If I was to upgrade - Canon 60D - any good ?

magpieant

magpieant

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Hi folks.

I'm off to California in a few months time, and 'thinking' about getting some bew kit whilst I am over there.

At the moment, I am using a Canon 40D as my main camera and have a 20D as a second body.

Mainly use my camera for general everyday stuff, odd landscapes.

I also do the odd wedding here and there ;)

I am thinking about upgrading. My thoughts at the moment are to get shot of the 20D and invest in a 60D. Main reasons are the fact that the 60D will do HD Video and is also meant to be pretty decent with high ISO - handy for low lit weddings!!!

I am more than happy with the glass that I have, having spent a bit of time and money acquiring nice lenses, I feel it may be time to move on up in the camera body world.

Does anyone have experience of 60D ? Would I be better off holding out for a 5D, 1D, ect ???

Not looked at budgets / prices as yet ... just testing the waters.

Let's have your thoughts please.

cheers

Anth
 
magpieant said:
Hi folks.

I'm off to California in a few months time, and 'thinking' about getting some bew kit whilst I am over there.

At the moment, I am using a Canon 40D as my main camera and have a 20D as a second body.

Mainly use my camera for general everyday stuff, odd landscapes.

I also do the odd wedding here and there ;)

I am thinking about upgrading. My thoughts at the moment are to get shot of the 20D and invest in a 60D. Main reasons are the fact that the 60D will do HD Video and is also meant to be pretty decent with high ISO - handy for low lit weddings!!!

I am more than happy with the glass that I have, having spent a bit of time and money acquiring nice lenses, I feel it may be time to move on up in the camera body world.

Does anyone have experience of 60D ? Would I be better off holding out for a 5D, 1D, ect ???

Not looked at budgets / prices as yet ... just testing the waters.

Let's have your thoughts please.

cheers

Anth
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I don't own one but one of my mate does. He upgraded from 1000d and its considered a huge jump for him. There's a lot of new features he had to explore because basically the 1000d got less features. The ISO performance is nice and quite impressive for an aps-c size sensor camera, the video mode is crackin', and the flip screen is a nice addition. But he hardly use it nowadays. I mean the flip screen.
 
Hi, I shot with a 40D for a couple of years and now with a few bodies including a 60D.

I have to say that if you want a bit of lightweight travel kit with video capabilities and great cropability then the 60D is a superb little body. I do not rate the high iso performance though. I would squirm at using the 40D above iso640 and I do the same with the 60D at iso800 so maybe a third of a stop better ? Someone, somewhere will have made a more quantitative intercomparison I am sure.

I do like the 60D screen though.

To me the 40D feels a lot better made possibly due to its larger size and increased weight. I do not buy into this 60Ds are made out of lego nonesense, BTW.

In short, the 60D is a great little camera, I do not think it is a better photographic tool than the 40D though and I doubt it will take better photos in any non-focal length limited situation. It is lighter/smaller for travel though. Whether it is worth the upgrade is up to you ?

Good luck with your choice.
 
I had a 50D until it suffered an accident and the screen smashed. Insurance company said it was beyond repair and sent me a 60D.

I have to say I am really happy with it. The high ISO performance is much much better than the 50D and it just seems faster and better at focusing too. Video is a really nice feature to have, I use that a lot with my own kids. Have never really used the flip up and twisty screen thing though. It is also smaller and lighter, possibly more 'plasticky' than its predecessors in the xxD line, but to be honest that doesn't really bother me.

HTH

H x
 
I just went in and did a quick test shot of my unsuspecting biscuit-munching child at high ISO.

This is ISO6400, which is the highest setting on the camera.

There is noise, obviously, but it is quite nice friendly noise which cleans up very nicely with the noise reduction slider in lightroom 3. I think this is pretty usable.

