Generally, some of the advantages of the Canon 600D compared to pro DSLR competitors include: it records higher quality movies (1080p @ 30fps vs none), has a slightly higher resolution screen (1,040k dots vs 230k dots), takes slightly higher resolution photos (17.9 MP vs 15.1 MP), has a screen which flips out and is newer (february 2011 vs august 2008).
However, on average it significantly smaller viewfinder (0.53x vs 0.71x), it's body is not weather sealed, doesn't shoot as fast continuously (3.7 fps vs 6.3 fps), has much more startup delay (1500 ms vs 400 ms) and has a lower quality type of viewfinder (pentamirror vs pentaprism).
Canon EOS 60D
5 months older
$555 (body only)
Significant advantages of the 60D (vs the 600D)
- Significantly longer battery life: 1100 shots vs 440 shots
- Has a pentaprism viewfinder: Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
- Shoots significantly faster: 5.3 fps vs 3.7 fps
Significant disadvantages of the 60D (vs the 600D)
common strengths of the 60D and 600D
- Flip-out screens
- Many lenses available: 220 lenses vs 220 lenses
- Fairly small: Professional size (145×106×79 mm) vs Professional size (133×100×80 mm)
Canon EOS 6D
1 year newer
$999 - $1,499 (body only)
$1,330 - $1,899 24-105mm lens
Significant advantages of the 6D (vs the 600D)
- Much larger viewfinder: 0.71x vs 0.53x
- Weather sealed
- Has a pentaprism viewfinder: Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Significant disadvantages of the 6D (vs the 600D)
- Screen does not flip out
- No built-in flash
common strengths of the 6D and 600D
- Fairly small: Professional size (145×111×71 mm) vs Professional size (133×100×80 mm)
- Inexpensive: $999.00 vs $425.27
- Light weight: 770 g vs 570 g
Canon EOS 40D
3 years older
$1,800 28-135mm lens
Significant advantages of the 40D (vs the 600D)
- Shoots much faster: 6.5 fps vs 3.7 fps
- Significantly longer battery life: 1100 shots vs 440 shots
- Has a pentaprism viewfinder: Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Significant disadvantages of the 40D (vs the 600D)
- Much lower resolution screen: 230k dots vs 1,040k dots
- Much lower true resolution: 10.1 MP vs 17.9 MP
- Screen does not flip out
common strengths of the 40D and 600D
- Many lenses available: 220 lenses vs 220 lenses
- Fairly small: Professional size (146×108×74 mm) vs Professional size (133×100×80 mm)
- Built-in flashes
Nikon D700
2 years older
$1,591 (body only)
$2,277 24-85mm lens
Significant advantages of the D700 (vs the 600D)
- Much larger viewfinder: 0.72x vs 0.53x
- Significantly more focus points: 51 vs 9
- Weather sealed
Significant disadvantages of the D700 (vs the 600D)
- Significantly lower true resolution: 12.1 MP vs 17.9 MP
- Screen does not flip out
- Significantly larger: Large (147×123×77 mm) vs Professional size (133×100×80 mm)
common strengths of the D700 and 600D
- Inexpensive: $1,590.99 vs $425.27
- Built-in flashes
Canon EOS 50D
2 years older
$532 (body only)
Significant advantages of the 50D (vs the 600D)
- Shoots much faster: 6.3 fps vs 3.7 fps
- Weather sealed
- Has a pentaprism viewfinder: Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Significant disadvantages of the 50D (vs the 600D)
- Screen does not flip out
- Heavier: 822 g vs 570 g
common strengths of the 50D and 600D
- Many lenses available: 220 lenses vs 220 lenses
- Fairly small: Professional size (146×108×74 mm) vs Professional size (133×100×80 mm)
- Very inexpensive: $531.59 vs $425.27
Canon EOS 7D
1 year older
$1,099 (body only)
$1,418 18-135mm lens
Significant advantages of the 7D (vs the 600D)
- Shoots much faster: 8 fps vs 3.7 fps
- Weather sealed
- Has a pentaprism viewfinder: Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Significant disadvantages of the 7D (vs the 600D)
- Screen does not flip out
- Significantly heavier: 860 g vs 570 g
common strengths of the 7D and 600D
- Many lenses available: 220 lenses vs 220 lenses
- Fairly small: Professional size (148×111×74 mm) vs Professional size (133×100×80 mm)
- Inexpensive: $1,099.00 vs $425.27