Our Picks
The best value among current entry-level Digital SLR cameras is the Pentax K110D kit. At a price of about $400 after rebate you get a remarkably fast and capable 6 megapixel SLR with a metal lens-mount kit lens of better than average quality and performance. The K110D processing engine is fast and the 11-point autofocus is all but identical to the SAFOX module used in the top-line K10D. The K110D uses four AA or two CRV3 batteries and it eats batteries unless you feed it rechargeable AA or CRV3 batteries. The K110D does not provide body integral anti-shake or auto sensor cleaning. However those features are available in the same camera at $100 more - the Pentax K100D.
At the $500 to $600 price point the 6MP Pentax K100D or the 8MP Canon Rebel XT are both exceptional buys. If you already own Nikon lenses the new 6MP Nikon D40 is also a good choice, but neither the Canon nor Nikon offer auto sensor cleaning or body-integral anti-shake if those features are important to you. Both Canon and Nikon do offer specialty anti-shake lenses, but they are very expensive and anti-shake is only available on Canon and Nikon SLR cameras with special AS lenses.
In the fierce competition at 10 megapixel resolution the Sony A100 is our best buy. With the recent drop in retail prices by Sony you can actually buy a 10MP Sony A100 with the wider 18-70mm kit lens for about $720 from a large etailer like Amazon. The Sony continues the Minolta pioneering "Steady-Shot", refined by Sony, and the Alpha will work with almost any existing Maxxum lens in addition to Sony SLR lenses.
Best Value in the 10 Megapixel category is clearly the Pentax K10D. The Pentax designed anti-shake system is said to be capable of up to four stops of improved low-light performance. In addition the Pentax integrates auto sensor cleaning. It is also the only SLR in our tests with pro level sealing that makes the camera water and dust resistant. The K10D is a solid piece of engineering that redefines the norm in the $1000 digital SLR category. We suspect the Pentax will encourage other new designs that will bring Pro level construction and features to lower Digital SLR price points. The Nikon D80 is also an exceptional 10 megapixel offering that is only marred by the fact that Nikon remains the only major camera maker that refuses to incorporate any means of auto sensor cleaning. We also prefer the body-integral anti-shake built into the Pentax K10D that will work with any lens mounted to the expensive lens-based anti-shake used on specialty lenses by Nikon and Canon. Pentax has even added provisions that allow anti-shake to work with any of the 25 million older K-mount lenses that have been manufactured over the years.
The new lineup of Pentax digital cameras is very impressive, and Pentax finally seems to have it right after several generations of near misses. Pentax is also offering some of the most innovative and interesting lenses currently available in digital photography. This includes the rebirth of the extremely thin "pancake" lenses like the 40mm f2.8 and 21mm f3.2, as well as new fast primes like the 31mm f1.8, 43 f1.9 and the 77mm f1.8, and innovative zooms like the zoom fish-eye 10-17mm f3.5-4.5.
That does not minimize the fact that Canon and Nikon remain the safe choices in all categories. Pentax has a long and illustrious history in innovative camera and lens design, but they are still a small company compared to Canon, Nikon, and now Sony. Perhaps the recently announced merger of Pentax and Hoya - who is the one of the largest "glass blank" suppliers to the camera industry - will provide even more resources for Pentax to continue the kind of innovation we are seeing in their current Digital SLR offerings.
The best value among current entry-level Digital SLR cameras is the Pentax K110D kit. At a price of about $400 after rebate you get a remarkably fast and capable 6 megapixel SLR with a metal lens-mount kit lens of better than average quality and performance. The K110D processing engine is fast and the 11-point autofocus is all but identical to the SAFOX module used in the top-line K10D. The K110D uses four AA or two CRV3 batteries and it eats batteries unless you feed it rechargeable AA or CRV3 batteries. The K110D does not provide body integral anti-shake or auto sensor cleaning. However those features are available in the same camera at $100 more - the Pentax K100D.
At the $500 to $600 price point the 6MP Pentax K100D or the 8MP Canon Rebel XT are both exceptional buys. If you already own Nikon lenses the new 6MP Nikon D40 is also a good choice, but neither the Canon nor Nikon offer auto sensor cleaning or body-integral anti-shake if those features are important to you. Both Canon and Nikon do offer specialty anti-shake lenses, but they are very expensive and anti-shake is only available on Canon and Nikon SLR cameras with special AS lenses.
In the fierce competition at 10 megapixel resolution the Sony A100 is our best buy. With the recent drop in retail prices by Sony you can actually buy a 10MP Sony A100 with the wider 18-70mm kit lens for about $720 from a large etailer like Amazon. The Sony continues the Minolta pioneering "Steady-Shot", refined by Sony, and the Alpha will work with almost any existing Maxxum lens in addition to Sony SLR lenses.
Best Value in the 10 Megapixel category is clearly the Pentax K10D. The Pentax designed anti-shake system is said to be capable of up to four stops of improved low-light performance. In addition the Pentax integrates auto sensor cleaning. It is also the only SLR in our tests with pro level sealing that makes the camera water and dust resistant. The K10D is a solid piece of engineering that redefines the norm in the $1000 digital SLR category. We suspect the Pentax will encourage other new designs that will bring Pro level construction and features to lower Digital SLR price points. The Nikon D80 is also an exceptional 10 megapixel offering that is only marred by the fact that Nikon remains the only major camera maker that refuses to incorporate any means of auto sensor cleaning. We also prefer the body-integral anti-shake built into the Pentax K10D that will work with any lens mounted to the expensive lens-based anti-shake used on specialty lenses by Nikon and Canon. Pentax has even added provisions that allow anti-shake to work with any of the 25 million older K-mount lenses that have been manufactured over the years.
