Canon has announced the newest addition to its line of D-SLR cameras with the official unveiling of the EOS 60D today. The new camera has many features that will make it appealing to photographers that want to be able to shoot high-resolution still shots and HD video with one camera.

The 60D is replacing the 50D in the line according to Canon and offers a new variable angle LCD that tilts and swivels. That variable angle is a nice feature to have when the user is shooting in Live View mode from the 3-inch LCD. The 60D has an 18-megapixel APS-C image sensor and uses the Canon DIGIC 4 image processor. 

Bursts can be shot with the new 60D at up to 5.3 frames per second for 58 shots in full resolution. The ISO range for the camera is 100 to 6400 and is extendable to 12800. The autofocus system uses nine points and it has the iFCL metering system from the EOS 7D. The 60D offers a number of scene modes and automatic settings in addition to the full manual shooting modes in still and movie modes.

Canon's director of consumer imaging product sales Shunichi Morinaga said, “EOS has set the benchmark for high-performance digital photography at all levels from consumer cameras through to advanced professional equipment. The new EOS 60D offers a host of new features to enable photographers to take their creativity forward, no matter what their level of experience or expertise, making it the perfect model for those looking to upgrade their DSLR.”

DPReview got its hands on the new camera for a preview. The publication says that the 60D is aimed at the enthusiast photographer rather than the semipro shooter and figures rather than looking at the 60D as a direct replacement to the 50D, the new 60D is more of a “super Rebel” camera. The 60D is a bit smaller than the 50D and the new camera loses the magnesium alloy body the 50D offered.

The HD movies can be recorded in 1080p at 20/25/24 frames per second and 720p movies can be recorded at 60/50 frames per second. The 60D also has in camera RAW conversion. The 60D measures 5.7" x 4.2" x 3.1" and weighs 1.6 pounds. The 60D will sell for $1,099 for the body only and in kit form with an 18-135mm lens it will sell for $1,399.

Canon isn’t the only camera firm unveiling new D-SLR cameras this month. Nikon offered up the new D3100 last week and Sony introduced four new models as well.