and metal are combined in both firearm and camera manufacturing. However, I am skeptical about the manufacturers choosing the BEST materials for each application. They choose materials that sufficiently exceed the minimum requirements. True, for most of us, that is all we need.

What the consumer defines as the best, may not be what the manufacturers define as the best. However, so long as no one gets hurt, its all good.

Click to expand...

I concur, lets replace "best" with "most efficient"

Polycarbonite is very strong. Interestingly, many in this forum used to sneer down at the plastic d90 when comparing it to the 50D. Times do change, eh?

my t2i has NEVER overheated with video.

Correct, that's why I needed a 21lb Wolf spring for Corbon loads in my Les Baer, and still should have used recoil buffers...

Sorry, we're getting off track.

Wayndom said:

Sidekicker said:

You just wanted to mention Glock and S&W. Of course, only their frames are polymer, their slides are good ole metal.

Click to expand...

The slides are metal not for strength, but for weight. A plastic slide would never weigh enough to do its job.

--
Canon since 1969

Click to expand...

You can blame Nikon D7000 for the plastic hatred. Had Nikon d7000 remain a plastic camera like the current Nikon D90, we would have heard much less complain from current canon owners.

Unfortunately for canon, Nikon spice up the d7000 with many "unexpected" spec. Things like

• 100% viewfinder just like a Canon 7d
• Electronic Level indicator just like a Canon 7d

• new 39-point AF system with 3D tracking ( big jump from d90's 11 points AF )
  • while 60d still use the same 9 points AF since 20d but with 9 X-type sensor

• Nikon improves from 4.5 FPS to 6 FPS, while
  • Canon drop from 6.3 FPS in 50d to just 5.3 FPS in 60d

• Nikon adds metal body construction
  • Canon remove metal body construction

Other removal

• WB dedicated buttons
• WB indicator from top LCD
• Joystick is missing (no 1 click AF selection)
• Micro AF adjustment
• Ultra-fast udma Compact Flash support
• only 1 customized mode dial ( old canon 40d has THREE C1, C2, C3; 50d has TWO C1, C2; now 60d only has 1 C )

You get the idea! For a mere $100 more than Canon 60d, Nikon give you more feature for your money without removing feature from previous Nikon d90.

Canon 60d - by itself - is fine camera. But when one start to compare against a Nikon D7000 that cost a mere $100 more, that is when the bitching N' moaning happens ;-). Sometimes, it pays to see no evil, hear no evil.

In the long run, I believe Nikon d7000 will be GOOD for canon users. Canon will surely response against Nikon - it always has. Canon surprised everyone by replacing the 10mp Canon 40d with a 15mp Canon 50d in just 1 year to address the complain about low MP and low resolution 230k LCD. I strongly believe ( okay...call it blind FAITH... ) that the next Canon 70d will be as amazing as Niikon d7000 is and more.

Steve Novin said:

A lot about plastic in the 60D, other than thermal issues what's the problem? What kind of "plastic" is it? Anyone with a "plastic" Glock or Smith and Wesson handgun can tell you it's pretty strong. Seems to me it makes sense to use it, it's lighter and depending on the actual type probably stronger than anyone would ever need.

Click to expand...

thermal issue is absurd...do you think canon didnt design the camera to be able to release the excessive heat when it is used heavily?...

Plastic is strong and very resistant.. the only disadvantage i could think off is that the camera would be a little lighter which could be a problem if you are going to use really big and heavy lenses..the camera could be a little out of ballance...

canon 60D is outstanding and has a lot to offer

How come everytime there is a 7000d vs 60d post its always 7000d has this 60d left out that? with the pluses of the 60d convieniently left out?

lets face it they are both similiar cameras that will not only serve thier respective user well but also make their respective company tonnes of money.

Many of the so called advantages of the 7000d are not significant (at least to me adn I suspect most others) and are easilie offset by advantages on the 60d.

eg.

-I dont care about dual card slots or 100% view finder- easily ofset by the better lcd screen on 60d along with an articulated screen.

• 6fps nikon vs 5.3fps canon-inconsequential by the way the canon buffer is 16 full size raw files what is the nikon? I couldnt find it on the spec sheet so this could be a big deal.

-plastice vs metal -silly arguments no real difference at all

AF- not sure about this as we dont know how well the AF will work I assume it will work pretty well. But if most of us use the center point why do we need 39 low sensitivity AF points??

-The 60d does have full time manual selection of the AF points using the d-pad then you press the set button to choose just the center point so there is 1 click AF

-MA- nuff been said about that for some a major point of contention for others a non issue.

Absolutely nothing. Canon made a trade off figuring you'd prefer the lighter weight/cost to more durability/balancing with heavy lenses. I wish the D7000 was "plastic" like my D40 =)

I took a spill while out hiking a few weeks ago. My plastic Tokina lens broke. My two Canon L's did not. My magnesium-reinforced 40D did not.

I didn't own any lenses from Canon or Nikon, and had to make the choice between the 60D and the D7000. I went with the 60D. The 60D image quality was already known to be exact to the 7D, which is a fantastically rated camera. We all still have NO CLUE whatsoever how the Nikon image quality will pan out. It's an unknown. 6fps vs. 5.3 didn't mean anything to me at all as I don't shoot sports. Better video quality of the 60D was important to me. All in all the 60D was the winner with me based upon it's features. The amount of people buying a camera who intend on messing with micro adjustements of the focus are about .001% of the camera buying market. If my lens isn't focusing correctly, the lens better be fixed and calibrated. Not me having to do the fixing on my end. So here you have a real person who didn't have any prior relationship with Canon or Nikon, and I picked the 60D. That will multiply itself out all over the country when people do the same comparisons. If the D7000 falters even in the slightest bit against the 60D when the reviews are done, they won't stand a chance against the 60D. The only reason they do now is that people are looking at paper specs. And in my case, they couldn't even win on that front.