Photocritic photography blog

If you’re reading Photocritic regularly, you could be forgiven for thinking there’s nothing in the world of D-SLR cameras beyond Canon and Nikon.

Of course, nothing could be further from the truth: Competition is stronger than ever, and there’s a lot of other manufacturers bidding for your entry-level-cash…

So we’ve had a look at the top entry-level dSLR cameras, and what professional reviewers think of them - who knows, it might just come in handy when you’re ready to buy your next camera!

Update - When I first posted this, I got a few complaint from readers about a) not all of the cameras being entry-level cameras, and b) me missing out some important cameras. I firmly believe that there’s no point in posting something unless it’s actually useful to people, so I took it back down and spent a couple of hours changing a few things… Most importantly, the cameras are now roughly ordered by price, but I’ve also added a few cameras and a couple of reviews, too

I hope this helps to turn this post into being as useful as you guys were hoping!

Olympus E410 (<$450)

The E410, which replaces the E400, is the runt of the litter, a real lightweight in the entry-level category. It’s affordable and compact, intended to be an introduction to the world of DSLR. The reviewers don’t seem to agree on this point, however.

CNET: “Issues with its automatic exposure and white balance make it an unsatisfactory option as a first DSLR” for newbies. (full review)

Digital Camera HQ: The E410 is a “… professional-level camera that puts an emphasis on mobility and ease-of-use”. (full review)

PopPhoto.com: “The E-410 will appeal to entry-level DSLR shooters looking for a smaller, lighter, and more affordable camera body”. (full review)

DC Resource: “The 410 has the SuperSonic Wave Filter that literally shakes off dust. … A nice feature to have”. (full review)

ephotozine: “It’s small and light with a solid quality feel”. (full review)

Nikon D40 (<$500)

According to the NPD Group, the entry-level D40 was second only to the Canon XTi in sales in January 2008, and it was PopPhoto.com’s Editor’s Choice for 2007. The D40 gets high marks in most categories, but professional-level photographers remain resistant to its charms.

CNET: “High marks for photo quality, with very low-noise images, minimal lens distortion, excellent metering and exposure, and pleasing colors”. (full review)

Digital Camera HQ: “The Nikon D40 is a superlative budget DSLR, certain to be a smash”. (full review)

PopPhoto.com: “Its 2.5fps shooting speed, unlimited JPEG bursts, and fast shutter response keep it highly competitive”. (full review)

DCResource: “The D40 is arguably the most accessible D-SLR out there”. (full review)

Ken Rockwell: “My D40 is the best camera I know of for people and family photography”. (full review)

Canon EOS 400D / Canon Digital Rebel XTi (<$600)

The 10mp successor to the 350D XT, the 400D XTi is considered an excellent yet still-affordable choice for photographers ready to graduate to a professional-grade DSLR. Here’s what the pros have to say about this spiffed-up Rebel baby:

Digital Camera HQ: “The Rebel XTi is “exceptional. The 2.5-inch LCD is a marked improvement over the previous version’s [350D] measly 1.8-inch display”. (full review)

imaging resource: “Excellent 10.1 megapixel sensor with impressively low noise and superb detail”. (full review)

Camera Labs: “Owners of the original EOS 300D who avoided the 350D XT will find it hard to resist the 400D XTi”. (full review)

Steve’s Digicams: “The XTi may be an entry-level camera, but it’s quite the performer”. (full review)

LetsGoDigital: “An excellent first step into the world of DSLR cameras”. (full review)

Sigma SD14 (<$600)

The Sigma D14 succeeds the D10, in response to the clamor for JPEG mode in addition to RAW. Indeed, the SD14 offers four JPEG recording modes with three quality settings. That ought to disperse the gathering hordes.

CNET: “In our lab tests, the Sigma SD14’s performance was not impressive, especially considering its price”. (full review)

PopPhoto.com: Finalist, 2007 Camera of the Year. Compared to the D10, “… there are several other performance enhancements that will appeal to pros and enthusiasts”. (full review)

DPHOTO JOURNAL: “In terms of image noise, sharpness and general ease of use, it is a little lacking”. (full review)

ephotozine: “Designed for the experienced photographer, the SD14 has superb image quality and colour fidelity when used in its intended RAW format”. (full review)

DigitalCameraInfo.com: Unlike other DSLRs, which use the Bayer pattern sensor technology, “… the Sigma D14 uses Foveon X3, which stacks them to eliminate any problems produced by having a lateral shift between color sensors”. (full review)

