Canon 60D: Homerun or Disappointment?

[postal]

Despite my initial whining, I must say I like the 60D design very much. It may be lacking in features as compared to Sony A55 or Nikon D7000, but I feel at home with the button layout etc. It is like an advanced Rebel camera... oops, it IS an advanced Rebel camera. LOL. Need to perform more rigorous testing before I come to a firm conclusion.

Yes it does lack in features compared to Sony A55 or Nikon D7000... If u have tried the A55, it feels like a plastic toy... + a electronic viewfinder which u may or may not like it... the D7000 is technically a better camera than 60D but do take note the retail price with kits lens is $2299... minus the kit lens + minus about $100 off the retail price... the body will cost around $1800 to $1900... and there are reports saying that it must come with kit lens... just like D90... u might have problems buying the body only...

Anyway... D7000 is about $500 more than Canon 60D... if your budget is around that range... y not get the 7D instead? U still can use your Canon lens collection... :-D

 

[doodah]

Anyway... D7000 is about $500 more than Canon 60D... if your budget is around that range... y not get the 7D instead? U still can use your Canon lens collection... :-D

Errr... I just replaced my 7D with 60D. :bsmilie: Most people will think I am crazy, but I really want a lighter and smaller body with wireless flash capability. The latter feature is a must for me now.

 

[postal]

Errr... I just replaced my 7D with 60D. :bsmilie: Most people will think I am crazy, but I really want a lighter and smaller body with wireless flash capability. The latter feature is a must for me now.

Nope... nothing wrong with that... the main thingy which deter me from getting 7D is the weight... and yeah... the favourite part of 7D is the wireless flash feature and the 19 AF points... but then I not really into sport photography so I am pretty satisfied with 9 AF points... :-D and luckily 60D has the wireless flash feature...

 

[raydio]

Errr... I just replaced my 7D with 60D. :bsmilie: Most people will think I am crazy, but I really want a lighter and smaller body with wireless flash capability. The latter feature is a must for me now.

Nope. I don't think your crazy. As good as the 7D is... it lacks some features of the 60D.... weight, size and expense. IQ is on par and the 60D is no slouch in other areas. I can see why people would make that switch.

 

[raydio]

Imaging Resource recently updated their camera database to include samples of the Nikon 7000. Now a comparison can be made between the Canon 60D and Nikon D7000.

To my eye the Nikon has a slight edge in detail however the Canon has a slight edge in colour and contrast. Overall, I would call this one a tie.

ISO 100 Left: Canon 60D - Right: Nikon D7000

ISO 3200 Left: Canon 60D - Right: Nikon D7000

ISO 6400 Left: Canon 60D - Right: Nikon D7000

ISO 12800 Left: Canon 60D - Right: Nikon D7000

This is a link to the Imaging Resource website:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

 

[doodah]

Just tested all my lenses on the 60D. AF works just fine. Maybe some slight calibration needed for the 10-22, but I can live without it. AF is stable, does not jump around for every half-press. AF on a red roof-top is flawless, unlike the 7D. Definitely a keeper.

 

[raydio]

Just tested all my lenses on the 60D. AF works just fine. Maybe some slight calibration needed for the 10-22, but I can live without it. AF is stable, does not jump around for every half-press. AF on a red roof-top is flawless, unlike the 7D. Definitely a keeper.

This is one of the first cameras in recent years that hasn't generated a flood of complaints after the launch. The Canon 1D Mk IV falls into this category too.

Canon has done a great job on the 60D.

 

[albertsy2]

Does the 60D have focus calibration capability?

 

[SumoBear]

This is one of the first cameras in recent years that hasn't generated a flood of complaints after the launch. The Canon 1D Mk IV falls into this category too.

Canon has done a great job on the 60D.

Actually it is still too early to conclude....60D still need to be tested by time. So far, I will have to agree it is a good camera and I am happy with it. The downside will be the noise level and focusing issue during video recording, but it is not affecting me much as I am using the 60D for photography most of the time.

 

[Anthony Lee]

I posted in another thread that the 60D behaves like a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The photos taken during the day is excellent but those done indoor under artificial light is horrible. Do you guys have any experience with this? I normally shoot in raw and retune the WB in DPP. With 60D's photos, the raw image is very pinkish and when I tune the temperature lower, it will turn yellowish. Turn it higher it will go from pinkish to reddish. All very unnatural.

 

[nightpiper]

I posted in another thread that the 60D behaves like a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The photos taken during the day is excellent but those done indoor under artificial light is horrible. Do you guys have any experience with this? I normally shoot in raw and retune the WB in DPP. With 60D's photos, the raw image is very pinkish and when I tune the temperature lower, it will turn yellowish. Turn it higher it will go from pinkish to reddish. All very unnatural.

U use AWB? I usually locked the WB to a fix no. & use DPP for either custom WB, Auto or click. Works well all the time. U can also try the "Color Tone" juz below the Shadow parameter under the RAW tab. This one adjust the green & magenta.

After conversion if u still dun quite like the result, can still do minor fine tuning in Photoshop.

 

[Anthony Lee]

U use AWB? I usually locked the WB to a fix no. & use DPP for either custom WB, Auto or click. Works well all the time. U can also try the "Color Tone" juz below the Shadow parameter under the RAW tab. This one adjust the green & magenta.

After conversion if u still dun quite like the result, can still do minor fine tuning in Photoshop.

My workflow is very simple. I shoot in raw, AWB. Download to DPP and retune color temperature to suit the shooting condition. I never adjust color tone but tried and could never get what I want with an image from 60D. Those that I shot with 5D with the same lens, same setting, the images behave totally different and I needed very simple work on DPP only. I will post 2 photos of the 60D shot with the same 17-55f2.8, one at 5pm outdoor and one indoor at about 9pm with artificial lighting.

