Pentax K-r

The Pentax K-r succeeds the now-discontinued Pentax K-x, which once reigned as experts' favorite budget-priced digital SLR. Reviews say it improves upon the K-x and still offers the best value in its class, although rivals are catching up. Jeff Keller at DCResource.com says the K-r comes "equipped, not stripped," with features you'd expect from a $1,000 camera. It upgrades the K-x's autofocus, adds a bigger and higher-resolution 3-inch LCD screen, a faster burst mode and several new features including interval shooting and much-needed visible autofocus points in the viewfinder, so you can "finally see in the viewfinder where the camera is focusing," DPReview.com's Lars Rehm says.

The K-r also reaches up into the ISO stratosphere with a 25,600 setting -- unnecessary and unusable in reality, experts say -- but it does fine in ordinary low-light ISOs up to 3200. Keller has trouble finding just the right exposure setting in his tests, but overall experts agree that the K-r delivers reliably good photos in a wide range of settings. Its solid build, ease of use and robust features make it a great choice for either first-time or experienced digital SLR owners, and Pentax is the only major manufacturer offering fun colors such as bright red and what Steves-Digicams.com editors dub "Storm Trooper White." But although it's still cheaper than its Canon and Nikon rivals, the Pentax K-r is no longer the slam-dunk choice in this category: The Canon EOS Rebel T3i (*Est. $700 with kit lens) and more basic Nikon D3100 (*Est. $500 with kit lens) both offer a wider range of lenses, and both shoot 1080p HD video (the K-r's is 720p).

We found a plethora of lengthy, detailed, test-based reviews for the Pentax K-r at photography specialist sites DPReview.com, DCResource.com, Steves-Digicams.com, DigitalCameraReview.com and PhotographyBlog.com. Some of the owner reviews at Amazon.com reveal substantial photography experience and are very helpful.