Olympus Evolte E510 (<$650)

The E510 is like its little sister, the E410, except that it has CCD-shift image stabilization. The larger and heavier E510 - still amazingly light - is the replacement for the highly regarded E-500 but is considerably more sophisticated, with some important extra features, including the Live MOS sensor. On the other hand, at least one reviewer accuses it of having “button clutter”. (full review)

CNET: “As Live View modes in SLRs go, the 510’s version is pretty nice, but it’s still clunkier than shooting with a real compact camera”. (full review)

Digital Camera HQ: “The E-510 continues the Olympus tradition of appealing to novice or developing photographers with simple, easy-to-use high-end cameras”. (full review)

PopPhoto.com: The E510 is for “…serious photographers who want IS for low-light shooting, plus a large battery and some extra control buttons”. (full review)

DC Resource: “The E-510 is a great entry-level D-SLR. Unless you must have the small size of the E-410, I’d spend the extra $100 and get the E-510 - the image stabilization and more powerful battery are well worth the price”. (full review)

imaging resource: “With a better grip, image stabilization, and all the optical benefits of the Four-Thirds system under its belt, the Olympus E-510 is currently the most well-rounded choice among Four-Thirds SLR cameras”. (full review)

Nikon D60 (<$700)

Like the Rebel XSi, the D60 is still wet behind the ears, having made its appearance in early 2008. So far, the reviews are underwhelming.

Ken Rockwell: “It’s the same thing as the $300-less-expensive D40″. (full review)

DPReview: “The most significant change [from the D40X] isn’t to the camera at all; it’s the move to an optically stabilized version of the kit lens”. (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD60/)

Camera Labs: “A good, solid, 10-megapixel entry-level DSLR. … Very easy to use … nothing truly groundbreaking”. (full review)

ephotozine: “Excepting the minor cosmetic difference to allow for the motion sensor, the Nikon D60 is a clone of the D40X”. (full review)

PopPhoto.com: “The 10.2-megapixel Nikon D60 is an improved version of Nikon’s D40x camera”. (full review)

Sony Alpha A300 (<$700)

The A300 was launched only a few months ago, and isn’t actually available to buy as I’m writing this but reviewers have already had a bit of a feed:

Imaging Resource: “Essentially identical to the Sony A200, the top deck of the Sony A300 and A350 have one unique feature: the Live View/OVF (Optical ViewFinder) switch. This switch engages the Live View mode by moving the front element of the Pentamirror forward” (full preview)

PopPhoto: “Other notable features include eye-start autofocus, which is triggered as soon as the camera is brought near the photographer’s eye, and Sony’s D-Range Optimizer (DRO) for enhancing shadow and highlight detail in high-contrast shots” (full news story)

New York Times: “Just by looking at it, you’d never guess that Sony’s new Alpha A300 digital camera represents a huge technical breakthrough. ” (full review)

Nikon D80 (<$750)

Nikon’s D80 has impressed more than a few experts, who seem to agree that it’s a whole lotta camera for not a whole lotta money, making it a good choice for DSLR newbies.

CNET: “With 10.2 megapixels, lightning-fast performance, high-quality images with very low noise, and a heaping pile of convenience features, Nikon’s D80 will not disappoint”. (full review)

Digital Camera HQ: “Stunning quality … a welcome addition to Nikon’s already superb line”. (full review)

PopPhoto.com: “Its 11-point auto focus system is the most sophisticated for the money”. (full review)

DC Resource: “The Nikon D80 is a fairly inexpensive digital SLR that packs spectacular performance and excellent image quality into a well-built, solid camera”. (full review)

imaging resource: “The new Nikon D80’s combination of high-end features and its 18-135mm DX kits lens make a killer photographic tool for the amateur and intermediate photographer”. (full review)

Pentax K200D (<$750)

If the 20D and 200D were pandas, they’d be fraternal twins - both made their debut in January 2008. The K200 is the K100’s replacement, and it has already made quite a splash in the DSLR marketplace.

Digital Camera HQ: “The Pentax K200D is a good entry-level digital SLR that captures enough detail for poster-sized prints and allows for an incredible degree of control”.