20110221-1825.jpg


Also a 100% crop without any noise reduction whatsoever. Noisy, yes, but not awful for ISO6400 on a crop sensor.
eye.jpg
 
helen_s said:
I just went in and did a quick test shot of my unsuspecting biscuit-munching child at high ISO.

This is ISO6400, which is the highest setting on the camera.

There is noise, obviously, but it is quite nice friendly noise which cleans up very nicely with the noise reduction slider in lightroom 3. I think this is pretty usable.

Also a 100% crop without any noise reduction whatsoever. Noisy, yes, but not awful for ISO6400 on a crop sensor.
Click to expand...

Those are some nice shots there. It's usable up to 6400 ISO then. And I heard the noise control is better than its bigger brother the 7d! Dont know how true is this though.
 
I was thinking about a 60D but then decided to stump up the cash for the 7D instead. I haven't regretted it. Smashing bit of kit. Has a much more 'solid' feel to it. The screen doesn't swivel, but I don't care for that feature. My previous body was a 30D.

Go on ... you know you want to.

HTH
Neil
 
If you are doing landscapes and weddings, then a 5D2 would be a better bet I would have thought.
 
Thanks for all the replies folks. I will try to address your comments one at a time ...

Tony - indeed, I too had heard that the high ISO settings were pretty impressive, which is tempting for me. The video mode would also come in very handy as well (either for an additional bonus when doing weddngs), or, when out and about with the family - I have a young son, who would be a more than willing subject for any video! As regards the flip screen, I used to have an Konica Minolta Camera that had that on - used it every now and then, but I can imagine combined with the liveview, it would be handy for low / high shots, etc.


gary43 - like you, I too doubt it would be a better photographic tool - it is the addition of the movies and the higher ISO's that would tempt me. I know what you mean about it feeling light too. Using a gripped 40D, when I held the 60D, I was amazed at how light it felt! Would you really not trust a 60D above ISO 800 ??? That's an interesting comment. I currently manage my 40D at ISO 800 - albeit with a little help from the Lightroom sliders ;)

Helen - thank you for your 'tests' - lovely shots. Also interesting when related to gary's comments above, as you show it can be used (what appears to be 'comfortably') up to ISO6400. As mentioned, this may be a big decisive point should I eventually plump for one. If you get time, could you take some similar shots at various ISO's for comparison purposes ? Having my own little 'biscuit muncher' too, I imagine video would be incorporated quite a lot!!! (A walk in the country, nice landscapes combined with fun videos of the kids - I can see it now!!).

Tony (again) - I had heard that noise control was as good as (if not better than the 7D), perhaps NewbieNeil will address that for me ? from Helen's shots, it certainly seems to be impressive.

NewnieNeil - no denying the 7D is a lovely bit of kit. If we're looking at ISO's, what would you consider you can comfortably push it up to ? Also, am I rioght in thinking the 7D has HD Video too ? What are the other main differences between 7D and 60D ? I am aware that there is a significant price rise - so what do I get for the money ?

Thanks again to everyone for your replies - keep your comments and views coming. I'll also include my paypal address in case anyone wants to 'donate' to my cause ;)

Cheers

Anth
 
Also, regarding the 5dmkII, isn't that full frame? Would that not therefore require getting some new glass too ???

Anth
 
magpieant said:
Also, regarding the 5dmkII, isn't that full frame? Would that not therefore require getting some new glass too ???

Anth
Click to expand...


Yes it's full frame, which is exactly what you want for landscape and wedding work. As regards lenses, you would only need to replace them if you bought EF-S.

Since you're earning money from your kit, you can just lay off any expenditure against tax.
 
DemiLion said:
Yes it's full frame, which is exactly what you want for landscape and wedding work. As regards lenses, you would only need to replace them if you bought EF-S.

Since you're earning money from your kit, you can just lay off any expenditure against tax.
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Got to agree with demi here. If u are getting paid with your kit, why don't u jump straight to the 5d2? Great for weddings and landscapes. But cost a lot more to. And to get the full potential of the camera, u will need to get some pretty good lenses as well. Ah I'm making it harder for u to choose now :D
 
Hi Anth

Ref my comment above and the iso capabilities of the 60D.

