Review: Canon EOS 60D specs

The Canon EOS D60 is an 18.1-megapixel camera that, on its debut in 2010, was the first-ever EOS DSLR to offer an articulating LCD screen. The Canon EOS 60D also includes shooting speeds of up to 5.3 frames per second, low-light shooting capabilities thanks to a top ISO value of 12,800, plus an APS-C format sensor that effectively enables photographers to get closer to subjects.

The autofocus in the 60D is a nine-point autofocus system, with three modes, and offers you a choice of either auto or manual autofocus point selection. The autofocus modes include AI Focus, which tracks a moving subject then locks focus on it when it stops and begins tracking again if it moves again. AI Servo mode offers continuous focusing on a subject and never locks—both AI Focus and AI Servo are excellent tools for shooting nature or sports. One Shot mode is activated by a half depression of the shutter button and is best used for still subjects. The 5.3fps top continuous shooting speed also adds to the armoury of nature and sports photographers and fast action can be captured at up to 1/8000sec. 

The camera’s standard ISO values range from 100 up to 6400 and are adjustable in 1/3-stop or whole stop increments. The ISO range is expandable up to a maximum of ISO 12,800 (via the H setting), which is great for capturing very low-light situations, even when shooting hand-held without flash. 

The 60D’s 18.1-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor effectively delivers more focal length benefits thanks to its crop factor. For example, for sports and nature shooting what would be a 200mm focal length on a full-frame camera is essentially giving you a focal length equivalent to 320mm, with the added bonus of increased depth-of-field within the frame. 

The aforementioned LCD screen is a 3.0-inch, 3:2 aspect ratio monitor (which matches the APS-C sensor’s ratio), which has a resolution of 1040K and 100% coverage. It opened the door in the EOS range to offer photographers and videographers the fresh creative ability to shoot scenes from tight and otherwise difficult angles. The LCD screen’s brightness has seven adjustable levels and displays a Quick Control screen, camera settings and an electronic level, which is especially useful for shooting landscapes.

Another at-launch first in the 60D is the Multi-Control Dial, which puts a Multi-Controller and SET button inside the camera’s rear Quick Control Dial—this helps to facilitate easier navigation of settings for both vertical and horizontal shooting. Also notable is the in-camera processing of RAW image files including Picture Style, White Balance (WB), Colour Space, High ISO Noise Reduction, Peripheral Illumination Correction, linear distortion correction and chromatic aberration correction. All of these in-camera editing tools allow you to produce optimised images and generation of JPEG files at various settings, without affecting the original RAW data.

If you want to shoot video, the 60D delivers Full HD 1080p video with manual overrides including exposure values and audio level control in 64 steps. Filmmakers can choose from selectable frame rates of 24p, 25p or 30p with native 24p offering a more cinematic look without the need for post-processing.

The 60D boasts a body weight of approximately 755g and has a body made of polycarbonate resin with glass fibre on an aluminium chassis—this makes it lighter and easier to handle than some magnesium alloy EOS DSLR bodies. The EOS 60D is compatible with Canon’s full range of EF-S lenses.