CNET video review: “Looks like a pretty good camera in its price range”. (full review)

infoSync World: “A proprietary shake reduction system has been incorporated, along with auto picture and various scene modes”. (full review)

LetsGoDigital: “Blurred hand-held photographs, particularly with telephotos or longer exposure times, are a thing of the past”. (full review)

DPReview: “Designed mainly for family users and digital camera beginners, this model offers a host of user-friendly features and sophisticated functions like higher-class models”. (full news story)

Canon EOS 450D / Canon Rebel XSi (<$900)

Making its debut in early 2008, the Rebel XSi’s sneak-peekers are lined up like proud papas handing out cigars. Here’s what they’re cheering about:

Digital Camera HQ: “It’s the big one: the latest installment in Canon’s Digital Rebel series of cameras which blends the professional power of Canon’s 40D with the user-friendly presentation of the Digital Rebel line”. (read full review)

PopPhoto.com: “It has Live View mode. This is the best yet!” (full review)

DPReview: “It also gains spot-metering - a first for one of Canon’s baby DSLRs”. (full review)

Photography Bay: “The XSi is the fastest firing Rebel model to date, capable of continuously capturing 3.5 frames per second”.

BobAtkins.com: “A real improvement over the XTi in terms of features and usability”. (full review)

Panasonic DMC-L10 (<$1,050)

The Lumix L10 was a finalist for PopPhoto.com’s 2007 Camera of the Year. It may have been because of its 2.5-inch LCD that offers 270 degree rotation. Or maybe the judges were impressed by its Intelligent ISO Control function, which detects and meters the movement of the subject and sets the appropriate ISO setting and the shutter speed. Maybe they were wowed by a unique Face Detection function. Of course, the L10 does offer one of the most advanced hybrid AF system in the industry. Who knows? What they were thinking is anybody’s guess.

CNET: “A nice body design and good image quality make the DMC-L10 an enticing entry-level SLR, but a pricey kit lens makes this kit too expensive”. (full review)

DPReview: “With the L10, Panasonic has created the closest thing to a point-and-shoot experience on a DSLR that I’ve seen”. (full review)

imaging resource: “Under the skin, the Lumix L10 is a lot more than a simple cost-cutting of the original model [DMC L1]. Some of the features really appear to stand out from the crowd, especially those related to the camera’s live view mode”. (full review)

LetsGoDigital: “The Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 incorporates a Face Detection function, a first in digital SLR cameras, that helps the camera to recognize a human face to capture it bright and clear. Up to 15 human faces can be detected simultaneously”. (full review)

DPreview: “But the problem facing Panasonic is that the L10 (…) is too expensive to compete in the growing entry-level 10MP SLR market and nowhere near well-specified enough to play with the big boys in the enthusiast / semi-pro market it’s price pushes it towards.” (full review)

Pentax K20D (<$1,100)

A 2008 New Year’s baby, the K20D came tightly wrapped and is an already-popular upgrade of the K10D.

Digital Camera HQ: “An improved dust-proof and water-resistant construction ensures that the camera stays clean and functional under even the toughest conditions”. (full review)

PopPhoto.com: “The controls are easy to reach and master, and menus are even clearer on the 2.7-inch screen, with its wide viewing angle and 230,000-dot resolution”. (full review)

ephotozine: “Would it have been too difficult to fit a 3-inch screen? Then they could have given it a better pixel count than 230,000, keeping it in line with the newer DSLRs from other manufacturers”. (full review)

infoSync World: “One of the more interesting features [of the K20D’s] live view LCD is the viewfinder’s 4x to 8x digital zoom - when framing a shot with an LCD viewfinder it can be extremely convenient. And because the zoom is strictly on the viewfinder, the image quality is not degraded”. (full review)

DPReview: “The Pentax K20D is the first DSLR we’ve encountered that offers the ability to adjust the representation of color on its screen, allowing the user to calibrate the screen to more accurately reflect the output or the user’s tastes”. (news story)

Canon 40D (<$1,100)

The great-grandson of the first consumer digital SLR, the Canon EOS D30, the 40D is the newest child in a series of cameras with great heritage - an evolution from camera to camera has resulted in one of the finest digital SLR cameras you can buy - especially at this price-point.

