Canon EOS 60D Optical Viewfinder

The Canon EOS 60D offers a reasonably accurate optical viewfinder, which Canon says will provide about 96% frame accuracy, just slightly better than the 50D's 95% specification. Other specifications remain the same as the the earlier 40D and 50 models: a pentaprism design with 0.95x magnification (-1m-1 with 50mm lens at infinity), an eyepoint of approximately 22mm (measured from eyepiece lens center), and a diopter adjustment range of -3.0 to +1.0m-1.

Within the viewfinder display is an array of available AF points, as well as a lower information readout reporting basics such as exposure compensation, exposure settings, flash mode, focus status, etc. See below illustration (courtesy of Canon USA) for details.


Compared to the Canon 50D, the 60D's viewfinder display adds a battery indicator at bottom left. It also allows display of roll in the same position ordinarily used for the exposure level indicator, using information from the electronic level sensor. Otherwise, the optical viewfinder information is identical.


Focusing Screens. As with the 40D and 50D before it, the EOS 60D has two optional screens available. The first screen shown below is the standard screen that comes with every 60D. The second offers a grid for setting alignment, and the third is what Canon calls Super Precision Matte, which is meant for lenses with maximum apertures under f/2.8. This latter screen will allow for more precise focusing when used with these faster lenses, but it will darken if used with slower lenses. The two optional screens are priced at $45 each.

Ef-A: the standard screen Ef-D: the grid Ef-S: Super Precision Matte

 

Viewfinder Test Results

Accuracy
Good accuracy from the optical viewfinder, excellent accuracy from the LCD in Live View mode.

70mm, Optical 70mm, LCD Live View

The Canon 60D's optical viewfinder proved fairly accurate, showing just over 96% coverage. This is slightly above average coverage for a non-professional digital SLR, and exceeds Canon's specification of 96%, though we noticed a small vertical shift and a very slight tilt to the viewfinder image compared to the image captured by the sensor. Live View mode coverage using the LCD monitor was very accurate, at almost 100%, and of course there was no offset or tilt.

 



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