Basically, if you are willing to use LR/noise ninja/denoise etc then to some extent you can go higher.

Also depends upon how much sharpening you do.

Below is a 100% crop from the 60D at iso 3200 (correction) which has been Denoised (maybe too much) and the detail is hard to recover. Chances are you are better at PP than me though.


test1.jpg
 
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High ISO performance is very decent, not quite as good as the Nikon D7000 and certaintly not up to full frame standard...but very usable nonetheless and great for shooting in horrible British weather! If you are looking for examples of high ISO, you'd be best off looking at shots without flash as it is probably an unrealistic scenario.

Here's some high ISO shots from me, I haven't had the camera that long so I'm afraid no stunners yet and some of them have been pushed a bit, which doesn't help with noise control:

ISO 6400:


Another Lemur, sulking! by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr

ISO 4000 pushed a 1/3rd of a stop in PS:


Matchams (15) by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr

ISO 3200 pushed 1/2 stop extra in PS:


Matchams (12) by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr

ISO 3200:


Matchams (11) by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr

ISO 3200:


Um...Red Lumur? by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr

ISO 2500:


Cheeky snow leopard at Marwell by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr

The camera is nice and light (compared with the 40D) and has a beautiful screen, although I don't really use the flip out function. Viewfinder is nice and big and feels very well put together.
 
Again folks - thanks for sharing your insight and also giving examples of your images.

Firstly, let me inform you that i make a MINIMUM amount from my photography! My full time job is that of a teacher. The photography is a little side line which makes me a few hundred quid a year MAX - certainly not enough to buy new kit and offset VAT, etc.

Also, am I not right in thinking that with a full frame (or more specifically, the 5dmkII), that even some lenses that are not EF-S can extend back too far and cause problems with the mirror movement ?

Having read my above comments about not using the camera to make much money - i.e not doing loads of weddings, I am actually now wondering whether I 'need' to upgrade - the main benefits would be the high ISO for weddings (although used minimally) and also the video (would be used a lot with family, but have a handheld camcorder thing that does the same thing).

That's the problem with photography isn't it ? You always want more!

For example, my 40D, I love it, I feel it's TOO good to become my second body. Therefore do I sell that instead to 'upgrade' ? But then would I get the full benefits ? Ahhhhhhh - equipment envy!! A photographer's nightmare!!

Also, you have to love the way I came on here asking about the 60D, and by the time I leave I'm talking about a 5DmkII.

Anyway, that paypal address ...... :)

Anth
 
Ok, and THEN you just have to think what lenses you want....

Decisions...Decisions...
 
Hahahah - tell me about it!

Do you know any photographers who are actually happy with everything they have and could honestly say "I desire no extra kit. My glass is fast enough and there is nothing on my wish list!" ?

Anth
 
magpieant said:
Hahahah - tell me about it!

Do you know any photographers who are actually happy with everything they have and could honestly say "I desire no extra kit. My glass is fast enough and there is nothing on my wish list!" ?

Anth
Click to expand...

Anth, speaking as someone who has just got rid of canon 24-70L, 135f2L, 70-200f2.8ISL and 100-400L lenses plus a siggy 500 prime and a load of other gear I can assure you that even when you do get great gear there is ALWAYS something else you fancy trying !

OOI, the 100% crop of the coaltit above was taken with a 600f4IS with x1.4 mark III TC attached from about 15+ metres away in REALLY dark, leaden overcast conditions (it is a test shot) just to see if the lens would autofocus really. Thankfully, I have no great wish for the 800 f5.6 that would (probably) send the wife into fits !

Good luck with your choice(s).
 
magpieant said:
Again folks - thanks for sharing your insight and also giving examples of your images.

