Canon’s EOS 60D replaces the 50D and slots between the enthusiast-targeted 7D and beginner-friendly 550D. It’s not cheap, at a body-only street price of around £1,100, but the 60D, with its class-leading 18-megapixel resolution, combines the usability of the 550D with technology from the 7D, including its advanced metering system.

Response times are quick. Flick the on/off switch located just behind the large and obvious shooting mode wheel, and you’ll be taking a picture with the 60D in the time it takes to bring an eye to the optical viewfinder and a forefinger to the shutter release button. A 9-point auto-focus system and 5.3 frames per second (fps) continuous shooting are respectable but not exceptional. However, the AF does at least let those content to point and shoot zero in on their subject in an instant. In fact, we found the AF so fast that even when faced with busy scenes that might throw the 60D off target, it was easier to recompose the frame and try again than switch to manual focus.

The optical viewfinder is large and bright. The rear LCD can also be used for composing frames and checking focus if done manually and, in a first for the EOS range, it can be tilted and swivelled, extending its usefulness. With a 3:2 aspect ratio rather than the standard 4:3, the screen boasts a crystal clear resolution of over one million pixels and really comes into its own when using the 60D’s Full HD video capture facility, selected via a dedicated setting on the shooting mode dial.

Canon supplied our test unit with a sharp and bright 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM zoom kit lens. It’s a classy if pricey combo costing £2,000 if bought as a package. Complete with a satisfyingly loud and reassuring clunk every time the shutter fires, this is not the outfit for surreptitious shooting. The large well-moulded handgrip lets you hold the device steady, however, while the image-stabilised lens further helps prevent blur from camera wobble.

On the standard picture control setting we were very pleased with the realistic colour tones the Canon delivered; the camera’s AF system fast and accurate. While pricey for those starting out, this workhorse of a DSLR should see you through many years of use.