Canon PowerShot SX10 IS
Specs | Review | Check Prices

When a 12X zoom lens just isn't enough, there's the PowerShot SX10 IS. It packs a whopping 20X, 28 - 560 mm lens, which covers virtually any shooting situation that may come up. Other features include a 10 Megapixel CCD, image stabilization, a rotating LCD, full manual controls, and a nice VGA movie mode. Battery life is excellent when the camera is equipped with NiMH rechargeables, as well. Images do suffer from noise reduction artifacting as the ISO climbs, especially in low light. The SX10 also could do better in the low light focusing department, and the lack of an HD movie mode and RAW image format is disappointing.

Note: This camera has since been replaced by the PowerShot SX20 IS.

Fuji FinePix F200EXR
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The FinePix F200EXR is a compact camera that performs better in low light than any of its peers. It offers a 5X zoom lens (with a useful 28 - 140 mm range), image stabilization, a 3-inch LCD, some manual controls, and generally snappy performance. While photos are on the soft side, they'll have less noise at high ISO settings than other compact cameras. The camera removes redeye automatically, so you don't have to deal with it later. Downsides include the need to lower the resolution for best high ISO performance, the lack of IS in movie mode, and sub-par battery life.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The DMC-FZ35 is the long-awaited replacement to Panasonic's popular FZ28 super zoom camera. The FZ35 is what I call a "hybrid" product, capable of taking high quality stills as well as HD videos. It has the usual Panasonic suite of point-and-shoot features, including image stabilization, Intelligent Auto mode, responsive performance, and very good battery life. The FZ35 also has a nice set of manual controls, and it supports the RAW image format. The camera also supports HD movie recording, though the AVCHD Lite codec isn't easy to work with (though M-JPEG is available too). You can use the zoom lens and image stabilization while recording a video, and sound is recorded in stereo. The FZ35 isn't perfect, though: images are a bit noisy, the LCD and EVF are neither large nor sharp, and the AF-assist lamp is easy to block -- to name a few things.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The Lumix DMC-ZS3 is the follow-up to the excellent DMC-TZ5. Panasonic has taken that camera and improved upon it in many ways. The lens is now even wider, covering a range of 25 - 300 mm (12X). The HD movie mode now uses the AVCHD Lite codec which, while great for viewing on a HDTV, is a bit of a pain to edit (though M-JPEG is still available). Other features on this point-and-shoot camera include a large, high resolution (and easy to see) 3-inch LCD, automatic redeye removal, HDMI output, and good battery life. The main downsides are a lack of a manual controls and occasional noise (even at low ISOs).

Olympus E-520
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The E-520 is an inexpensive but full-featured digital SLR. It features a 10 Megapixel CCD, sensor-shift image stabilization, a 2.7" LCD with live view, and plenty of manual controls. There are also some nice features for beginners, including numerous scene modes and a handy Perfect Shot Preview option. Downsides include soft photos, banding at the highest sensitivities, slow focusing in live view mode, and a small optical viewfinder. The camera doesn't support an AC adapter or battery grip, either. Despite that, it's a great value for the money.

Olympus E-620
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The E-620 takes nearly all of the features from the more expensive Olympus E-30, and puts them into a compact body. Those features include a 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS sensor, image stabilization (for all lenses), a rotating 2.7" LCD display, live view (with lots of bells and whistles), art filters, and support for a battery grip. The E-620 has plenty of manual controls, including four types of bracketing, RAW support, and the ability to fine-tune things like white balance, metering, and focus. The E-620 is also the only D-SLR to feature backlit buttons. Downsides include the tendency to underexpose and clip highlights, a bit more noisy than the best D-SLRs in this class, sluggish contrast detect AF in live view mode, and a small optical viewfinder.

Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The EOS Rebel T1i is the latest entry level digital SLR from Canon. It may be fairly inexpensive, but it packs quite a feature set into its compact (perhaps too compact) body. Those features include a 15 Megapixel CMOS sensor, high resolution 3-inch LCD (with live view), full manual controls, full HD movie recording, and an impressive software bundle. Photo quality is generally very good, though images are a bit soft straight out of the camera, and highlight clipping can be an issue at times. Redeye is also an issue, which is uncommon on digital SLRs. Battery life is below average, and some many not be fans of the hard to hold, plasticky body, either.

