High-End DSLR Review

Differences between entry-level and high-end DSLRs

High-end digital SLR cameras (priced over $2,000) provide faster shooting speed, amazing low-light capabilities, superb resolution for big prints -- or a combination of these features. Several have very sharp, bright LCD screens with up to 920,000 pixels. Viewfinders are better than on less expensive digital SLR cameras, and they cover more of the image area. (We have a separate report on digital SLR cameras priced at $2,000 or less.)

In addition, most high-end DSLRs have full-frame sensors -- meaning there's no crop factor -- that make the most of 35mm lens systems. Quite a few photography enthusiasts and professionals have accumulated a set of 35mm lenses from using film SLR cameras. High-end DSLR cameras use the whole lens, not just a cropped part of it, so that you can see the entire shot before you snap. Full-frame sensors are especially useful for use with wide-angle lenses -- for architectural and landscape photography. George Schaub, reviewing the Nikon D700 (*Est. $2,700) for Shutterbug, notes that full-frame sensors are also superior for low-light photos -- with less noise at high ISO levels. You can also produce larger prints with a full-frame sensor, larger than the 13-by-19 inches that are about the limit for digital SLRs with smaller sensors.

Experts say the best high-end digital SLR depends, not surprisingly, on your main purpose in photography. For huge prints of landscape or studio shots -- possibly of a closeup detail cropped from a photo -- you can now get a digital SLR camera with resolution of 21 megapixels or more. For action shots, two high-end digital SLRs can shoot 9 or 10 frames per second (fps). The Nikon D3 (*Est. $4,350, body only), which falls in the middle of the high-end price range, can shoot photos basically in any light, no matter how dark.

Until recently, Canon dominated the high-end digital SLR market by making the only "affordable" cameras with full-frame sensors. The Nikon D3 changed all that, and now the field is evened out with three Nikon full-frame digital SLRs competing against three high-end Canon models. Sony has now entered the arena with its first full-frame digital SLR, the Sony Alpha DLSR-A900 (*Est. $3,000).

SLR lenses that are built for digital SLR cameras are smaller and won't take full advantage of full-frame sensors. If you already have a set of full-size 35mm lenses, you'll probably want to pick a high-end digital SLR camera body that's compatible with your collection. Canon SLR camera bodies can use any autofocus (EOS) Canon lens; these date back to the late 1980s so excellent used lenses are available. Nikon SLR cameras can use both manual focus and autofocus Nikon lenses; both brands provide a vast array of choices.

The new Sony A900 can use Minolta lenses; Sony's digital lenses are built for smaller sensors and won't take advantage of the Sony A900's full-frame sensor. (Only a full-frame digital SLR has a 35mm sensor that can use the entire diameter of a regular SLR lens.) Minolta choices are more limited than the huge arrays of Canon and Nikon lenses, but Minolta lenses tend to be priced lower. This makes the Sony a good budget choice, especially since the A900 also builds image stabilization into the camera body rather than the lens.

You can look at the group of high-end digital SLR cameras in two ways: by price level and by resolution. By price, they fall into three groups of competing models:

• Canon EOS 5D Mark II (*Est. $2,700, body only), Nikon D700 (*Est. $2,700), Sony A900 (*Est. $3,000)

• Canon 1D Mark III (*Est. $3,800), Nikon D3 (*Est. $4,350, body only)

• Canon 1Ds Mark III (*Est. $7,000, body only), Nikon D3X (*Est. $8,000)

If you group them by sensor resolution, the picture shifts:

• 10.1 to 12.1 megapixels: Nikon D700, Canon 1D Mark III, Nikon D3

• 21.1 to 24.6 megapixels: Canon 5D Mark II, Sony A900, Canon 1Ds Mark III, Nikon D3X

For most purposes, experts say the big jump in resolution doesn't make a significant difference. It does, however, for landscape and studio photographers who want to make huge prints, or to anyone who wants to crop small details from a photo for big prints. As you can see, the high-resolution digital SLR cameras come in three price levels. The Canon 5D Mark II and the Sony A900 cost less than half the Canon 1Ds Mark III and Nikon D3X. Of course resolution and price are only two of the factors that come into play.

Despite the astonishing capabilities of these cameras, they do have drawbacks. All seven of these high-end cameras are big and heavy, even without a lens attached. It can be tiring to use a camera this heavy without a tripod. The size of the camera body also means that some users with small hands may find it hard to reach all the controls.

The high price is another drawback, especially since newer camera bodies are sure to come along that will outperform them. Experts recommend investing more money into a fine lens system than into the camera body. The lenses, if well cared for, can last for decades, while even a high-end camera body may be due for retirement within two or three years.

Don't forget to consider the cost of processing and storing the photo files. Reviewing the 24.6-megapixel Sony A900 (*Est. $3,000), Dave Etchells says it fills up a 4 GB memory card rather quickly. Even one JPEG file from this camera can be as large as 18 MB -- and that's before any editing is done. Buying a camera with this much resolution places a huge demand on your computer's CPU, memory and hard drive -- and all these files will need to be archived and backed up, too.

Despite these drawbacks, high-end digital SLR cameras are alluring. For a professional photographer or real enthusiast, the advantages can outweigh the drawbacks by a wide margin. Camera bodies like this used to be out of range for hobbyists, but now three models are priced at $3,000 or less. (Though these cameras can often be purchased with kit lenses, the prices in our report are for the body only, unless otherwise noted.)