The new lineup of Pentax digital cameras is very impressive, and Pentax finally seems to have it right after several generations of near misses. Pentax is also offering some of the most innovative and interesting lenses currently available in digital photography. This includes the rebirth of the extremely thin "pancake" lenses like the 40mm f2.8 and 21mm f3.2, as well as new fast primes like the 31mm f1.8, 43 f1.9 and the 77mm f1.8, and innovative zooms like the zoom fish-eye 10-17mm f3.5-4.5.
That does not minimize the fact that Canon and Nikon remain the safe choices in all categories. Pentax has a long and illustrious history in innovative camera and lens design, but they are still a small company compared to Canon, Nikon, and now Sony. Perhaps the recently announced merger of Pentax and Hoya - who is the one of the largest "glass blank" suppliers to the camera industry - will provide even more resources for Pentax to continue the kind of innovation we are seeing in their current Digital SLR offerings.
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finbarqs - Tuesday, December 26, 2006 - link
I like the XTi's ergonomics, but i guess different strokes for different folks. I do like the fact that Pentax actually feels of high quality, and the biggest problem the XTi is the "cheap" plastic build quality... But i do love their CMOS technology and their noise reduction method!Justin Case - Tuesday, December 26, 2006 - link
Yes, Canon still has the best sensors (and best telephoto lenses - /me hugs his 70-200 2.8 IS), although Nikon as virtually caught up with the D2X and D200 (and they have the best wide-angle lenses, although Canon's 18-55 2.8 IS EF-S is bloody amazing).The XT / XTi is fine if you have small hands, but my big paws will almost cover the lens when I grab one. I hope they release a new model soon, with the 30D / 1D / 5D body and the XTi's improvements.
noxipoo - Wednesday, December 27, 2006 - link
*DROOL* 70-200 2.8 IS, i'm thinking about the 70-200 2.8L, can barely afford that one... anyway, have your tried the XTi with the battery grip? XTi is a good size to me, but bigger wouldn't hurt either.Justin Case - Wednesday, December 27, 2006 - link
Speaking of battery grip, that's another thing that annoyed me about the XT (and XTi) - they halved the battery's capacity. Sure, now they can say it's lighter (than the original DRebel), but you have to carry twice as many batteries! Duh. I haven't tried it with the grip, but it feels like a hack. I'd rather wait for the 40D (or whatever the successor to the 30D will be called).The 70-200 2.8L is great. The non-IS model should be just as good, optically, and a bit smaller and lighter (and cheaper, of course). I bit the bullet and got mine after playing with some similar lenses from other brands, but this one is on a different league. It's actually sharper than some primes on the same range.
Right now I'm pondering on whether to trade my next vacation for an EF-S 18-55 2.8L IS (I've used one briefly, and it's amazing). It's probably the best autofocus lens in that range from _any_ manufacturer. Of course, that would sort of "lock me" into the 1.6x sensors, but that might not be such a bad thing, if future EF-S lenses are going to be this good.
Justin Case - Tuesday, January 2, 2007 - link
Correction: I mean EF-S 17-55 2.8 IS, of course. The EF-S 18-55 is not f/2.8.noxipoo - Wednesday, December 27, 2006 - link
has canon said how long they are committed to the EF-S mount? last i heard canon hasn't said a thing.noxipoo - Tuesday, December 26, 2006 - link
the canon cameras will outsell everyone else by a lot i think, as usual.yyrkoon - Tuesday, December 26, 2006 - link
I'd like to point out for those who don't know already, and perhaps you "guys" could include it in your articles, or future articles. There are Web sites out there, that sell Cameras at unheard of prices. For instance, when I was pricing the Nikon D80 about 3 months ago, everyone, except on site was selling them at comparable prices. This one web site was selling them MUCH lower than the rest, and there was a good reason. These web sites (some argue are all owned by the same company, just different sites) are rip offs. They mark the camera down, take things like battery packs, warranty, lenses etc out of the kit, and claim, so basically, all you're buying is the camera, and then try to charge you, the customer unheard of prices for these things that are supposed to be sold in the kit. Not only this, these web sites sell cameras, that were originally supposed to be sold in other countries . . .Anyhow, if the price is too good, it is, don't fall for the trap. If in doubt, search the web site in question on resellerreviews.com or some such site. Also, I'm not sure why, but google allows these people to advertise with them, and thus, they will likely show at the top of any google search, under featured advertisers . . .
Luckily, being the cautious person I am, I never got duped, but there are MANY people who have been . . .
Wesley Fink - Tuesday, December 26, 2006 - link
We have seen the same things in online shopping for cameras. It is a common tactic among unscrupulous sellers who always seem to be located in New York City. That does not mean all NY camera sellers are bad, because there are a number of excellent sellers in the city like B&H. If it seems way too good to be true it probably is.What you describe is the reason we mentioned in the guide that our prices came from large well-known etailers like Amazon and Newegg. The Amazon price on the entry Pentax K110D kit is currently $452 (or $402 for body only) with a $50 Pentax rebate reducing the price further.