Finally - Canon 60D

I have been itching for an upgrade for a while and couldnt quite justify the 5DmkII or a 7D (nearly though).

I think I shall be purchasing this shortly

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/about_canon?pageKeyCode=pressreldetail&docId=0901e024801e8288

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/canon_eos_60D_preview.html

* An 18MP sensor with 4 channel readout. This sensor appears to be very similar to that used in the EOS 7D and Digital Rebel T21, though the 7D's sensor has an 8 channel readout which speeds up operation.
* The AF system is inherited from the EOS 50D with 9 AF zones all with cross (dual axis) sensors. The 7D has a more advanced AF system with 19 cross type sensors, while the 9 point AF of the T2i has only one cross sensor (in the center)
* The ISO range is now 100-6400 plus "H" (12800). This is the same as found in the T2i and 7D.
* The maximum frame rate is 5.7 fps, between the 3.7 fps of the T2i and the 8 fps of the 7D
* The popup flash can act as a wireless flash controller, controlling up to two groups of speeedlites
* For the first time on any Canon DSLR, the EOS 60D has a tilt and swivel LCD. While this doesn't help much for conventional still photography, it should be very useful in Live View mode and when shooting video.
* Full 1080p HD video at 24/25/30 fps and the same resolution and frame rate options as both the Rebel T2i and EOS 7D. Manual exposure setting is possible and the 60D has the "movie crop" mode found in the T2i
* The LCD has a 3:2 aspect ratio and Canon's current (and excellent) anti reflection technology.
* There is a "wind" filter which can be used when recording audio along with video. The built in mic is mono, but there is a jack for a stereo mic. There is manual control over audio volume (64 steps) but it can't be changed during shooting.
* 63 zone metering as in the T2i and 7D
* The viewfinder has 96% coverage, and is similar to that of the EOS 50D (the 7D is 100%).
* The EOS 60D is no longer CF card compatible and now uses SD(HC) cards like the T2i. The 7D uses CF cards.
* Canon have finally abandoned the BP-511 battery of the 50D in favor of the LP-E6 which is used in the EOS 7D (and 5D MkII). No current EOS DSLRs no use the BP-511/512 Li-ion batteries.
* The weathersealing of the EOS 60D seems to be somewhere between that of the T2i and the EOS 7D. It's not super weather sealed, so it shouldn't be used unprotected in heavy rain, but it shouldn't quit if it sees a little drizzle
* The shutter is good for 100,000 cycles (same as the EOS 50D). Max speed is 1/8000s and sync is 1/250s (same as EOS 7D)
* There is an electronic level, but only for the horizontal axis. The 7D has both horizontal and vertical levels, the T2i has none.
* There is a position on the mode switch for video and a dedicated "start/stop" button. When not in video mode, the same button starts and stops Live View.
* The mode dial has a locking button in the center which must be pressed before rotating the dial to change modes. This makes it harder to nudge the dial and inadvertently change modes. Hopefully Canon learned their lesson with the A2, which had a similar, but notoriously fragile, mode change locking button.
* The on/off switch is directly below the mode control dial (as in the EOS 7D)
* The buffer will hold about 58 JPEGs or 16 RAW images. This is better then the T2i but not quite as good as the EOS 7D for JPEGs.
* The 4 way controller used for menu selection, AF zone selection etc. is now incorporated inside the rear QCD on the EOS 60D.
* The list price is $1099 and that's what it should initially sell for. In time the price will likely dip blow the $1000 point.

...and the downsides of the 60D vs. the 50D...

* No AF microadjustment
* More plastic
* No PC socket for flash
* The "joystick" replaced by multi-axis controller integrated into QCD

Yeah they look good. I went last week and bought Jovana the 50D body for a smacking $800 end of line sale. Was stoked with the price and she loves the new camera.

Looks pretty sweet, and in the price range i'm looking too - but i guess lens is additional cost?

heh, always.

I spent $2500 on a dslr and 3 times that on other gear... but you can get a decent lens for the 60D for $500~$750 or less for second hand. Sigma are a good quality not-quite-so-expensive-as-canon alternative.

Unless you are going to use the features just get a 550D which uses the same sensor as the 60D and the 7D

Do you know approx retail for the 550D?

There's a couple of Canon's in Camera and Camera, about $900 and $1300 from recollection, with an 18-50 lens I think (lens's have that 1.6 scaling thing)

Its not really the lenses that have the scaling. The sensor is smaller so it has a crop factor. Some lenses will work on small and full size sensors, some are made with less glass (cheaper) and will only work with the smaller sensor (which covers most cameras other than the really expensive ones.

EF = full frame 1D, 5D
EF-s = cropped xxxD, xxD & 7D.

The 18-50 the kits come with are pretty average and you can probably pick up one on trademe for less than the extra cost of the kit though it might just be easier to purchase with a kit.

The 1000D is a cheapest but I would probably go for a second hand one rather than the 1000D. That said people upgrade all the time so look out for a deal. I use a 20D and a 5D both of which are fairly old in technology terms.

Was looking again today, the 500d is fairly attractive, $1550 for that and 18-55 & 55-250 lenses.

Would much prefer only one lens instead of having two and mucking around with swapping, but to do so i either need to drop down in quality or head into price territory that's beyond what i've set as a cut off point.

Havent looked beyond Camera and Camera and JB Hi Fi so far

I would strongly suggest you pay a bit extra for a 550D which does HD video and has a much better sensor.

Yep the 550d looks pretty sweet ... i want.

However, i'm very unlikely to use the video. The extra pixels sound good, but the 500 probaby has enough for the size of prints I imagine wanting to make. So, re the difference in the sensor in terms of how the pixels are arranged (or any other tech differences for that matter), will these help me to create better photos in any way?

yes, better processing more options, better photo taking logic. Video is a bit of a gimmick in some regards but its not really something youre paying for so you may aswell get it along side the better image processing.

I had a play with a 550 yesterday and was quite impressed.

Im not sure what the price difference is but have a look on price spy, theres a place in chch that sells canons online pretty cheaply so you might find its in your price range.

So I decided to go with the 500, a 550 was going to cost me another $350 but i felt it was probably beyond my needs. I keep changing my mind back and forth about whether this was the right decision.

A few early shots as I get use to how it works ...

If I had known you could have had my 500D for a good price! Ever since the old lady handed me down her 20D the 500 has been sitting in the cupboard doing nothing!

dont you hate it when people post stuff like that *after* youve spent money.

heh

I looked at the Canon 60D and was sorely tempted. In the end I got a Lumix G3... it just seemed to have all the features I wanted, combined with being easy to use. Digital SLR
I think that we're actually spoilt for choice on cameras nowadays. I used to remember when it was either a Kodak or a Fuji.. and digital was a way off. Some of my camera buddies still use film as their medium of choice...

Gentlemen prefer polaroids

This thread has been bugging me but in the end I got a Nikon D5100. Havent had much time to play with it yet but would appear to be better , if a little more complicated , than my 6 year old compact Sony ;+)

I ended up with the Nikon D7000. Just the way the Nikon felt in use was better for me (I was a D80 user a couple of years ago)

Been tossing up between the 60D and the 550D, think the 60D is more what I need, will be buying in the next couple of weeks.

Oh piss off