Nikon D5000
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The D5000 is the baby brother to the stellar Nikon D90. The two cameras share the same 12 Megapixel CMOS sensor, and both have first-rate high ISO performance. The D5000 supports all Nikkor lenses, though only AF-S and AF-I lenses will support autofocus. Other features include a rotating (but low res) 2.7" LCD display, full manual controls, and a plethora of easy to use point-and-shoot features. The camera supports live view, but the autofocus performance in that mode is poor. While the D5000 can record movies at 720p, the quality isn't wonderful.

Nikon D90
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The D90 is an excellent camera that bridges the gap between entry-level and midrange D-SLRs. It features a 12.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor with top-notch high ISO performance, a beautiful 3-inch LCD with live view, plenty of manual controls, and a high definition (720p) movie mode. Other niceties include HDMI output, support for an optional GPS receiver, and best-in-class battery life. The only real downsides are slow autofocus in live view mode and a poor bundled RAW editor.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 is a compact interchangeable lens camera. Since it lacks a mirror, it's not a digital SLR. Still, it offers all the benefits of a D-SLR (great image quality, fast performance, expandability) with a live view experience that's second-to-none. Downsides include a rather high price, limited lens selection, sluggish burst mode, and a few ergonomic annoyances.

Note: If you like the G1 but want a movie mode, check out the Lumix DMC-GH1.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The Lumix DMC-GF1 is a lot like the DMC-G1, but in a much more compact body. Top features include an Intelligent Auto mode, full manual controls, a large, ultra-sharp LCD, and an HD Movie mode. Like the G1, the live view experience is second-to-none, with super-fast autofocus, face detection, and good visibility. Photo quality is very good as well, with the main complaints being occasional highlight clipping and redeye. A few other negatives include the GF1's fairly weak built-in flash, video codec that is difficult to work with, and a few ergonomic annoyances.

Canon EOS-50D
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The EOS-50D is a fairly minor update to the very popular EOS-40D. Highlights include a 15.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor, support for EF and EF-S lenses, a super high resolution 3-inch LCD display, full manual controls, three different RAW sites, and very good performance. The 50D's noise performance is top-notch, as are its continuous shooting abilities. Downsides include the 50D's occasional highlight clipping, and overall soft look to its images.

Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The 5D Mark II isn't just a full-frame digital SLR -- it's also capable of recording Full HD video, as well. Since its full frame, you can use any Canon EF-mount lens that you want, with no focal length conversion ratio to deal with. The camera isn't made for beginners -- you won't find any scene modes here. What you will find are full manual controls for every possible camera function. The 5D's movie feature lets your record 1080p video with full manual control (via a recent firmware update). As you'd expect from a camera in this price range, both photo and video quality are stellar.

Nikon D300
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The D300 is a phenomenal digital SLR, and perhaps the best one in its class. It features a 12 Megapixel CMOS sensor, live view on a stunning 3-inch LCD display, a dust reduction system, impressive performance and build quality, and much more. Being a D-SLR, the D300 can be expanded to your heart's content, with a wireless transmitter and battery grip being the notable accessories. The only real weak spots are soft, occasionally overexposed images, a few missing live view features, and its hefty price.

Note: This camera has been replaced by the D300s.

Nikon D700
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The D700 is Nikon's "budget" full frame camera. Featuring a 12 Megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor, the D700 produces photos of stunning quality. With most Nikon lenses, you have no focal length conversion to worry about. With DX-format lenses, there's a 1.5X conversion ratio, and the camera shoots at a lower resolution, as well. As you'd expect, the D700 is packed with manual controls, and it's a pretty complex camera, too. Other nice features on it include an ultra-sharp 3-inch LCD, a built-in flash, HDMI output, and a handy virtual horizon feature.

Olympus E-30
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The Olympus E-30 is a solid and very capable midrange D-SLR. It features a 12 Megapixel Live MOS sensor, image stabilization, a rotating 2.7" LCD display, and snappy performance. Other nice features include live view, a pitch/level meter, nine different aspect ratios, and the ability to take multiple exposures. The E-30 also has built-in support for wireless flash control, and excellent battery life.

Pentax K-7
Specs | Review | Check Prices

The Pentax K-7 is a midrange D-SLR offering build quality and features that you'd expect to find on a camera costing hundreds more. It's built like a tank, with a metal body, and full weather sealing. Image quality is very good, it provides image stabilization for nearly every Pentax lens, the LCD is large and very sharp, performance is snappy, and battery life is strong. Some of its unique features include TAv and Sv exposure modes, composition adjustment, numerous types of bracketing, and an electronic level. The K-7 can also record HD movie clips (though this feature could use some work). Downsides include the tendency to underexpose, sluggish autofocus performance in live view, and an ancient-looking menu system.