60D first impressions on look and feel

[robonrome]

Found a place in town who had the 60D in stock and got them to match a decent price elsewhere.

I bought this as a replacement for my 40D and will use as a supplement to my 5D2.

First impressions:

That articulating screen is the business. It feels robust, works, and positive in it's movement and is great fun to use. Nice that you can fold in inside for carrying about greatly reducing possibility of scratches etc.

The resolution of the LCD screen is razor sharp compared with the 40D (obvious) but even, I think, has a slight edge over the 5D2 screen in clarity.

Controls on this have been a bit controversial in how much they've changed compared with the old XXd and in relation to 5D2. That said, in just 30min of fiddling around I found it easy to set everything I usually do without reference to the manual. The play and erase, info, live-view and menu buttons are still all easy to find. The more limited options of the upper LCD display are actually easier to use, and the inner ring (inside the selection wheel) d-pad style works fine as replacement for the joystick, though I'd still probably prefer the stick.

It certainly feels solid enough - in no way would it be obvious that it doesn't have a magnesium alloy inner sheel unless you read the specs.

While "on paper" it should only be slightly smaller than the 40D/5D2 it actually does feel to me quite a bit smaller in hand (my hands are very average, perhaps even on the small size). The grip feel substantially narrower and squarer - I'll no doubt get used to this, but it definitely does not feel as natural in hand and as your thumb lays across the back of the camera it only just squeezes in among the re-positioned buttons. With my 24-105 on the body it feels a little less well balanced that with the 40/5D2.

Some nice little things such as the way the battery compartment opens makes it easier to manage with a tripod attachment on the base etc.

Can't say much about the business end of IQ as yet, but on the surface and zooming in on the LCD it does does appear to exhibit less noise at low-mid ISO's - e.g. 400 to 800 than was my experience with say the 50D.

So far I'm impressed and look forward to putting it through it's paces over the next few days - trying the wireless flash functionality and getting creative with that screen.

[themadman]

Originally Posted by robonrome

The resolution of the screen is razor sharp compared with the 40D (obvious) but even I think has a slight edge over the 5D2 in clarity

Yes, only the T2i and 60D have this new high res screen.

[Spacemunkie]

I bought one for the wife today.
It's too good for her - I'm very impressed with it

[robonrome]

Originally Posted by Spacemunkie

I bought one for the wife today.
It's too good for her - I'm very impressed with it

does she know it will have the articulated screen? you could do a switcheroo on a 500D or something and keep this one all for yourself

[jwcdds]

Originally Posted by themadman

Yes, only the T2i and 60D have this new high res screen.

Well, there are more dots for the LCD but that's because they made it 16:9 ratio vs. the traditional 4:3. Plug in the math (dimensions) and it adds up. But I don't think the actual screen performs better.

[coffeeandpie]

I'm glad to see a user with lots of lenses and gear has a 60D!

Looking forward to your continued impressions. This 60D is my 1st DSLR, so I can't offer as much useful feedback as you. But I really like the camera so far.

[tudragan]

sounds like this camera is a good compromise between the rebel and XXd series. Can you confirm whether or not this will control more than 1 flash.

[Spacemunkie]

Yes it will - it's identical to the 7D

[NinetyEight]

Originally Posted by themadman

Yes, only the T2i and 60D have this new high res screen.

Doesn't the 50D also have it?

[Staszek]

Originally Posted by NinetyEight

Doesn't the 50D also have it?

No. The T2i and 60D have a fancier screen.

[TeamSpeed]

Originally Posted by Spacemunkie

Yes it will - it's identical to the 7D

Not exactly, it will control 2 groups I believe, where the 7D does 3, but close enough.

[robonrome]

2 groups would suit me fine... Now if I can just get a Canon Raw Codec that recognizes the CR2 files this produces

[AngryCorgi]

Originally Posted by robonrome

2 groups would suit me fine... Now if I can just get a Canon Raw Codec that recognizes the CR2 files this produces

If you have a mac, you can give this a try: http://www.raw-photo-processor.com

It often times will allow the opening/editing/saving of RAW formats not yet supported officially. There are several output formats, too.

[CalBoy87]

Originally Posted by jwcdds

Well, there are more dots for the LCD but that's because they made it 16:9 ratio vs. the traditional 4:3.

Believe it to be 3:2 not 16:9, it fully matches picture dimension, videos will have a b
lack strip, since they are in 16:9 mode.

[archiebald]

After all the old tosh that has been posted by idiots, it is refreshing to hear a genuine, qualified opinion.

I have the 60D on my christmas list.