Canon's new EOS Rebel XSi is a great digital SLR camera, no matter how you look at it. If you're shopping for a DSLR that costs less than a grand, this camera must go on your short list.

Great image quality; excellent low-light performance; improved body and control layout; Live View; big LCD screen; very good kit lens.

No top-mounted LCD screen; limited customization.

It's easy to look at the Canon DSLR product line and slot the cameras into “beginner,” “intermediate,” and “advanced” categories But to call the XSi a beginner or starter DSLR is a misnomer. The XSi is an incredibly capable camera that just happens to be

Nikon on Tuesday introduced the 12.1 megapixel D700 digital SLR, providing professional photographers better low light performance and accurate color reproduction.

If you worry that you'll outgrow the functionality of other entry-level DSLRs -- and you don't want to spend a bundle to get the features -- the E-510 is a very good choice.

Excellent image quality; extensive feature set, including exposure, flash, and color balance bracketing; Live View mode lets you view images on the LCD screen instead of in the viewfinder; light and comfortable to carry.

Accessing advanced functions can be confusing; no manual focusing switch on lens.

One of the first things I noticed when picking up the camera with the standard 14-42mm zoom lens was how light it was: the camera and lens together weigh less than two pounds. The E-510 doesn't feel flimsy, however. The body is well-built, and the grip fe...

If you're just looking for a weekend or vacation camera for snapshots, the D40 is probably all you need. The D40x is $100 less than the Digital Rebel XTi with a comparable lens, and the Nikon has a wonderful, easy to use feel about it.

Excellent image quality; improved resolution over D40; well-chosen features; excellent interface for shooting and viewing images; very useful in-camera help system.

No depth of field preview or exposure bracketing; lacks dust-control system found in competitors.

For all its power, the D40x is a marvel of size and design. Like its lower-priced sibling, the D40x is compact and lightweight, but its construction is solid. There aren't a lot of extraneous buttons on the camera body, and the ones that are present are w...

At $599, the Nikon D40 is a great value, and a great tool for photographers who want to grow. The included help system and aperture displays are fantastic learning tools.

Affordable, impressive image quality; small; light; bright, easy-to-see 2.5-inch LCD; full-featured; comfortable; solid build with rubberized grip; handy information display; built-in help system.

No top-mounted status display; lower pixel count than most pro-level DSLRs; no depth of field preview.

The D40 kit includes the small, lightweight camera and a separate 18-55mm lens (the camera is not available in a body-only configuration). Even at this low price, the build quality of the D40 is excellent. The rubberized grip and pebbled finish make it fe...

Because of its 6.1-megapixel sensor, you won't be able to enlarge the K100D's images as much as you can with a higher resolution camera, but for users who want a DSLR, and all of the flexibility that it provides, the K100D is a great entry-level camera, a...

Small size; good build quality; very good image quality; good basic feature set; top-mounted LCD status display; sensor-based image stabilization; affordable.

Sensor-based stabilization is not as good as lens-based stabilization; noisier images at ISO 800 and above; poor battery life.

For an entry-level camera, the K100D doesn't skimp on interface features. Sporting a bright 2.5-inch rear-mounted LCD, the K100D also provides a top-mounted LCD status display--something that a lot of entry-level cameras eschew, but which is especially we...

You need to get your hands on the Digital Rebel XTi before you can make an evaluation as to whether it's right for you. If you like its size and feel, then you'll find it to be a full-featured camera that yields excellent image quality at a very reasonabl...

Increased resolution over the Rebel XT; good feature set; excellent image quality; good price.

Consumer-style build and feel; no dedicated status display.

Looking through the camera's viewfinder reveals a few other changes. The XTi now shows flash exposure lock and white balance adjustment in the viewfinder's status bar--both welcome additions

The Sony DSLR-Alpha 100K is a very good camera, albeit a little pricey. While it feels clunkier than its competitors, it delivers very good image quality and a full feature set, as well as some nice extras such as image stabilization.

Small size; full featured; very good image quality under most conditions; good lens selection; sensor-based stabilization.

Sensor-based stabilization is inferior to lens-based stabilization; lenses are expensive; autofocus mechanism is noisy; images look noisy from ISO 800-1600.

The Alpha 100 also packs a full set of features including priority modes, full manual mode, program modes, and scene modes. Like most entry-level DSLRs, the Alpha 100 lacks a dedicated status LCD screen, opting instead to use the camera's main 2.5-inch LC...

Though it's priced higher than Canon's Digital Rebel XTi and Sony's Alpha 100, the Nikon D80 delivers a lot of extra bang for the buck. In fact, users who are considering the Canon EOS 30D will want to take a close look at this camera.

Large LCD; excellent image quality; sturdy build; very good in-camera editing features; extensive feature set.

Switch to Secure Digital card media is a hassle for users who have invested in CompactFlash cards.

Users of the D70s will be impressed by the D80's new design. It's significantly smaller than the D70s, yet still very comfortable to hold, thanks to its textured finish, large handgrip, and sturdy metal body. Experienced Nikon shooters will feel right at...

This digital camera from Samsung is a well-designed, capable model for people who want a digital SLR. As with most cameras of this type, it's best to get your hand on the GX-1S to decide if its small size and thoughtful design are right for you.

Sturdy design; small size; good image quality.

Noisy images at high ISOs; must use the menu to change many functions.

Overall, the GX-1S delivers perfectly acceptable prints for its target market. It has a 6.1-megapixel sensor that delivers up to 3,008-by-2,008-pixel images. The camera is compatible with all Pentax KAF mount lenses as well as Schneider's D-Xenon series l...