Canon U.S.A. (http://www.usa.canon) has released the EOS 60D Digital SLR Camera. For the first time on an EOS camera, the EOS 60D DSLR boasts a three-inch Vari-Angle Clear View LCD screen, EOS Full HD video recording with manual overrides including audio level control, and in-camera functionality for RAW image processing -- plus Creative Filters to manipulate images after taking them.

Designed primarily for advanced amateurs, the EOS 60D replaces the EOS 50D and boasts a broad array of new features designed to make it easier for photographers to add personal creativity to their images. With the camera you can do things like capture an overhead shot on the Vari-Angle screen at a graduation ceremony or convert a color image to black and white for a nostalgic look.

The 60D camera features a LCD screen with 1,040,000 dot/VGA resolution plus anti-reflective and smudge-resistant coatings. Another first for the EOS system is the EOS 60D camera’s new Multi-Control Dial, which places a Multi-Controller and Set button inside the Quick Control Dial. This new control layout streamlines camera navigation for vertical as well as horizontal shooting and enables a cleaner camera design. The EOS 60D also features a locking mode dial, which makes camera operation more secure by preventing inadvertent changes to the photographer’s selected shooting mode.

Another addition to the camera’s Live View function is Canon’s new Aspect Ratio feature whereby the Live View screen can display cropping lines for 1:1, 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratios in addition to the standard 3:2 ratio.

In addition to its new still capture capabilities, the EOS 60D features Full HD video capture at 1920 x 1080 resolution with selectable frame rates of 24p, 25p or 30p. The camera’s movie mode also includes manual controls for exposure as well as manual audio levels in 64 steps, much like the latest firmware update for the EOS 5D Mark II HD-SLR.

Users can set audio levels on the rear menu screen before shooting begins; once recording is initialized, audio adjustments are not possible. In addition, Canon has added an electronic Wind Filter to the audio controls within the movie shooting menu. Canon has also included an in-camera movie editing feature.

The Canon EOS 60D Digital SLR camera is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers toward the end of September, and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of US$1,099. It will also be offered in a kit version with Canon’s EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens for $1,399.