Firstly, let me inform you that i make a MINIMUM amount from my photography! My full time job is that of a teacher. The photography is a little side line which makes me a few hundred quid a year MAX - certainly not enough to buy new kit and offset VAT, etc.

Also, am I not right in thinking that with a full frame (or more specifically, the 5dmkII), that even some lenses that are not EF-S can extend back too far and cause problems with the mirror movement ?

Having read my above comments about not using the camera to make much money - i.e not doing loads of weddings, I am actually now wondering whether I 'need' to upgrade - the main benefits would be the high ISO for weddings (although used minimally) and also the video (would be used a lot with family, but have a handheld camcorder thing that does the same thing).

That's the problem with photography isn't it ? You always want more!

For example, my 40D, I love it, I feel it's TOO good to become my second body. Therefore do I sell that instead to 'upgrade' ? But then would I get the full benefits ? Ahhhhhhh - equipment envy!! A photographer's nightmare!!

Also, you have to love the way I came on here asking about the 60D, and by the time I leave I'm talking about a 5DmkII.

Anyway, that paypal address ...... :)

Anth
Click to expand...

The last wedding I did, I use my 5d2 which I sold it already. And the wedding was at night. During outdoor session I bump up my ISO to 2000 and the noise is very minimal. I think the 60d will be fine if one stay under the 3200 ISO level. And 60d's screen has got 1080million dots where u can view the images back really well. It's a cracking camera at its price.
 
DemiLion said:
If you are doing landscapes and weddings, then a 5D2 would be a better bet I would have thought.
Click to expand...

Actually he's doing odd landscape's and odd weddings so perhaps he doesn't need the 5D2? :shrug:
 
Tony Stark said:
I don't own one but one of my mate does. He upgraded from 1000d and its considered a huge jump for him. There's a lot of new features he had to explore because basically the 1000d got less features. The ISO performance is nice and quite impressive for an aps-c size sensor camera, the video mode is crackin', and the flip screen is a nice addition. But he hardly use it nowadays. I mean the flip screen.
Click to expand...

Tony S, you were the first person to reply to the OP, so why do you have to quote his whole post in your reply, I mean it's obvious who and what you are replying to, isn't it? :shrug:

Sorry, just one of those little things that ****es me off! :cuckoo:
 
magpieant said:
Helen - thank you for your 'tests' - lovely shots. Also interesting when related to gary's comments above, as you show it can be used (what appears to be 'comfortably') up to ISO6400. As mentioned, this may be a big decisive point should I eventually plump for one. If you get time, could you take some similar shots at various ISO's for comparison purposes ? Having my own little 'biscuit muncher' too, I imagine video would be incorporated quite a lot!!! (A walk in the country, nice landscapes combined with fun videos of the kids - I can see it now!!).

Anth
Click to expand...

Yes I will try and do this at some point when I get a chance. It would make a really interesting comparison.
The key to getting good results at high ISO is you must nail exposure. Whatever you do, do not underexpose. I know it's hard if you are pushing your settings to get a shot in low light but it is ALWAYS better to bump up the ISO rather than end up underexposing IMO. I also think high ISO is much less forgiving to poor lighting and poor focus.

H x
 
magpieant said:
Also, am I not right in thinking that with a full frame (or more specifically, the 5dmkII), that even some lenses that are not EF-S can extend back too far and cause problems with the mirror movement ?
Click to expand...

Nah you'll be fine with any EF lens. Dont EF-S lenses have a slightly different bayonet so they dont fit on FF bodies?
 
The 60d is a great camera most modern Dslr cameras are handles noise well great high resolution screen for shooting video and weird fun angles like canons ads for the camera show. But remember you can have the best Dslr that money can buy but it's not going to be so good if you've not got good glass for it id recommend getting ef lenses invade you upgrade to full frame in the future and you will be able to use your lenses on both cameras also go for L glass because if u want to sell you'll get a lot of your money back :D
 
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