Advanced SLRs

New DSLRs add video capabilities

The main advantage to paying more for a digital SLR camera is to get better build quality -- for durability and weather-resistance -- plus faster shooting speed. If you plan to take photos in rain, snow or heavy dust, or photograph sports or news shots, experts say these semi-pro "enthusiast" cameras are worth their extra cost. Semi-pro digital SLRs have sturdy magnesium bodies, a longer shutter life and better weather sealing than less expensive models. Shooting speed is up to 6.5 frames per second.

Once you're willing to pay $1,000 or more, the array of choices gets more crowded because at this price range, it's easier for manufacturers to provide superb features and convenience. The most alluring new entry at this price level is the 12.3-megapixel Nikon D90 (*Est. $1,120), the first digital SLR to provide a movie mode. The D90 also has a 3-inch LCD with superb resolution: 920,000 dots, which makes it easier, when using manual focus, to select focus points in Live View. A self-cleaning sensor and optional GP-1 GPS attachment (*est. $120) round out the highlights -- all improvements over the earlier Nikon D80.

Reviewers warn that the Nikon D90 is by no means a replacement for a real camcorder. It's just a way to get your feet wet with video while enjoying a good SLR camera. The D90 movie mode can indeed take 720p HD movies (1280 x 720), but the 24-frames-per-second rate is a bit slow. Focus must be set before you start to shoot the movie, and reviewers note that unless the camera is on a tripod, the resulting movie often "jellies" with distracting wiggles.

Several sources conclude that the D90's video capability is more a window into future innovations than a fully developed feature at this time. Still, it's a great feature to have, and reviewers say the D90 is an all-around excellent camera for still shots, though colors -- especially green -- seem a bit subdued, and the kit lens doesn't focus closer than 17.7 inches. (You'll probably want to add a macro lens.) Shooting rate is four frames per second -- respectable but only slightly faster than the Canon EOS Digital Rebel Xsi (*Est. $700), which costs about $600 less.

The Nikon D90 isn't the only new kid on the block, nor the only one with 920,000-dot LCD resolution and video capability. The new 21-megapixel Canon 5D Mark II (*Est. $2,700, body only) uses a full-frame sensor to take HD video (1920 x 1080) at the standard 30 frames per second and lets you change focus as you shoot. Unless you already have Canon lenses, however, this pro-level camera is a leap beyond the price range of this report.

The new 15.1-megapixel Canon EOS 50D (*Est. $1,600 with lens) can't shoot movies but does have a 920,000-dot LCD. The 50D has enough resolution for huge prints, plus the weather seals and fast shooting (6.3 frames per second) you'd expect in this semi-pro or "enthusiast" price range. Three different Live View modes -- along with a magnesium body and heavy-duty build quality -- provide a distinct advantage over the less-expensive Canon Rebel Xsi (*Est. $700) discussed earlier.

Early reviews of the Canon 50D find the 10.1-megapixel Canon EOS 40D (*Est. $950) a better buy, not only because the 40D costs less, but because it actually shoots a bit faster, has a longer battery life and meters better in difficult lighting. The 50D does extend the ISO range, useful for shooting in very low light. However, at high ISO settings, the camera's internal noise-reduction smoothes out noise at the expense of some detail. Also, the newer image processor is faster (to minimize delay between shots), and the sensor-cleaning system is a bit more refined.

The Canon 50D is priced to compete closely with the 12.3-megapixel Nikon D300 (*Est. $2,540 with lens), which, like the Canon 40D, has earned top ranking in a great many reviews. All three cameras have rugged magnesium bodies, automatic sensor cleaning and excellent wireless capabilities for controlling external flash, using a remote control and communicating with a computer. (For studio shots it can be very useful to control the camera while watching the image on a big computer screen.) For action photography, all these cameras shoot very fast -- 6.5 frames per second for the Canon 40D, 6.3 for the 50D and 6 for the Nikon D300. All three cameras sport 3-inch LCDs with Live View. Editors at Popular Photography & Imaging find the Canon Live View more convenient; it includes a grid overlay to aid composition.

Both Canon cameras have the edge for focusing in dim light, but a comparison review at Popular Photography& Imaging favors the Nikon D300 for overall ergonomics and autofocus. Its 51 autofocus points track action better; even the Canon 50D uses just 11 autofocus points. Nikon's "Active D-Lighting" makes it easier to get details in both highlights and shadows, which can make a big difference in image quality. In the end, however, experts say that while the Nikon D300 might be a slightly better camera overall, the Canon EOS 40D is a better value. You can buy the 40D with an image-stabilized lens for less than the Nikon D300 without a lens.

The Sony Alpha 700 (*Est. $1,500 with lens), Olympus E-3 (*Est. $1,500 body only) and Pentax K20D (*Est. $1,200 with lens) digital SLR cameras also get some recommendations in reviews. The forthcoming Olympus E-30 (*Est. $1,300, body only) is also getting some attention in previews. (It has an especially good viewfinder, good 5 fps speed and a swiveling LCD but lacks the top-notch weather seals of the Olympus E-3 and Pentax 20D.) All these digital SLR cameras cost less in the long run, because they build image stabilization into the camera body itself. You can add relatively inexpensive lenses and still have the benefit of image stabilization. (Most Canon IS and Nikon VR image-stabilized lenses are quite expensive.)

All of the aforementioned cameras feature automatic sensor cleaning, and the Olympus E-3, Olympus E-30 and Pentax K20D also provide Live View. The LCD screens on both Olympus cameras tilt and swivel, a big advantage. With maximum speeds of five frames per second, the Sony A700 and Olympus E-3 are slower than the Nikon D300 and Canon EOS 40D -- but much faster than the three-frames-per-second maximum of the Pentax K20. However, the Sony A700's ISO settings only go down to 200, and the camera compresses RAW files so they're not true "digital negatives." The slower 14.6-megapixel Pentax K20D has excellent resolution but relatively poor color accuracy and too much noise at high ISO levels (used for shots in dim light) in reviews.