Introduction

Welcome to the Canon EOS 60D Digital Field Guide. This guide is designed to help you get the best pictures and the most fun from your new 60D. If you’re new to digital photography, the 60D provides a doorway into the exciting world of digital photography. The camera is small, lightweight, and deceptively simple. But if you’ve browsed through the camera menus and screens, you know that there is a lot of power hiding behind the few straightforward buttons on the exterior. And you may be thinking how nice it would be if you knew how to use all the bells and whistles.

That’s one of the objectives of this book — to guide you through the bells and whistles of the 60D. But getting the most from the 60D takes more than knowing what every button or option does. It’s important to know when to use them in your everyday shooting. That’s the second objective of this book — to help you know when to use the 60D’s features and options in everyday shooting. And, of course, as I talk about using the 60D, it’s inevitable that I also discuss photography in general — that’s just part of learning the camera.

You don’t have to be a technical wizard to use the 60D; that’s one of its advantages. But it is good to know that the 60D sports some of the newest technologies in Canon’s stable — technologies that help deliver excellent image quality. For example, the image sensor offers 18 megapixels that produce images that make beautiful prints at 11 × 17 inches and larger. The color out of the camera is lovely and exposures are consistent thanks in large part to Canon’s newest metering system. This system uses a dual-layer metering sensor that reads both illumination and color from 63 zones and combines it with information from the autofocus system. You also get the latest iteration of Canon’s venerable DIGIC processor, which has 14-bit processing for smooth tonal gradations, rich color, an expanded ISO range up to 12800, Live View shooting, and customization options.

This book assumes that you already own the Canon EOS 60D. The camera offers speedy performance at 5.3 frames per second during continuous shooting. With the addition of high-resolution 1920×1080 Full HD video, the 60D becomes a capable multimedia storytelling tool that opens new doors to creative expression. And for fun, you can choose from new Creative Filters and Ambience options to get unique images that you can print directly from the media card.

You may have a good sense of the power of the EOS 60D by now, but you may be using only a fraction of its features. This book is designed to be your one-stop, go-to resource. You’ll learn not only what the camera features and options are, but also when and how to use them — without needing to refer to back the camera manual. You’ll also get suggestions for setting up the camera for specific subjects and scenes using a combination of the 60D’s features. My suggestions are just that — suggestions. You can use them as-is or as a jumping off place for your own settings. Either way, putting the camera’s full power to work for you makes your shooting more efficient so you can concentrate on exploring subjects, lighting, and composition.

If you are new to digital photography or are returning after a long hiatus, be sure to check out the introduction to photographic exposure in Appendix A. I believe that any book about a camera should have staying power; in other words, it should be useful to you for as long as you use the 60D. With that in mind, the book includes both basic and advanced shooting techniques so that as you progress, you’ll have more advanced techniques to explore.

You may be wondering if this is the type of book where you can skip around reading chapters in random order. You can, of course, read in any order you want, but be sure to read Chapters 1 through 4 early. These chapters provide the foundation for learning the camera, getting the best image quality, and getting great color. From there you can explore Live View shooting, video, flash, lenses, and specific shooting areas in any order.

Before you begin reading, know that the best way to learn the 60D and photography is to shoot, evaluate, and then shoot some more. Rinse and repeat. Carry the camera with you everywhere and use it. Be curious. Be fearless. Be passionate. And always look for the light.

The team at Wiley and I hope that you enjoy reading and using this book as much as we enjoyed creating it for you.

Charlotte

Postscript: Thanks to the many readers who have contacted me over the years. Your questions, suggestions, and ideas for previous books continue to influence the content of the books that I write today. I learn as much from you, I believe, as I hope that you have learned from me. Thank you, and keep the questions and ideas coming.

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