First-rate performance; solid, well-constructed body with nice viewfinder; video capture capability; great photo quality

Middling kit lens; poor HDMI output implementation

Like the D80 before it, the Nikon D90 delivers an excellent dSLR for the money.

Excellent photo quality for its class; solid performance

Maximum ISO of 1600; no spot meter; annoying, in-viewfinder, focus-point display

The Canon EOS Rebel XS is a good entry-level dSLR, but only its photo quality stands out among the competition.

Excellent photo quality for its class ; solid performance

Maximum ISO of 1600 ; no spot meter ; annoying, in-viewfinder, focus-point display

The Canon EOS Rebel XS is a good entry-level dSLR, but only its photo quality stands out among the competition.

Full-frame sensor ; well designed, pro-level weather-sealed body ; very low noise, even at extremely high ISOs ; fast

Resolution lags far behind the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and Sony's forthcoming 24-megapixel dSLR

Nikon's flagship dSLR packs a full-frame 12-megapixel sensor and is a highly versatile imaging powerhouse that lets photographers create images previously impossible to capture.

Impressive performance, 14 megapixels at a relatively low price ; weather sealed ; nice control layout ; wireless flash control

Slightly inaccurate colors ; shake reduction could be more effective

Pentax's 14MP K20D is a great choice for a midlevel SLR and offers a lot of bang for the buck.

Impressive performance, 14 megapixels at a relatively low price ; weather sealed ; nice control layout ; wireless flash control

Slightly inaccurate colors ; shake reduction could be more effective

Pentax's 14MP K20D is a great choice for a midlevel SLR and offers a lot of bang for the buck.

Sensor-shift image stabilization ; wireless flash control ; sensitivity-priority mode ; dust and water resistant

Inaccurate, though still pleasing colors ; tends to underexpose images ; no live view mode

Pentax's K200D entry-level SLR gives a lot of bang for the buck and has better performance than last year's model. Despite low noise and pleasingly detailed images, technically inaccurate colors keep it from capturing the gold medal for image quality.

Sensor-shift image stabilization; useful Live View implementation with flip-up LCD.

Kit lens could be better ; mixed performance ; small viewfinder ; interface annoyances

Excellent photo quality for its class; better-than-average speed

Maximum ISO 1600; huge spot-for-spot metering

It doesn't stand out for its feature set or design, but the Canon EOS Rebel XSi delivers on performance and photo quality.

Optically stabilized kit lens; convenient onscreen user interface; compatible with a wide variety of lenses and accessories

Pricey for what it offers; lens-based image stabilization is less flexible than sensor-shift offered by some competitors

Despite modest improvements in performance and a couple of new features, Nikon's D60 fails to impress and costs more than some competing models.