Steve’s Digicams: “If you’re looking for a 10-megapixel camera that can fire long bursts, is compatible with a mature system of professional accessories, and creates superb images in almost any light, look no further.” (full review)

Imaging Resource: “The new Canon 40D offers a very mature set of features in a camera that’s priced lower than its predecessors. It also offers as much value and image quality as competing designs that are hundreds of dollars more” (full review)

Photo.net: “The Rebel XTi is a better camera to throw into a bag if you think that you might want to take a picture. The 40D is a better camera to take if you are leaving the house on a specifically photographic mission. The 40D is a truly great camera for wildlife and sports photography. ” (full review)

The Luminous Landscape: “The bottom line is that the Canon 40D is the most DSLR for the money that Canon has ever offered” (full review)

DP Review: “When I first started using the EOS 40D a simple description came to mind: that this is a ‘well sorted camera’” (full review)

Sony Alpha A700 (<$1,400)

The Sony A700 is much-lauded for its HDMI output (giving you full high-def pictures on your TV), and a phenomenal LCD screen built in to the camera body - but is detracted points for build quality.

Stuff.tv: “the A700 doesn’t feel anywhere near as solid as competitors like the virtually bombproof Olympus E-3 or Canon EOS 40D” (full review)

Trusted Reviews: “I’d say that both Nikon and Canon have good reason to be worried. The A700 is an extremely impressive camera both in the flesh and on paper” (full review)

Camera Labs: “Like most new DSLRs, Sony’s made the jump in screen size to 3in, but fitted the A700 with a super high resolution model sporting 640×480 resolution which is four times finer than typical 230k screens.” (full review)

DP Review: “On the negative side there are some quirky design decisions which may or may not affect you” (full review)

DC Resource: “If you’ve got a bunch of Minolta lenses waiting for a capable body to attach themselves to, then this is your camera. Even if you don’t, the DSLR-A700 is a very good midrange D-SLR that should definitely be considered.” (full review)

Olympus E3 (<$1,500)

If the E3 could read its own reviews, it might find itself with an identity crisis. Is it just for the pros? Or is it a good choice as an advanced-level consumer camera? You’ll have to figure this one out for yourself.

CNET: “Despite some interface quirks and a slightly awkward design, the Olympus E3 fares quite well against its midrange DSLR competition”. (full review)

PopPhoto.com: Finalist, 2007 Camera of the Year. “This new Olympus flagship DSLR proves that the Four Thirds system has a bona fide place in the pro and advanced amateur photographer’s kit”. (full review)

PopPhoto.com (in a different article): “If you want virtually total control, this is your camera”. (article link)

imaging resource: “Billed as a pure pro camera, the Olympus E-3 is more comparable to the cameras that we’ve been categorizing as semi-pro. … Whatever you call it though, there’s no question that the new E-3 represents a sizable leap forward in technology and sophistication for the Olympus SLR line”. (full review)

DC Resource: “This one’s for people who know what they’re doing”. (full review)

Nikon D300 (<$1,800)

The D300 isn’t built for rookies used to the wonders of a point-and-shoot, but hard-core DSLR users who know their way around a nicely loaded DSLR. We’ve seldom heard a disparaging word about this great camera.

CNET: Selected Editor’s Choice January 2008. “Great performance and class-leading photo quality”. (full review)

Digital Camera HQ: “Those looking to get involved with high-end or professional photography should pay special attention to this camera”. (full review)

DC Resource: “The D300 beats both the D40 and the A700 in terms of high ISO performance”. (full review)

Steve’s Digicams: “The Nikon D300 SLR Digital Camera offers outstanding image quality, multi-functional technologies and fast response”. (full review)

PopPhoto.com: Selected 2007 Camera of the Year. “No camera both refines and redefines photography as well as the Nikon D300″. (full review)

So.. Which camera should I buy?

As you’ve seen, there are tons of possibilities available to the budding photographer - and a lot of the cameras are mighty fine photo-taking machines, too.

Our top tip would probably be to stick with one of the two big camera brands: A d-SLR is a huge investment, and despite that the likes of Sony, Panasonic and Sigma are starting to come up with some good alternatives to Canon and Nikon, there’s an excellent reason for why these two brands are dominating the market completely: They have an amazing ability to churn out fantastic cameras time and time again.

If you do feel like going against the grain, though, I really hope that the reviews and links linked to above are useful to you.

Finally, a huge thanks to Marjorie for helping me do the research for this write-up. You’re my hero!

Your next camera…

n

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Categories: Buying Advice | Guest writer
Tags: Canon | Nikon | Olympus | Panasonic | Pentax | Sigma | Sony

This entry is © Haje Jan Kamps / Photocritic.org, and was posted on Saturday, April 5th, 2008. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.