The label “60D file” is not a real format but an informal reference to files shot on a Canon EOS 60D, which doesn’t create .60D files but instead uses typical formats like CR2 for RAW, JPG for finished photos, and MOV for video; when people say “60D file,” they’re highlighting the camera model because in editing workflows the camera itself often matters more than the extension, and since CR2 metadata tells software which Canon body was used—with differing sensors, colors, noise behavior, and dynamic range—professionals naturally refer to these as “60D files” to explain the characteristics of the material they are editing.
Studios and production teams regularly sort their projects by camera model instead of by file extension, meaning a shoot directory might have subfolders named 60D, 5D, or Sony A7S even though the actual contents may all be CR2, JPG, or MOV, and in practice everyone just refers to everything inside as “the 60D files,” which speeds up collaboration, especially when multiple cameras are involved; clients and non-technical users reinforce this habit because they focus on the camera used rather than extensions, so when they ask for “the 60D files” or “the RAWs from the 60D,” they simply want the original high-quality footage from that camera, with the model name giving a clearer idea of image quality and editing flexibility than any 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 often say “60D file” instead of “CR2” because in practical workflows the camera model gives clearer expectations while “CR2” only tells you it’s Canon RAW and nothing about the sensor, and although CR2 is shared across models, each Canon camera has unique color science, dynamic range, noise performance, and highlight characteristics; calling something a “60D file” instantly signals editing behavior, suitable profiles, and expected strengths or weaknesses.
Another reason is that **editing software reinforces camera-based thinking**, since programs like Lightroom, Capture One, and Photoshop don’t treat all CR2 files alike by reading EXIF metadata and applying model-specific profiles, tone curves, and color matrices for cameras such as the Canon EOS 60D; in practice, a CR2 from a 60D is processed differently from one shot on a 5D or Rebel despite sharing the same extension, so because software already distinguishes files by camera model, people naturally use the same language.
Workflow organization is a significant factor because on professional shoots files are often grouped by camera rather than by type, especially when multiple cameras are recording, so a folder named “60D” may include CR2s, JPGs, and MOVs, yet the team simply refers to them collectively as “the 60D files,” which helps avoid mix-ups and speeds communication for editing and color work; clients and non-technical users further encourage this because they understand camera names better, so asking for “the 60D files” or “the RAWs from the 60D” simply means they want the original high-quality footage from that camera, with the camera name more clearly signaling quality and editability than an extension does.
#keyword# Finally, this phrasing comes from long-standing DSLR culture, where during the peak DSLR era different camera models produced visibly unique results even while sharing the same RAW format, so editors and photographers needed to know which camera was used to keep a project consistent, and over time referring to files by camera model became normal practice; the habit persisted, making “60D file” a practical shorthand meaning “a Canon RAW image from a Canon EOS 60D,” even though the real extension is CR2. Here’s more about 60D file support take a look at the page. #links#