60D with 17-55f2.8 at 5pm outdoor.

60D with 17-55f2.8 at 9pm indoor with artificial lighting. I tried adjusting the raw image in DPP by lowing the WP temperature and it turned into an ugly yellow. As it is it's too pinkish to me. By the way, the wall color is very whitish.

 

[doodah]

Does the 60D have focus calibration capability?

No, 60D does not have focus microadjustment, unlike the 7D which I previously owned. Having used both 7D and 60D, I will tell you I prefer a camera that AF accurately without any adjustment than one that cannot AF accurately even with microadjustment feature. Besides, AF microadjustment only works for one particular focal length over a limited distance range.

I posted in another thread that the 60D behaves like a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The photos taken during the day is excellent but those done indoor under artificial light is horrible. Do you guys have any experience with this? I normally shoot in raw and retune the WB in DPP. With 60D's photos, the raw image is very pinkish and when I tune the temperature lower, it will turn yellowish. Turn it higher it will go from pinkish to reddish. All very unnatural.

Most if not all DSLRs have white balance issues under tungsten lights. Canon too pinkish and Nikon too yellowish. I deal with the situation by sticking a piece of white paper under my lens cap and use that to manually set the white balance.

I tried adjusting the raw image in DPP by lowing the WP temperature and it turned into an ugly yellow. As it is it's too pinkish to me. By the way, the wall color is very whitish.

Point the software white balance pen on the wall. That should do it.

 

[Anthony Lee]

Most if not all DSLRs have white balance issues under tungsten lights. Canon too pinkish and Nikon too yellowish. I deal with the situation by sticking a piece of white paper under my lens cap and use that to manually set the white balance.

Point the software white balance pen on the wall. That should do it.

Thanks doodah. I used a 18% grey card to adjust the white balance. My former 40D and current 5D does not behave this way. Even if my photos appeared too reddish, all that was needed was to retune the color temperature. The next photo was shot on my 5D under the same condition. The color appear to have more depth whereas the one from the 60D seems to have a single monotonous tone.

 

[doodah]

Thanks doodah. I used a 18% grey card to adjust the white balance. My former 40D and current 5D does not behave this way. Even if my photos appeared too reddish, all that was needed was to retune the color temperature. The next photo was shot on my 5D under the same condition. The color appear to have more depth whereas the one from the 60D seems to have a single monotonous tone.

The 5D shot has blue and yellow shades in the background, so I guess it's something to do with viewing angle with respect to direction of light.

I believe Canon has changed their color presentation for their newer cameras. The new color scheme appears richer in daylight.

 

[raydio]

Thanks doodah. I used a 18% grey card to adjust the white balance. My former 40D and current 5D does not behave this way. Even if my photos appeared too reddish, all that was needed was to retune the color temperature. The next photo was shot on my 5D under the same condition. The color appear to have more depth whereas the one from the 60D seems to have a single monotonous tone.

Hope you don't mind Anthony. I took your photo into Photoshop Elements and used the Colour Cast command. One click and the wall turned white again. I'm not sure if DPP has the same feature. Here is the original photo that you posted earlier followed by the adjusted photo:

Original 60D Photo:

60D Photo Edited with Colour Cast feature in PhotoShop Elements 8:

 

[Anthony Lee]

Hope you don't mind Anthony. I took your photo into Photoshop Elements and used the Colour Cast command. One click and the wall turned white again. I'm not sure if DPP has the same feature. Here is the original photo that you posted earlier followed by the adjusted photo:

Original 60D Photo:
60D Photo Edited with Colour Cast feature in PhotoShop Elements 8:

I understand, but I don't have this software and I hope someone can tell me that it also works with DPP. At my age it's not easy to learn to manupulate a complicating software plus additional investment in both the software and computing power for just a few photos.

 

[raydio]

I understand, but I don't have this software and I hope someone can tell me that it also works with DPP. At my age it's not easy to learn to manupulate a complicating software plus additional investment in both the software and computing power for just a few photos.

I understand. Hopefully someone will be able to help. I would like to help but my knowledge with DPP is limited. However in PhotoShop Elements 8, it is literally one click... very easy to do. The software is about $100 and it is not as complicated as PhotoShop (full package).

 

[Anthony Lee]

I understand. Hopefully someone will be able to help. I would like to help but my knowledge with DPP is limited. However in PhotoShop Elements 8, it is literally one click... very easy to do. The software is about $100 and it is not as complicated as PhotoShop (full package).

Does the software work with raw files? S$100 is alright I suppose provided it's as easy as you said. I don't even know how to load the software.

 

[raydio]

Does the software work with raw files? S$100 is alright I suppose provided it's as easy as you said. I don't even know how to load the software.

Yes, it does handle RAW files very well. Actually some people prefer Adobe RAW to DPP RAW. Installation is easy. Just pop it into your CD drive and follow the on-screen instructions. This version of PhotoShop provides over 90% of the functionality of the full version but at a fraction of the cost. It is also much easier to use.

You can go to book stores like Borders and buy a book published by Adobe (the maker of the software), called "Classroom in a Book". It will detail lesson by lesson the major features of the software. There are many other books, on-line sites and YouTube videos that teach various features of the software.

You can download a fully functional copy of the software from the Adobe site and use it for 30 days. The latest version is #9. The cost is US$100 with a mail-in rebate of US$20.00 making the final cost only US$80.00 (this rebate is available on the web site only). You could also buy it at Challenger and have it installed for you if you are uncomfortable with installing it on your own.

Here is the link (click on the yellow box called "Download Now") to download. Then once downloaded, you can install the software:

https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=photoshop_elements&loc=en_us