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What is the best "next step" upgrade from a Canon 60D?

EPLaws
Apprentice

I would like to buy my daughter (Cinemtography major) a new camera.  She currently has a Canon 60D.  I'd like to find one that takes her to the next level or two.  Suggestions?

25 REPLIES 25

EPLaws
Apprentice
I'd like her to be able to do things with her new camera that she can't do with the 60D
She's not a professional but is moving beyond her degree and trying to learn the practical applications of what she has learned.


@EPLaws wrote:
I'd like her to be able to do things with her new camera that she can't do with the 60D
She's not a professional but is moving beyond her degree and trying to learn the practical applications of what she has learned.

The prior advice of talking to her about what she might want is probably your best course of action. 

 

The 80D is a technological leap ahead of the 60D.  The 80D features Canon's latest "Dual Pixel AF Sensor" technology, which is merely a marble-mouthful way of saying the camera can pe-rform real-time auto-focus in video mode.  But, most serioius videographers and cinematographers use fully manual lenses, and "focus pullers" so that they can focus the camera on what they want, instead of what the AF system guess you want. 

 

I would compare the dual pixel AF feature comparable to using Green Square [A} mode to shoot stills.  You would be letting the camera focus on whatever it decides to focus on.  Again, ask your daughter what is best.  She'll probably love it.

--------------------------------------------------------
"The right mouse button is your friend."

 


EPLaws wrote:
I'd like her to be able to do things with her new camera that she can't do with the 60D
She's not a professional but is moving beyond her degree and trying to learn the practical applications of what she has learned.



Canon's Professional Cinema cameras like the C100 someone else recommended uses the same Dual-Pixal AF system as the EOS 70D and EOS 80D. 

 

Your daughter's 60D can do manual focus pulls like pro cinema cameras. What the 60D can't do and the 70D and 80D can do is automate those focus pulls like newer pro cinema cameras can.

 

Research both the 70D and the 80D as they are both a big step up from the 60D in terms of video.


@TTMartin wrote:

 


@EPLaws wrote:
I'd like her to be able to do things with her new camera that she can't do with the 60D
She's not a professional but is moving beyond her degree and trying to learn the practical applications of what she has learned.



Canon's Professional Cinema cameras like the C100 someone else recommended uses the same Dual-Pixal AF system as the EOS 70D and EOS 80D. 

 

Your daughter's 60D can do manual focus pulls like pro cinema cameras. What the 60D can't do and the 70D and 80D can do is automate those focus pulls like newer pro cinema cameras can.

 

Research both the 70D and the 80D as they are both a big step up from the 60D in terms of video.


The 70D and 80D are not a big step up from the 60D when it comes to video.  Aside from having the ability to auto-focus at real time when recording video, the cameras are functionally identical.  In other words, there is little to no room for growth compared to a 60D.

 

The DSLRs will still have the file size and recording time limitions, which the Cinema EOS cameras do not have.  The ISO range of the Cinema bodies simply blows the DSLRs clean out of the water.  The DSLRs lack a clean video signal out, one that is suitable for recording.  The built-in ND filters are a brilliant feature. Bigger image sensors. 

 

The list of features that cinematographers actually want and use is pretty long.  Yes, the 70D and 80D are technologically improved cameras.  But, that's it.  That's all they are. 

 

[EDIT]  Not all of the Cinema EOS cameras have the Dual Pixel AF technology.  For the C100 it's an optional upgrade.

--------------------------------------------------------
"The right mouse button is your friend."


@Waddizzle wrote:

The DSLRs will still have the file size and recording time limitions, which the Cinema EOS cameras do not have. 


The 60D is subject to the 4GB file size limit and requires manual restart after appropriately 12 minutes of recording. The 70D and 80D both automatically start a new file so they are not limited to 12 minutes of recording. Instead they are limited by European Union tax minutia 29 minute 59 second limitation.

Cinematographers generally deal in scenes of shorter duration which are combined into a longer final piece, so a 30 minute limit is less of an issue for a cinematographer than it is for Joe Citizen who wants to record his child's school performance.


@TTMartin wrote:

@Waddizzle wrote:

The DSLRs will still have the file size and recording time limitions, which the Cinema EOS cameras do not have. 


The 60D is subject to the 4GB file size limit and requires manual restart after appropriately 12 minutes of recording. The 70D and 80D both automatically start a new file so they are not limited to 12 minutes of recording. Instead they are limited by European Union tax minutia 29 minute 59 second limitation.

Cinematographers generally deal in scenes of shorter duration which are combined into a longer final piece, so a 30 minute limit is less of an issue for a cinematographer than it is for Joe Citizen who wants to record his child's school performance.


Apparently, you do not shoot video very often.

