Canon EOS 60D DSLR Camera

Canon has introduced a DSLR camera that captures still images and high-definition video, becoming the latest major vendor to launch a combo camera this month for the advanced amateur or semi-professional photographer.

The new EOS 60D unveiled Thursday is the successor to Canon's EOS 50D. The latest offering's new features include a 3-inch diagonal LCD screen that swings out to the side and can be adjusted to a variety of angles for viewing when shooting.

The EOS 60D is designed primarily for the advanced amateur. "The EOS 60D has been designed to offer the image-capture and the full HD video features customers are looking for as they continue to expand their photographic skills," Yuichi Ishizuka, executive VP and general manager of Canon's consumer imaging group, said in a statement.

The new "vari-angle" Clear View LCD is particularly helpful when composing low-angle and overhead shots, whether still images or video clips, Canon said. The EOS 60D is the first camera in the EOS line to get the adjustable screen.

Another first for the EOS 60D is combining a multi-controller and a set button in the same dial on the back of the camera. The layout streamlines camera navigation for vertical and horizontal shooting, according to Canon. In addition, the company has added a locking-mode dial on the back to prevent inadvertent changes in a photographer's selected shooting mode.

For more advanced photographers, Canon has added in-camera RAW image processing features, such as picture style, white balance, color space, noise reduction, peripheral illumination correction, and linear distortion correction. The editing makes it possible for photographers to optimize images in the field and generate JPEG files at various resolution and compression settings for immediate sharing on the web. During the manipulation, the original RAW data remains untouched.

The EOS 60D can generate images at 1920 x 1280 pixels for displaying on a high-definition TV and 720 x 480 pixels for the web. Video can be captured at a full high definition resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 24, 25, or 30 frames per second. Canon also has added in-camera movie editing tools.

Other specs for the EOS 60D include an 18-megapixel image sensor, a nine-point auto-focus system, and the ability to shoot HD still images up to 5.3-frames per second. The camera supports SC, SDHC, or SDXC memory cards and has an ISO range from 100 to 6400, expandable to 12,800 for low-light conditions.

The EOS 60D is scheduled to arrive at U.S. dealers toward the end of September. The estimated retail price is $1,099 for only the body, and $1,399 for the body and Canon's EF-S 18-135mm zoom lens.

Canon released its latest DSLR camera three days after Sony launched two of its own, the Alpha SLT-A33 and Alpha SLT-A55V, which can also take still images and full HD video. The SLT-A33 is set to ship in September and the SLT-A55V in October. The cameras will cost $650 and $750, respectively, for the body only, and $750 and $850, respectively, for the body and 18-55mm zoom lens.

Last week, Nikon released a refresh of its entry-level DSLR camera, adding full HD video recording. The D3100 is scheduled to be available in mid-September. The camera includes an AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm lens and is expected to cost $699.95.