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Canon 60D or 600D?

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moss1310

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Like others on the forum, I am looking to buy my first DSLR after years of compact use. I am enrolling in some classes and really want to learn and grow. I travel a lot and am tired of all of the bad pictures of beautiful places.

I am looking at the Canon 60D and can get one from a friend at about the same price as a 600D. Is it worth it to get the 60D, or should I purchase the 600D or even a 550D or Nikon 5100? Any opinions?
 
Have you used the 60D? Have you looked at a 600D or D5100? What compact were you using? What makes you think buying an expensive camera will get you better photos? In the right hands any of those cameras will produce stunning photos.
moss1310 said:
Like others on the forum, I am looking to buy my first DSLR after years of compact use. I am enrolling in some classes and really want to learn and grow. I travel a lot and am tired of all of the bad pictures of beautiful places.

I am looking at the Canon 60D and can get one from a friend at about the same price as a 600D. Is it worth it to get the 60D, or should I purchase the 600D or even a 550D or Nikon 5100? Any opinions?
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--
Bruce
 
If you can get a 60D for the same price, of course you should get it. But the 60D, 600D, and 550D share the same sensor and should be about equal in image quality. The 60D gives you extra controls, a better auto-focus system, pentaprism viewfinder, etc., but not better quality pictures, per se,

Nikon is fine also, as is Sony and Pentax.
 
Bruce Miller said:
Have you used the 60D? Have you looked at a 600D or D5100? What compact were you using? What makes you think buying an expensive camera will get you better photos? In the right hands any of those cameras will produce stunning photos.
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Bruce, I have used the 600D and really like it. I am not tied to an expensive camera, just one that I can control more, like my old Canon film SLR. I loved the flexibilitythat it gave me. I also want to grow in my skills and knowledge, but don't want to overdo it either.
 
Make sure you have budgeted for a good lens. Try not to purchase the kit. It is always better to buy the body + lens. I like the 60D, it will grow with your skills and stay with you longer. Its also built alot better vs the 600D.
 
ImageIsEverything said:
Make sure you have budgeted for a good lens. Try not to purchase the kit. It is always better to buy the body + lens. I like the 60D, it will grow with your skills and stay with you longer. Its also built alot better vs the 600D.
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Thanks for the feedback!
 
There are lots of sample shots from kit lenses included with online camera reviews. Download a few of those to examine. See for yourself if they are really so 'orrible.

cheap Kelly
 
Why are you looking at last year's models? Get an Olympus E-M5 and it will blow away that cookie-cutter crap from Canon.
Bruce Miller said:
Have you used the 60D? Have you looked at a 600D or D5100? What compact were you using? What makes you think buying an expensive camera will get you better photos? In the right hands any of those cameras will produce stunning photos.
moss1310 said:
Like others on the forum, I am looking to buy my first DSLR after years of compact use. I am enrolling in some classes and really want to learn and grow. I travel a lot and am tired of all of the bad pictures of beautiful places.

I am looking at the Canon 60D and can get one from a friend at about the same price as a 600D. Is it worth it to get the 60D, or should I purchase the 600D or even a 550D or Nikon 5100? Any opinions?
Click to expand...
--
Bruce
Click to expand...
 
ImageIsEverything said:
trekkeruss said:
Nikon is fine also, as is Sony and Pentax.
Click to expand...
I agree, all those makes make excellent products however Canon and Nikon have the best lens collections with Canon in my opinion having the best glass quality.
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Nonsense. Nikon trumps Canon at least as often as Canon trumps Nikon. There is a reason why these two dominate particularly on the high-end. I used to shoot Canon and now shoot Nikon. I had my reason for the switch, but they don't apply to everyone so I'll skip it.

For most users I am not sure the available lens advantage of Nikon and Canon is super relevant to most users who buy 1 or 2 lenses and stop.
--

See my plan (in my profile) for what I shoot with. See my gallery for images I find amusing.
 
moss1310 said:
Like others on the forum, I am looking to buy my first DSLR after years of compact use. I am enrolling in some classes and really want to learn and grow. I travel a lot and am tired of all of the bad pictures of beautiful places.

I am looking at the Canon 60D and can get one from a friend at about the same price as a 600D. Is it worth it to get the 60D, or should I purchase the 600D or even a 550D or Nikon 5100? Any opinions?
Click to expand...
I'd suggest you try them first. The ergonomics are not quite identical. I have 1000's of shots with a Canon 500d (same body as the 600d) and I never really liked the ergonomics although it took nice photos.

The 60d is probably closer in features to the d5100. Also the extra controls are very handy once you get in to photography. Also the brighter/clearer pentaprism viewfinder is really nice. A 60d for the same price as a 600d is (to me) a no brainer.

If you do want to do some comparison shopping, go to a store and handle a few of them. Also handle the Nikon d5100 and d7000. The d7000 is the only one of this bunch which is weather sealed and a bit more rugged build (if that matters). Of course if you're getting the 60d for a smoking price, it would still be hard to pass on that.
--

See my plan (in my profile) for what I shoot with. See my gallery for images I find amusing.
 
moss1310 said:
Like others on the forum, I am looking to buy my first DSLR after years of compact use. I am enrolling in some classes and really want to learn and grow. I travel a lot and am tired of all of the bad pictures of beautiful places.

