Canon EOS D60 SLR Review

As noted previously, the D60 is comprised of two sections, the camera with the exposure controls and the digital imaging section. Here's the color LCD and the control buttons for the digital half of the D60.

The Menu button calls up the menu which is navigated with the quick selection dial. You accept menu selection by pressing the button in the center of the selection dial. The On/Off switch allows the quick selection dial to be used to make changes to the camera section options when the menu is not displayed.

MENU - Enables the onscreen menu system

INFO - In record it displays all camera and exposure settings, in playback it displays camera and exposure data at time of capture

JUMP - In playback it jumps 10 pictures ahead

- Enables thumbnail index or zoomed playback mode.

- Enables playback mode

Animated view of the entire menu system which includes:

• Quality:
  Large/Fine - 3072 x 2048 low JPEG compression - 2.5MB
  Large/Normal - 3072 x 2048 high JPEG compression - 1.3MB
  Medium/Fine - 2048 x 1360 low JPEG compression - 1.4MB
  Medium/Normal - 2048 x 1360 high JPEG compression - 0.7MB
  Small/Fine - 1536 x 1024 low JPEG compression - 0.9MB
  Large/Fine - 1536 x 1024 high JPEG compression - 0.5MB
  RAW - 3072 x 2048 - 7.4MB
  
• Redeye - Enable/disable redeye reduction flash mode
• AEB - Auto exposure bracketing increment (-2 to +2EV)
• ISO Speed - ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000
• LCD illumi. - Enable LCD illumination via the SET button
• Beep - Enable/disable sounds
• Custom WB - Set the custom white balance value
• Parameters - Standard or 1 of 3 custom image processing sets
• Protect - Protect/unprotect images
• Rotate - Rotate portrait mode images
• Print Order - Set DPOF printing information
• Auto Playback - Start slideshow playback
• Auto Power Off - Set auto power "off" value (1,2,4,8,15,30m)
• Review - Review image after capture (Off, On, On w/Info)
• Review Time - Set the review time value (2, 4, 8sec or Hold)
• LCD Brightness - LCD backlight intensity
• Date & Time - Set date and time
• File Numbering - Sequentially number or reset
• Language - Sets the menu langauge
• Video System - NTSC or PAL video output
• Format - Format the CF card
• C Fn - Custom Functions submenu (see below)
• C.Fn default setting - Reset all Custom Functions to default
• Firmware Version 1.0.0 - Display camera firmware rev#

The Custom White Balance is set by shooting a picture of a white card that fills the center circle on the viewfinder. When you select the Custom WB option from the menu it asks you which stored image you want to use to calibrate the color temperature. You can keep these pictures and use them later if you work in the same lighting conditions frequently.

If you have connected the D60 to your computer and created and saved at least one set of custom parameters to the camera - you will have this menu option available. If no parameters exist then this option doesn't show up on the menu.

You can create 3 sets of parameters with any combination of sharpness, color and contrast adjustments and then call them up when desired. These values can be set for Low, Normal or High.

Pressing the INFO button while in record mode brings up a screen full of settings and parameters currently in use. One of the handiest is the amount of space (in MB) left on the storage device - yep, there's a 1GB Microdrive in there.

The Custom Function options are:

1. not used
2. Shutter button/AE lock button
   0 - Shutter pressed halfway locks AE, AF
   button is AE lock
   1 - button locks AE, AF
   shutter pressed halfway locks AE
   2 - Shutter pressed halfway locks AE, AF
   button is AF lock with no AE lock
   3 - button is AE, AF (no AE lock)
   Press shutter fully to take the picture.
   Press shutter halfway for AE lock only
3. Mirror lockup
   0 - Disable
   1 - Enable for vibration free exposures (macro/super-tele)
4. Tv/Av and exposure level
   0 - 1/2-stop increments
   1 - 1/3-stop increments
5. AF-assist light
   0 - Emits/Fires
   1 - Does not Emit/Fire
   2 - Only ext flash Emits/Fires
   3 - Emits/Does not fire
6. Shutter speed in Av mode
   0 - Automatic
   1 - 1/200s for using flash
7. AEB sequence/auto cancellation
   0   0,-,+ (enabled)
   1   0,-,+ (disabled)
   2   -,0,+ (enabled)
   3  -,0,+ (disabled)
   
8. Shutter curtain sync
   0 - 1st curtain sync
   1 - 2nd curtain sync
9. Lens AF stop button Fn. Switch
   0 - Stop AF while pressed
   1 - Actuate AF while pressed
   2 - Press to start exposure timer and lock AE
10. Auto reduction of fill flash
    0 - On
    1 - Off
11. Menu button return position
    0 - Always start with first item
    1 - Go to the last set item
    2 - Go to the last set item and retain after power off
12. SET button func. when shooting
    0 - not used
    1 - Change quality
    2 - Change ISO
    3 - Select parameters
13. Sensor cleaning
    0 - Off
    1 - On
    Sorry, it's not an automatic sensor cleaning routine (don't we wish!), it simply flips mirror up to allow the sensor to be cleaned (by you.)
14. Superimposed display
    0 - On
    1 - Off
15. Shutter release w/o CF card
    0 - Possible w/out CF card
    1 - Not possible