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

[EPLaws]

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?

[EPLaws]

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.

[TTMartin]

80D has dual-pixel continous AF during video. The 60D has no AF during video. And that's before you start talking at least a 2 generation bump in the image sensor. Better video quality, better audio i/o, hdmi out, wifi/nfc, optional electronic zoom lens,  etc

Even the 70D was a big step up from the 60D in terms of video. The 80D just adds to and refines that. 

edit: Oh, and don't forget the touch to focus touch lcd screen.

[TTMartin]

In a nutshell: a video rundown of the Canon EOS 80D's features

[Waddizzle]

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@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.

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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.

[TTMartin]

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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.

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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.

[Waddizzle]

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@TTMartin wrote:

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@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.

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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.

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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.

[TTMartin]

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@Waddizzle wrote:

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

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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]

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@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.

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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. 

[Waddizzle]

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@TTMartin wrote:

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@Waddizzle wrote:

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

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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.

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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.

[TTMartin]

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@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.

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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.