Canon EOS 60D DSLR Announced with 1080p video and an articulating LCD
Canon today announced the new EOS 60D to replace Canon’s popular mid-range digital SLR camera, the EOS 50D which has been due for an update after two years on the market. The 6-D represents a pretty decent upgrade with some major changes in new features, specifications and design. The Canon 60D repositions Canon’s mid-range line to be more of a high-end consumer DSLR than a low-end pro’s camera.
The most obvious changes from the 50D are the 60D’s lighter-weight more compact body design, the new 3-inch articulated LCD, and the 1080p HD video recording capability. Like the Canon EOS Rebel T2i and the rest of the consumer-oriented Rebel line, the new 60D uses SD memory cards rather than CompactFlash. Resolution has been bumped up to 18 megapixels and the sensitivity range has been pushed up to ISO 6400 (12,800 expanded) as well, catching up to the T2i and the higher-end EOS 7D on both fronts. The 60D also offers the T2i and 7D’s improved metering system, though its improved autofocus system is not quite up to par with the 7D’s. The 60D does add some higher-end features borrowed from the 7D, such as a built-in wireless flash control, but also includes some more consumer-oriented features like the Creative Image Filters borrowed from the PowerShot point-and-shoot line, as well as in-camera reduced resolution image copies (there’s also in-camera raw image processing).
The HD video recording capabilities are clearly a priority for this camera: Not only does the 60D match the impressive specs of the T2i and 7D (1920×1080 at 30-, 25-, and 24fps; 1280×720 at 60- and 50fps; 640×480 at 60- and 50fps), but it also improves upon its predecessors’ shooting experience with the higher-resolution (1,040,000 dots) 3-inch, articulated LCD. Budding video graphers will also appreciate the external stereo mic jack.
The Canon EOS 60D will be priced at about $1,100 for the body only or $1,400 with an 18-135mm kit lens, and should hit the market in late September.
Update: The Canon EOS 60D is now available for pre-order on Amazon, $1,099.00 for the body only or with the 18-135mm lens kit for $1,399.00. Click here to pre-order the 60D.
