Canon EOS 60D vs Nikon D300s — Which Is Better?

The Canon EOS 60D and Nikon D300s are both APS-C DSLRs, and lens system largely decides between them. The 60D arrived in 2010 on the Canon EF-S mount, the D300s in 2009 on Nikon F DX, so existing glass usually settles the choice.

The 60D is also the lighter body for travel, 755 g against 938 g. Dimensions are close, 145 x 106 x 79 mm against 147 x 114 x 74 mm, so both are mid-sized bodies.

The 60D is the stronger choice for heavy cropping and large prints, with 18 megapixels against 12.3. That resolution gives more room to tighten a wildlife or landscape frame in editing. The 60D also reaches ISO 12800, against 6400 on the D300s. Both share an APS-C sensor format, so neither gives a field-of-view advantage.

For action the D300s has the stronger specification, with 7 fps against 5.3 and 51 autofocus points against 9. That denser array gives far more focus positions across the frame for off-centre players and birds. Both use pentaprism viewfinders and reach 1/8000 second, and neither stabilises in body, so handheld sharpness in dim light depends on the lens.

The 60D is the clear pick for video, recording Full HD while the D300s stops at Standard HD, and its maximum frame rate of 30 fps against 24 smooths panning motion. Full HD captures more detail on modern screens. The D300s answers with a built-in timelapse the 60D lacks, handy for a sunset sequence. File formats differ too, with MOV on the Canon against MPEG4 or AVI on the Nikon.

The 60D's flip screen is a practical edge at awkward angles. An overhead concert shot or ground-level macro frame can be composed properly, while the D300s screen is fixed. The 60D screen also shows more detail, 1,040,000 dots against 920,000, for clearer focus checks and playback review.

Both cameras have weather sealing and support both built-in and external flash, so those features do not separate them. Neither has GPS, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so geotagging and wireless transfer need add-on accessories.

The D300s is the safer choice for a long event shoot, with dual card slots taking SD or SDHC alongside Compact Flash, while the 60D has a single SD slot that also accepts SDXC. Two slots let the shoot continue when one card fills, and neither body charges over USB.

The 60D leads on rated battery life, 1100 shots against 950 under their respective test conditions, and each camera takes only its own battery, the LP-E6 or the EN-EL3e.