The label “60D file” is not an actual extension 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 mentioning 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 think in terms of equipment 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 workflow norm began in the DSLR era, when camera differences were clear and multi-camera setups were frequent, making it important for editors to know which camera generated which files because grading, noise reduction, and lens correction all depended on the model; over time, camera-based naming stuck even though extensions remained the same, and confusion occurs only when someone interprets “60D file” as a special .60D format, though it’s actually just a standard image or video embedding metadata from the Canon EOS 60D, meaning the real question becomes how to open CR2, JPG, or MOV files captured by that camera.
People commonly say “60D file” rather than “CR2” because in real editing situations the camera identity matters more than the extension since “CR2” only marks a Canon RAW and not the specific sensor, and even though many Canon models use CR2, each differs in color science, noise traits, dynamic range, and highlight response; using “60D file” tells editors how the image will behave, which profile to choose, and what to expect in terms of strengths or limitations.
Another reason is that **editing software encourages model-based distinctions**, because apps like Lightroom, Capture One, and Photoshop customize RAW processing by camera using EXIF metadata to load the appropriate profile, tone curve, and color matrix for units like the Canon EOS 60D; this results in a 60D CR2 being processed differently from a 5D or Rebel CR2 even with matching extensions, so users end up echoing the software’s camera-focused terminology.
Workflow organization is a significant factor because on professional shoots files are commonly 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 relate to models more easily, 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 terminology is inherited from DSLR-era habits, since back when DSLRs dominated, different camera models delivered meaningfully different results while still using the same RAW format, requiring editors and photographers to know exactly which model produced each shot to keep the project consistent, and this led to a camera-focused naming system; the habit stuck, making “60D file” a simple way to say “a Canon RAW from a Canon EOS 60D,” though the true extension is CR2. If you have any concerns regarding where and the best ways to utilize advanced 60D file handler, you could call us at the web site. #links#