 

The only way to get 30 minutes of recording time is to reduce the resolution.  If you want to record in Full HD, you're only going to get a few minutes.  Period. 

 

Arguing about recording time only shows your lack of understanding of the real differences between capturing video with a DSLR and an actual video camera.  I suggest you follow your own advice.  Research what a Cinema EOS camera can do that a DSLR cannot. 

 

My opinion on the matter is simple.  He shouldn't listen to you or me.  He should ask his daughter what she wants, or neds.

--------------------------------------------------------
"The right mouse button is your friend."


@Waddizzle wrote:

Apparently, you do not shoot video very often.

 

The only way to get 30 minutes of recording time is to reduce the resolution.  If you want to record in Full HD, you're only going to get a few minutes.  Period. 

 

Arguing about recording time only shows your lack of understanding of the real differences between capturing video with a DSLR and an actual video camera.  I suggest you follow your own advice.  Research what a Cinema EOS camera can do that a DSLR cannot. 

 

My opinion on the matter is simple.  He shouldn't listen to you or me.  He should ask his daughter what she wants, or neds.


I agree that he should ask his daughter.

Your statements about only getting a few minute of HD video period show your lack of understanding of the capabilities of 80D campared to the 60D.

"Your statements about only getting a few minute of HD video period show your lack of understanding of the capabilities of 80D campared to the 60D."

 

A few minutes [431 MB/minute] is all that you will get before it starts a new file.  Don't assume the transition from one file to the next is seamless.  It isn't.   There will be a definite break.

 

EOS_80D_MovieRecordingTimes.JPG

 

Oh, yeah,   DSLRs tend to overheat rather quickly in video mode, too.

 

The differences between actually USING a 60D and an 80D to record video are really pretty small.  On a 60D, the camera stops, and you have to restart it.  On a 80D, it restarts itself, but you still get a break in the video stream.

 

With a Cinema EOS camera, you get uncompressed HDMI video output, which means you can use an external recorder, and save it any way you wish.  Except for the flagship models, DSLRs are pretty much "point and shoot" when it comes fo recording video.

 

I repeat.  He shouldn't listen to any of us.  He should ask his daughter.

--------------------------------------------------------
"The right mouse button is your friend."


@Waddizzle wrote:

The 70D and 80D are not a big step up from the 60D when it comes to video.  Aside from having the ability to auto-focus at real time when recording video, the cameras are functionally identical.  In other words, there is little to no room for growth compared to a 60D.

 

 


Identical except for things like 1080P video at 30 fps on the 60D compared to 60 fps on the 80D. Identical except for no headphone jack on the 60D to monitor audio while recoding video, while there is one on the 80D. Identical except for the 60D doesn't have a touchscreen and the 80D does which combined with the Dual-Pixal AF sensor and Canon's STM lenses, allows one touch focus pulls while recoding video. Identical expect the 60D doesn't have WiFi and the 80D does which allows for wireless remote monitoring and control of the video being recorded. Identical except the 60D can only record MOV files, where the 80D can record MP4 files. Etc.

The 60D was Canon's first enthusiast camera to have video its video features pale when compared to the 80D. 

 


@TTMartin wrote:

@Waddizzle wrote:

The 70D and 80D are not a big step up from the 60D when it comes to video.  Aside from having the ability to auto-focus at real time when recording video, the cameras are functionally identical.  In other words, there is little to no room for growth compared to a 60D.

 

 


Identical except for things like 1080P video at 30 fps on the 60D compared to 60 fps on the 80D. Identical except for no headphone jack on the 60D to monitor audio while recoding video, while there is one on the 80D. Identical except for the 60D doesn't have a touchscreen and the 80D does which combined with the Dual-Pixal AF sensor and Canon's STM lenses, allows one touch focus pulls while recoding video. Identical expect the 60D doesn't have WiFi and the 80D does which allows for wireless remote monitoring and control of the video being recorded. Identical except the 60D can only record MOV files, where the 80D can record MP4 files. Etc.

The 60D was Canon's first enthusiast camera to have video its video features pale when compared to the 80D. 

 


Obviously, you do not shoot video very often.

 

The features you describe:[ like the ability to auto-focus while recording, or touch screen focus and zooming ] are not as useful to a cinematographer as you seem to think.  It would be highly useful for ENG, Electronic News Gathering, where what is being recorded isn't scripted. 

 

Those features are really not all that useful for a cinematographer, most especially the automatic AF system with a mind of its' own.  Maybe the real time AF would useful for capturing documentary footage, where again, the action is unscripted.  Touch screen control is not very precise or repeateable.

 

I hope the OP heeds the above advice, which is don't listen to any of us.  Ask your daughter.  She will know best.

 

 

 

 

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"The right mouse button is your friend."
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