It’s common knowledge that a new Canon xxD series camera is due out within the next year, replacing the 50D, which itself seems to have failed to gather the reception Canon was hoping for. There was a lot of grumbling about the 50D as photographers started using it and realized its weaknesses – or better put, it’s lack of new strengths.
The main fault with the 50D, aside from its lack of newer, faster, better features, is the image quality. The 15 megapixel sensor is just too large – cramming in the extra pixels cost it whatever advances in ISO performance it might have had. It’s a good camera, and I’m happy with mine, but it’s not as good as it could have been.
So, the 60D. I’m no expert on Canon; I don’t have any inside information, and I’m not announcing anything. I’m simply responding to the rumored specifications that I’ve seen across the internet, with my take on them. Mostly, this is just me voicing my opinion on the matter.
Most of the spec lists I’ve seen are the same as the one at Canon Rumors: same megapixels, expanded ISO range, faster frames, new processor, movie mode, and SD card storage. Alternately, you can go with Photo Rumors‘ details: a 12MP APS-H sensor (1.3x crop), and a build closer to the 5D Mark II. Both estimate a price of about $2000.
For that price, it darn well better be an amazing camera.
Lets look at the sensor first. Going down in megapixels, from 15 to 12, goes against every other camera manufacturer. Camera companies depend on increasing MPs as part of their marketing hype, especially to the consumer market, who isn’t usually as informed on the technology. In the 60D, however, this decrease might be a good thing – 15MP didn’t work so well, but a smaller sensor coupled with increased ISO performance could be a great combination. I hope for it, but I don’t expect it, again because it runs contrary to the marketing hype. And as far as crop factors go, I can’t imagine Canon moving to 1.3x, which would render its EF-S line incompatible. It’ll be 1.6 or full-frame; since the 5D I & II are full-frame, the 60D will be 1.6.
Like improved ISO performance, an improved processor is almost a certainly. Movie mode is also likely, although I personally don’t see the point and wish they’d leave it off. Again, I see this as a marketing hype feature, not a useful feature. Professional photographers – the folks likely to drop $2k on a camera – are interested in performance. They buy a high-end camera because it’s the right piece of equipment for the job. Likewise, if they really want a camcorder, they’ll go buy a camcorder. Putting one in the 60D will attract more hobbyists, but in my opinion, it just gets in the way.
SD card storage replacing CF cards is likely. It will render my half-dozen CF cards useless, but it makes sense. CF cards have issues. For starters, they’re large, so their mounting bays are large. They also mount to a series of very thin, very delicate metal pins – and if a single pin bends or breaks, it all stops working. SD cards are smaller and depend on simple contacts – and since they’re now coming in most of the same capacities as CF cards, it’s all the more likely. I don’t realish having to replace my collection of CF cards, but it would be an improvement.
The last point to consider is the battery. Canon has used the same battery in the 300D, 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D, & 50D. It works great, but it’s probably going to change. And there’s a lot of talk – across several companies – about “chipping” the new batteries. Which means that 3rd party batteries are out; the cameras won’t accept any battery that isn’t chipped. The companies tell us this is for our own “protection.” What it’s really about is greed. They want us to spend $80 to buy batteries from them, instead of $25 to get them from a 3rd party manufacturer.
I usually restrict my upgrades to the odd-numbered models, so I’m not due until the 70D. Unless of course the 60D is really stinkin’ amazing, I’ll be waiting. And if the price projections are right, and it does run $2k, it had better be that amazing – otherwise a few hundred extra bucks will get you a 5D Mk II.
