As the newest DSLR in Canon’s prosumer lineup, the Canon 60D has taken on a very important role with a clear direction for the company’s vision. It was difficult at first to place the 60D in canon’s lineup as the 7D had already taken on the role of the 50D successor, and has done an admirable job in its place. Yet there was a clear opening when it came to pricing as the $1000 difference between the consumer based T2i and 7D deterred many from making the jump. When the new specs emerged sporting an articulating screen, full hd video, manual video exposure, manual audio control with separate mic input, and a new lighter body, it became clear what this camera was meant to be. This camera was clearly designed to illustrate canon's support for dlsr video enthusiasts.

Canon’s decision to use the same sensor as in the T2i and 7d, not to improve the focusing from the aging 50D, and failure to offer many appealing new features for the pro photographer led many to criticize the camera. Though, even with these shortcomings, the Canon 60D remains a solid DSLR for many aspiring pro photographers while integrating a slew of dream features to aspiring videographers at an aggressive price point.

At the same time, it is important that Canon does not forget the natural purpose of this camera: to take great quality stills. Nikon has been a stiff competitor in this arena and has recently released the D7000 to demonstrate its lead of this market. The D7000 produces amazing quality stills from its 16mp 14bit sensor while adding some sought after features to what is sure to be a best-selling camera. Nikon also made gains in live video autofocus allowing the camera to continually focus on a clearly defined subject. Unfortunately, this mode is still too slow for most uses and many will find themselves resorting back to manual focus. Nikon still does not offer recording of 1080p video at 30fps or 720p at 60fps leaving it lagging behind the Canon models in that respect. Canon also keeps the video lead by offering full manual video & audio control.

The 60d has allowed Canon to differentiate itself from Nikon and the D7000 with its video enhancements and features. This will help to keep the 60d relevant in a market with stiff competition. When it comes to shooting video, the 60d maintains a significant lead against Nikon and remains an almost certain choice for aspiring film makers and casual videographers. While the D7000 has the advantage for photographers, the differences may not be enough to secure its lead in an increasingly video centric world.