Digital SLR Cameras: Reviews

Updated December 2008

August 28th:
Sony's launches full frame D-SLR
From: PCMag.com

Compare All

Best-value digital SLR camera

*Est. $700 Compare Prices

Reviews say that this 12.2-megapixel Canon Rebel digital SLR camera hits the sweet spot for both performance and value. Image quality is excellent using either automatic or manual settings. The camera is loaded with… features, including a 3-inch LCD screen with Live View, which lets you compose your shot and see it on the LCD before you take it. A sensor cleaner and an image-stabilized kit lens help you get sharp pictures more often without a tripod. A spot meter improves backlit exposures, and nine autofocus points plus 3.5-frames-per-second shooting make tracking action easy.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

Popular Photography: This roundup review of five mid-priced digital SLR cameras gives the Canon EOS Rebel XSi the Editors' Choice award, based on ...

What Digital Camera: This review compilation gives the Canon Rebel XSi a very detailed review with an overall score of 89 percent. Editors recommend ...

PC World: Based on thorough performance tests, the Canon Rebel XSi shares top ranking with the Sony Alpha 300, but provides better image ...

American Photo: Among entry-level digital SLR cameras, the Canon Rebel XSi earns the Editors' Choice award here. Editors praise its dual-mode ...

DCResource.com: This detailed review of the Canon Rebel XSi digital SLR camera notes several improvements, including a more powerful battery and ...

Amazon.com: Amazon.com is one of the best places to find user reviews of the Canon Rebel XSi digital SLR camera. More than 100 owners give it ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Best entry-level digital SLR

Nikon D40

*Est. $470 Compare Prices

This inexpensive Nikon digital SLR camera draws praise for its ease of use and excellent picture quality, though it lacks speed, conveniences and resolution compared with the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi. The Nikon's… six-megapixel resolution is plenty for prints up to 8 by 10 inches in size. The 2.5-inch LCD screen is bright and clear, and the feature lineup includes a spot meter -- an unusual bonus for a camera in this class. The maximum shooting speed is 2.5 frames per second, and three-point autofocus doesn't track action as well as the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi, so it's not the best match for sports or action photography. Focusing in dim light is another shortcoming.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

What Digital Camera: This detailed review of the Nikon D40 gives it an Editors' Choice award, though its overall rating of 87 percent is on the low ...

Popular Photography: The Canon XSi gets the 2007 Editor's Choice award for best entry-level digital SLR, but the less expensive Nikon D40 wins the ...

DCResource.com: This thorough review of the Nikon D40 covers all aspects in detail. The Nikon D40 is recommended as an entry-level camera, but ...

PCMag.com: This review of the Nikon D40 is less enthusiastic, finding the camera comfortable and easy to use, but criticizing the ...

Imaging-Resource.com: This detailed review praises the Nikon D40 for its soft shutter sound and ease of use, recommending it for "fun and family" use, ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Best semi-pro SLR camera.

Canon EOS 40D

*Est. $950 Compare Prices

While this 10-megapixel Canon digital SLR camera costs more than some others, reviews say you get lots for your money. Those extras include a heavy, sturdy magnesium camera body with better water resistance, plus… 6.5-frames-per-second shooting for tracking action (nearly twice as fast as the less-expensive Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi). You also get Live View and a built-in sensor cleaner, and the optional kit lens is image-stabilized. The Nikon D300 (*est. $2,230 with image-stabilized lens) is a close competitor, but it costs considerably more, as does the newer Canon EOS 50D (*est. $1,600 with lens).

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

What Digital Camera: The Canon EOS 40D earns a Gold Award here, with an overall score of 90 percent, well above average. The review praises the ...

DigitalCameraInfo.com: A ratings chart at this site ranks the Canon EOS 40D second only to the much more expensive Nikon D300. The long, detailed review ...

Popular Photography: This review includes detailed lab-test reports and compares the Canon 40D with its two closest competitors, noting that it's ...

American Photo: The Canon EOS 40D shares the Editors' Choice award with the Olympus E-3, but editors rank it above the more expensive Nikon D300 ...

DPReview.com: This experienced reviewer rates the Canon EOS 40D digital SLR as "highly recommended," based on a long, very detailed review with ...

DCResource.com: This review is very thorough and detailed, recommending the Canon EOS 40D with enthusiasm but without having tested its closest ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Digital SLR with movie mode

Nikon D90

*Est. $1,120 Compare Prices

The new Nikon D90 is one of the first digital SLR cameras to shoot video, giving it a certain "wow" factor that's reflected in reviews. Movies are composed in Live View on a big extra-sharp three-inch LCD. The 720p HD… video format is good, but its features are so limited that reviewers suggest thinking of the movie mode as a fun addition instead of a substitute for a real camcorder. As a still camera, reviews give this 12.3-megapixel SLR camera high marks for excellent image quality and performance, with improvements over the earlier Nikon D80. The four-frames-per-second shooting speed is slower than that of the Canon 40D, and the Nikon D90 body isn't as sturdy or as well sealed against weather and dust, but the precise LCD and movie option mean the choice depends on your priorities.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

Imaging-Resource.com: This detailed review of the Nikon D90 is especially useful, since it compares it with the Canon Rebel XSi, Canon EOS D40 and the ...

PopPhoto.com: Based on a combination of objective lab tests and hands-on usage, this review finds the video capability of the Nikon D90 ...

DPReview.com: This detailed review provides almost as vivid an experience as examining the Nikon D90 at a camera store, concluding that ...

What Digital Camera: This publication is the U.K. equivalent of Popular Photography, with detailed lab tests and reviews. The Nikon D90 is one of ...

DCResource.com: The Nikon D90 is one of three highly recommended digital SLR cameras here in the "over $1,000" price range. The full ...

CNET: CNET gives the Nikon D90 a rating of four stars out of a possible five, with a slight edge over the Canon 50D and Pentax K20D. ...

ConsumerReports.org: This brief blog post reports on the video capabilities of the Nikon D90, comparing them with that of HD camcorders. Other posts ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Nikon D300 *Est. $2,540 with lens

11 picks by top review sites.

Nikon D60 *Est. $620

3 picks by top review sites.

Olympus EVOLT E-420 *Est. $500

2 picks by top review sites.

Nikon D80 *Est. $1,300

2 picks by top review sites.

Olympus E-3 *Est. $1,500 body only

2 picks by top review sites.

Pentax K20D *Est. $1,200 with lens

2 picks by top review sites.

Olympus EVOLT E-520 *Est. $520

2 picks by top review sites.


	Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) from Amazon.com New: $2199.95 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens from Amazon.com New: $605.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Olympus Evolt E420 10MP Digital SLR Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Lens from Amazon.com New: $409.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-135mm AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens from Amazon.com New: $950.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Olympus Evolt E-3 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with Mechanical Image Stabilization (Body Only) from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Pentax K20D 14.6MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction (Body Only) from Amazon.com New: $699.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Olympus Evolt E520 10MP Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization w/ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Lens from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock. Average Customer Review:

Digital SLR Cameras: Reviews

Best-value digital SLR camera

Best entry-level digital SLR

Best semi-pro SLR camera.

Digital SLR with movie mode

Digital SLR Cameras by Price Range