The First "Affordable" Canon DSLR Camera for the Masses

This video goes through the Canon EOS D60 DSLR camera, it's release in February of 2002, and how it's price point reshaped interest and demand in DSLR Cameras, which were a new and growing category by that point. The Canon EOS D60 is a 6MP APS-C Sensor digital SLR camera that by way of it's $1,999 release price (lower than the EOS 1D flagship at $5,500), really appealed to the general public and serious amateurs for the first time. We'll go through some actual photos I took with this camera, still in decent working condition after 22 years! And I will explain why there are some negatives about this camera (mainly focus), and how today's modern cameras compare. Join me on this journey!
The D60 was released in 2002. The Canon EOS 10D, 20D, 30D succeeded it, and the entry level canon EOS 300D 6MP was released 18 months later in the fall of 2003.
#photography #camera #canon #Vintage #retro

[@sillk963]

These old DSLR’s really do stand the test of time. As long as you temper your expectations (as you mentioned) you can still get some fantastic photos from them. I always appreciate keeping these cameras away from becoming e-waste. Cheers.

[@pricklypearcamera]

Very true!

[@ronjenkins4257]

What amazes me is how closely DSLRs and now mirrorless cameras have followed on from the directions set by these early DSLRs.

[@androgyne_sander]

You can attach a M42 or Pentax K mount lens to Canon EF-S mount adapter, attach an affordable M42 or Pentax K mount lens and take beautiful photos.

[@TBGTOMPHOTO]

I have the D30 sitting on my shelf behind me, it's actually a great camera for 3mp!

[@pricklypearcamera]

Nice!

[@kissanpennu9164]

Interestingly the first model, D30 can go up to ISO 1600. The grain can also look quite nice thanks to the huge pixels due to only 3 megapixels

[@144wychwood]

I picked up D60 on ebay for $50. I use it to photograph some artwork/painting and does job for me.

[@pricklypearcamera]

Nice!

[@philipkoenig9197]

The D60 was my first DSLR and a very important camera at the time. I still have it in my closet even as I get to know my new R5 Regarding lag time, the D60 felt like a race car compared to shooting with compact digital cameras at the time like the Canon A20. Thanks for the video! My photos with this camera coupled with decent lenses, taken at the time still look great.

[@pricklypearcamera]

Nice! You know, I was actually quite impressed with the picture quality too in the pictures that I took. Hope you have a good time with the R5, that camera is a beast!

[@msmith2016]

I bought a D60 last year on a goodill auction for about $50. After replacing the clock battery and getting a new main battery, it works perfectly. I'll admit I've had better luck with the birds than you have but I am using a 300mmf4 L lens with it. The IS in the lens causes it to lock up sometimes but other than that its not hard at all to get a good shot out of it. I've gotten on a bit of a kick lately to try to find all the early Canon DSLRs - still looking for a D30 and 1D. What amazes me most about the camera though was how familiar it was in the controls and menu. Folks don't realize how consistent Canon has been with their naming and control placement over the years.

[@pricklypearcamera]

Nice! You are absolutely right, now that I think about the familiarity. Pretty seamless to go from d30 to d60 to 10d 20d etc

[@user-vu2xp8cq3w]

I bought this camera and the price was just under $2000. It had 6 megapixels, double the megapixels of its predecessor the D30. Following the D60 was the 10 D.

[@pricklypearcamera]

Nice! Do you still have it? If not, what are you shooting with these days?

[@kevinconnery1974]

At ISO 100 and within its smaller dynamic range, the image quality is pretty much on-par with todays offerings. At ISO 200, though, I found the images nearly useless for clean work. Today's software can clean that up, but the software at the time the camera was current simply couldn't correct it enough. But the main reason I upgraded was the 3 autofocus points, an enormous step down from my EOS 3 film camera I'd been using before, with it's 45 points.

[@georgenorthcutt6774]

Do you mean the 1Ds? The ‘1D’ is a crop sensor. Great video btw!

[@pricklypearcamera]

My bad- Yep, in my research, I was looking at both 1D and 1Ds, and mixed the two up!

[@georgenorthcutt6774]

@@pricklypearcamera it’s all good, I can only imagine how much of a task it is to keep up with all the names of cameras and types of sensors the cameras that you sell have.

[@reiisthebestgirl]

One of my best camera scores was finding an eos 10d with battery grip for 20€. Easily my favourite crop sensor camera to use for landscapes and general city shoots. It needs lots of light and patience but pictures have certain charm that is hard to recreate with filters. Indoor pics with high ISO are pretty whacky too, straight from 2000s life style magazines. I just wish it could use EF-S lenses without modding the lens.

[@pricklypearcamera]

Wow-really excellent pickup! 10D is pretty similar to the D60 in terms of needing a lot of light!

[@phillipshoemakr]

Alright well now I need to find one of these that’s somewhat reasonably priced and not over in the grands. Is it possible to get an older canon model that produces great video that competes with quality of today for relatively cheap like under a grand? Five hundred to a grand? Edit I didn’t actually finish the video so I don’t know what was said here but yeah that’s where I’m at if you can help I’d appreciate!

[@noahhaverkamp]

Thanks for the video. QUESTION: I can't connect to my computer! I tried DPP4, EOS Utility 2 and 3 all on Windows 11...how do you manage?

[@pricklypearcamera]

Hi, not sure on that front, sorry! I did not correct directly from USB to CPU, I removed the CF cards and utilized a CF card reader to download photos.

[@noahhaverkamp]

@@pricklypearcamera Thanks. I actually ended up calling Canon, because Windows recognized the camera, but my programs could not find it. I mentioned that I did not have a CF card in there yet and the Canon rep immediately replied that this must be it. It makes sense, kind of, though I'm not sure he's correct until I test it, which I'll do after the ordered CF card arrives.

[@angelmusical70]

I think the really affordable for the masses was the digital rebel.

[@pricklypearcamera]

True, the OG rebel DS6041 was affordable for it's time!

[@whateverrobert]

Nice. I own some old cameras and not bad video. My sis got a canon T100 basic budget. I tell her what she needs. But she’s a ms know it all. I tell her get a lense uv filter it protect your lense glass as well and get a micro towel and I say what lense she might try to get. She said I was getting a bigger lense. I ask which one she gets mad. Then I see which one she got mad I said it was a kit lense which it was. 75-300 you can get that with a canon lot purchase just ms know it and she will not buy used. I told her I have three that were used. If they work and clean. I’ll buy them. Why not.

[@phillipshoemakr]

Can you suggest some older models they have great quality that I could get for under 500? Is it possible to get good quality video and photos that compete with today from the past for cheap used? Or at least somewhat compete. You seem like you’d know. I’ll do that in a second. Thanks if you have any suggestions.

[@ZD30-ZF-9SPEED]

Hello everyone

[@michaelbell75]

It was $1,999, not $1,099. That would have been a steal 😃 Oh and it was just the body, you didnt even get a battery! Talk about a ripoff haha. Can you imagine buying a camera and not getting a battery?

[@pricklypearcamera]

Edited- Thanks for catching that, I was looking at the incorrect currency, EOS D30 was at $2999 for the body, and the EOS 1D was $5,500.