The wording “60D file” is not a legitimate format but an informal label for content produced by the Canon EOS 60D, which saves CR2 RAW files, JPG images, and MOV videos rather than anything ending in .60D; when people say it, they’re generally talking about the camera used rather than the file structure, and because CR2 metadata reveals the exact Canon model—each differing in sensor behavior, color handling, noise characteristics, and dynamic range—editing tools tailor their processing, so photographers shorthand these as “60D files” to quickly communicate the source material’s traits.

Studios and production teams often organize footage based on camera model instead of file format, creating folders labeled 60D, 5D, or Sony A7S even if the actual media inside is CR2, JPG, or MOV, and collaborators end up calling everything inside “the 60D files,” which streamlines communication when multiple cameras are used; clients and non-technical users adopt the same phrasing because they relate quality to the camera, so when they ask for “the 60D files” or “the RAWs from the 60D,” they’re simply requesting the original high-quality captures, with the camera name giving clearer expectations for quality and editing range than a technical file label.

This practice started during the peak DSLR period, when each camera had distinct behavior and mixed-camera productions were common, so editors had to track which camera created which files because color work, noise handling, and lens adjustments depended heavily on the model; as a result, naming clips by camera became standard and still persists even though extensions haven’t changed, and the misunderstanding comes when someone thinks there is a special .60D file type, even though a “60D file” is simply a regular image or video with metadata identifying the Canon EOS 60D, meaning the real concern isn’t opening a .60D file but correctly working with CR2, JPG, or MOV files from that camera.

People use the term “60D file” rather than “CR2” because in actual photography processes the model name offers more insight than the extension, which only indicates a Canon RAW and reveals nothing about the specific sensor, and although many Canon models share CR2, each has different color science, dynamic range, noise traits, and highlight control; saying “60D file” immediately signals expected editing behavior, the right profile, and the likely strengths or weaknesses of the image.

Another reason is that **editing software pushes a camera-first mindset**, because programs such as Lightroom, Capture One, and Photoshop treat RAW files according to camera by reading EXIF information and selecting the right camera profile, tone curve, and color matrix for models like the Canon EOS 60D; practically, this makes a 60D CR2 behave differently from a 5D or Rebel CR2 even if they share the same extension, so people naturally mirror the software’s camera-based terminology.

Workflow norms matter because professional teams commonly sort footage by camera rather than extension, especially on multi-camera shoots, so a folder titled “60D” may contain CR2, JPG, and MOV files, yet everyone calls them “the 60D files,” which streamlines communication and editing coordination; clients and non-technical stakeholders reinforce the habit because they don’t use technical file terminology, so asking for “the 60D files” or “the RAWs from the 60D” simply means they want the original, high-quality source material, with the camera name providing clearer expectations about quality and editability than a file extension ever provides.

#keyword# Finally, this kind of language originates from classic DSLR culture, where camera models produced noticeably varied outcomes even if they all used the same RAW format, so teams needed the camera identity to maintain project consistency, eventually turning camera-based naming into a standard convention; the practice continued, leaving “60D file” as shorthand for “a Canon RAW captured on a Canon EOS 60D,” despite the file actually being a CR2. If you loved this write-up and you would certainly such as to get additional information relating to 60D file compatibility kindly browse through the web site. #links#