I am looking at the Canon 60D and can get one from a friend at about the same price as a 600D. Is it worth it to get the 60D, or should I purchase the 600D or even a 550D or Nikon 5100? Any opinions?
Click to expand...
if you shoot a lot of sports/action shots the 60D has a higher FPS rate and buffer
http://www.popphoto.com/gear/2011/01/lab-test-canon-60d
 
trekkeruss said:
If you can get a 60D for the same price, of course you should get it. But the 60D, 600D, and 550D share the same sensor and should be about equal in image quality. The 60D gives you extra controls, a better auto-focus system, pentaprism viewfinder, etc., but not better quality pictures, per se,

Nikon is fine also, as is Sony and Pentax.
Click to expand...
Yeah, if they're the same price definitely go with the 60d (in my opinion). While the picture quality is exactly the same as the 600D, I really liked it's better grip, faster continuous shooting rate, much more usable raw buffer (16 shots vs 6 shots in the lower models), and some other stuff I'm probably forgetting now.

The 60d isn't overkill, especially if it's the same price. The 7d - that would be overkill (and much more expensive).
 
ImageIsEverything said:
Make sure you have budgeted for a good lens. Try not to purchase the kit. It is always better to buy the body + lens. I like the 60D, it will grow with your skills and stay with you longer. Its also built alot better vs the 600D.
Click to expand...
WRONG WRONG WRONG.

Get the kit if you can. Modern kit lenses are darn good. Sure, they might not be f/2.8 zooms or f/1.4 primes, but they are nice and sharp. If you are going to shoot outdoors a lot, with plenty of light, the most common 60D kit lens (18-135) will give you great range. Complement it with a a flashgun like 430EX II, and you'll get great indoor results too. I mostly use a 17-50 f/2.8 on my 60D, but I find that most often I shoot indoors at f/5.6 - f/8 and a bounced or off-camera flash.

Once you shoot with a kit for a while, you might get better understanding about strengths and weaknesses of that lens, and you will know better what kind of upgrade you need - if you do need one. And then, you in fact can sell your kit lens for pretty much what you paid for it - at least if you bought new. When you buy a kit, you get the lens at a significant discount.
 
scorrpio said:
ImageIsEverything said:
Make sure you have budgeted for a good lens. Try not to purchase the kit. It is always better to buy the body + lens. I like the 60D, it will grow with your skills and stay with you longer. Its also built alot better vs the 600D.
Click to expand...
WRONG WRONG WRONG.

Get the kit if you can. Modern kit lenses are darn good. Sure, they might not be f/2.8 zooms or f/1.4 primes, but they are nice and sharp.
Click to expand...
I'm not wrong. Kit lenses are ok but easily out grown. Why buy an inferior product when you have the opportinuty to start with a better lens now. Get a $118 50mm f/1.8 prime lens than the kit lens way better image quality.
 
PaulRivers said:
Yeah, if they're the same price definitely go with the 60d (in my opinion). While the picture quality is exactly the same as the 600D, I really liked it's better grip, faster continuous shooting rate, much more usable raw buffer (16 shots vs 6 shots in the lower models), and some other stuff I'm probably forgetting now.

The 60d isn't overkill, especially if it's the same price. The 7d - that would be overkill (and much more expensive).
Click to expand...
Good. That is what I have been thinking. I've heard the grip is much better on the 60D, which is a big plus. I'm going to go test one out tonight. Thanks.
 
Seems odd to me to limit yourself to a portrait focal length as a general purpose lens to start out. The kit lens, especially the 18-135, will allow a lot more flexibility than being limited to one focal length. I have never found a kit lens to be all that limiting especially if you are just learning the ins and out of your camera.

There is a lot to be said for a fast 50mm but on an APS-C camera a fast 35mm would be a better choice if you were going to go the prime lens only route. You will at least have a more "normal" field of view and perspective as opposed to the short telephoto perspective of the 50mm. That being said my most used lenses are my 17-50/2.8 and my 18-135mm.

--
John Glover
WSSA #141PX
 
ImageIsEverything said:
scorrpio said:
ImageIsEverything said:
Make sure you have budgeted for a good lens. Try not to purchase the kit. It is always better to buy the body + lens. I like the 60D, it will grow with your skills and stay with you longer. Its also built alot better vs the 600D.
Click to expand...
WRONG WRONG WRONG.

Get the kit if you can. Modern kit lenses are darn good. Sure, they might not be f/2.8 zooms or f/1.4 primes, but they are nice and sharp.
Click to expand...
I'm not wrong. Kit lenses are ok but easily out grown. Why buy an inferior product when you have the opportinuty to start with a better lens now. Get a $118 50mm f/1.8 prime lens than the kit lens way better image quality.
Click to expand...
So I've been running on my kit lenses (2 different DSLR cameras) for the past 4 years. Just when izzit that I will outgrow my kit lens??? :|

Kelly
 
Primes are for someone who KNOWS he will use a specific focal length a great deal. Such knowledge generally comes from actually using that particular length a lot.

As OP states:
ImageIsEverything said:
I travel a lot and am tired of all of the bad pictures of beautiful places.
Click to expand...
When taking pictures of places in travels, the wide end of my 17-50 gets the most workout. Nifty-Fifty is by no stretch a solution to every situation.
 
KCook said:
ImageIsEverything said:
scorrpio said:
ImageIsEverything said:
Make sure you have budgeted for a good lens. Try not to purchase the kit. It is always better to buy the body + lens. I like the 60D, it will grow with your skills and stay with you longer. Its also built alot better vs the 600D.
Click to expand...
WRONG WRONG WRONG.

Get the kit if you can. Modern kit lenses are darn good. Sure, they might not be f/2.8 zooms or f/1.4 primes, but they are nice and sharp.
Click to expand...
I'm not wrong. Kit lenses are ok but easily out grown. Why buy an inferior product when you have the opportinuty to start with a better lens now. Get a $118 50mm f/1.8 prime lens than the kit lens way better image quality.
Click to expand...
So I've been running on my kit lenses (2 different DSLR cameras) for the past 4 years. Just when izzit that I will outgrow my kit lens??? :|

Kelly
Click to expand...
Try one of Canon's L series lenses and you'll forget all about your kit lens.
 
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