The Vari-Angle Clear View LCD Screen

Just the other day over on Camera Dojo, I was lamenting with Kerry Garrison about how the LCD’s in Canon EOS bodies didn’t have the resolution.  In addition to having the tilting LCD for a variable angle of view (great for low angle shots when you just can’t get down that low), the LCD is a whopping 1,040,000 dot/VGA resolution!  To me that’s huge, and a long time overdue!

Video Improvements:

This is just insane.  Video HD used to be defined by the 1280×760 standard.  No Longer.  The 60D has a whopping 1920 x 1080 resolution for its video, as well as the ability to adjust it from frame rates of 24p, 25p or 30p!  the fact that the camera retains EF-S compatibility for lenses tells me it’s still  a crop sensor format, so to capture that kind of HD video is just plain HUGE!  For those that want to go after high speed footage, a downgrade to Standard Definition will result in frame rates upwards of 50p or 60p.  Not to the 1000′s yet, but this is an SLR after all, so significant nonetheless!

Bye Bye Compact Flash

With the 60D, Canon seems to be embracing the SD format media cards, because CF is no longer an option.  SD, SDHC and SDXC are all natively compatible to capture the 18 MP images.  It makes sense because the SD format is producing higher memory cards than their CF counterparts, and the extra capacity is really going to be needed for all this HD video!

Canon Commander Mode

To quote the Press Release: “The EOS 60D’s pop-up flash features a built-in Integrated Speedlite Transmitter for control of up to two groups of off-camera EOS Speedlites without the need for an external transmitter, providing an economical solution for multi-flash shoots.”  If you listened to the podcast two days ago, this was my only other lament.  Built in flash control similar to Nikon’s “Commander Mode”.   Finally!

Price

Yeah, it’s only $1099 – basically, making it affordable for most folks, myself included!

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Upshot – yeah, I need to get one (but not until the end of Sept it seems).  And of course, here’s the requisite images:

Whaddya think?  Do you want the 60D?  Is it worth it?  My say is YAY, but let’s hear from the reading audience.  What say y’all?

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Oh yeah, and here’s the full press release…

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Here’s the nuts and bolts of all the specs:

• HD Video @ 1920×1080 and 30 fps
• SD Video @ 640×480 and 30 fps
• video capture up to 4 GB or 29min, 59 sec
• Video recorded in .MOV format
• Input terminal for microphones
• HDMI output
• 3 Live View Modes
• Peripheral Illumination Correction
• Two Small raw formats
• Silent shooting in Live View
• Integrated Cleaning System
• 21.1 MP
• ISO from 50-25,600 (not a typo!)
• 3.9 fps
• UDMA card compliant
• 15 point auto-focus
• 3″ LCD (920,000 dot resolution VGA)
• 150,000 shutter count cycle
• Price: $2699!!!!!

I guess the only thing that surprises me is the frames per second for still captures.  Yeah okay, it’s capturing 21.1 megapixels and at a full frame, but it is also able to capture 30 fps in HD video!  Why is the still frame rate so slow comparatively speaking (at 3.9 fps)?

That being said, the video features are astonishing, as is the low price point!  I would expect the older Canon 5D’s to drop into the $1000 range shortly…start checking the auction sites!  For the full story that gives all the hype and glamour of Canon news announcements, check out the press release here with all the above shots also in high resolution:

Canon Announces 5D Mark II

Anyone else want to salivate over it with me?  What are your thoughts on this new release?  Will this answer the gauntlet of the D3 that Nikon threw down a short while ago?  I would tentatively say yes – but only time will tell!

Video clips:

http://www.canon-ci.co.kr/product/smov/pop01.html

http://www.canon-ci.co.kr/product/smov/pop02.html

http://www.canon-ci.co.kr/product/smov/pop03.html

http://www.canon-ci.co.kr/product/smov/pop04.html