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| Nikon D700 |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 Regarding still image quality alone, the Nikon D700 is a prodigious force within the full-frame professional DSLR market. Its stellar high ISO performance propelled the camera above many of its competitors, including the Canon Eos 5D Mark II, and its overall image quality was some of the best we’ve seen within this class. The Nikon D700 features an excellent interface that offers some sort of external control for nearly every primary image adjustment we could ask for in the field. The Nikon D700 has a highly intuitive menu system, three-inch LCD with Live View and rugged construction that survived a surreptitious precipitation ambush on the Brooklyn Bridge. On the downside, the Nikon D700 does not have a video mode, and that’s what makes the Canon Eos 5D Mark II so enticing. We’re pretty sure the next incarnation of the D700 will feature HD video recording, but we chose the D700 over the Eos 5D Mark II when it came down to still quality. The Nikon D700 is a manual machine with several features that cater to the advanced photographer, and its compatibility with FX lenses allow the shooter to combine exceptional optics with an awesome camera body. We really didn’t have any major complaints after our expedition with the Nikon D700, and we’re almost certain you’ll feel the same. Release: July 2008. Price: $3000.
Pros: Excellent high ISO performance. Extensive interface and features. Rugged, durable body. Compatible with many accessories and all FX and DX lenses.
Cons: DX lenses bring on the crop factor. Zooming in Playback gets pixilated. Viewfinder coverage is only 95%.
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| Canon EOS 5D Mark II |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Gallery » |
 There aren't many DSLRs that can compete with the Canon Eos 5D Mark II. This 21-megapixel professional DSLR has burrowed itself into a rather unconventional hole within the pegboard of the advanced DSLR market, courtesy not only of exceptional still image quality, but dynamite 1080p HD video quality. We loved the Canon Eos 5D Mark II's rock solid build and compatibility with the entire Canon EF lens library. Menus were easy to navigate through thanks to an excellent interface, though the camera was not packed to the brim with features. The Canon Eos 5D Mark II is an imaging powerplant, especially when combined with high quality glass—that's its place in the world. If you're a professional photographer looking for a model that won't significantly break the bank the way an Eos 1D or Nikon D3 will, then the Full-frame Canon Eos 5D Mark II is the answer. In terms of versatility, the Canon Eos 5D Mark II cannot be beat. Release: November 2008. Price: $2700.
Pros: Excellent still image and video quality. Solid design and great interface. Accommodates Canon’s best glass, in addition to a variety of other accessories.
Cons: Records to CF cards, which are slowly becoming extinct. Not terribly feature-rich. 21-megapixel RAW images eat memory like it's their Birthday.
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| Pentax K-7 |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 The big bad Pentax K-7 has surfaced upon the infoSync shores, and we’re here to tell you that the tides of time have brought many impressive features and slightly improved image quality to the company’s current lineup of intermediate/semi-professional DSLRs. The K-7 was one of the most feature-rich DSLRs we’ve ever tested, with an interface that made shooting much more enjoyable than the average bear. We felt as though the well never ran dry when it came time to compose our shots, and we’re sure there are still a few untapped features lying within the K-7 that we just didn’t have time to discover during the course of our photographic adventure. RAW image quality was highly impressive, and we feel as though the K-7 is the company’s best representation of how a DSLR in this class should perform. The HD video mode still needs to be tweaked, but we managed to capture a few excellent clips to prove that Pentax is on the right track, and can only improve on models to come. In this price range, not many models offer the specified level of advanced control offered by the K-7, but we feel as though the camera met its match in the image quality department with the Nikon D5000, which is currently the budget DSLR to beat this year. If you want oodles of features and highly amenable lens compatibility, then the Pentax K-7 is waiting in the wings. We were big fans of the Pentax K-7, and are not looking forward to sending the camera back. Release: July 2009. Price: $1300.
Pros: Great overall RAW image quality. Packed to the brim with features. Excellent lens compatibility. Cushy handling and advanced interface made shooting a delight.
Cons: Inconsistent HD video quality. Menu graphics could use a little sprucing up. Certain features like HDR mode require more effort than expected.
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| Nikon D5000 |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Gallery » |
 The Nikon D5000 proceeded to kick ass in every category we tested it in, so it was no mystery that this was the entry-level DSLR to beat for 2009 after our journey. We loved the D5000's advanced interface and external controls were plentiful. This is a DSLR that has a little something for every shooter, though the heavy artillery was there when we wanted to pull out the big guns. The flip-down LCD was a major help in tight shooting environments, though the camera was a bit bulky. Image quality was top notch, and even the Pentax K2000 couldn't keep up with the D5000 on that front. HD video recording was okay, but the D5000's overall RAW performance made us forget the camera was even capable of shooting video. The D5000 is also offered in two different lens kits available at B&H, so there's no excuse not to buy this camera. If you're serious about photography but can't justify the financial long jump to a D300, get this camera. If the Nikon D5000 is too much, then go for a Pentax K2000. That's the bottom line and we're sticking to it. Release: June 2009. Price: $730.
Pros: Great overall image quality. Excellent Interface. Oodles ‘o manual controls.
Cons: Mediocre HD video performance. Limited Shutter Speed. Heavy.
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| Olympus E-620 |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 Recently voted the #1 2009 Entry-Level DSLR by TIPA (Technical Image Press Association), the Olympus E-620 bears a lot of weight on its shoulders. It belongs to the Four Thirds revolution, initially created by Olympus and Kodak, so we knew we were dealing with a smaller sensor from the beginning. However, the E-620 exhibited a killer image performance in bright and low light that surpassed the Canon Eos 500D. The E-620 matched the Pentax K2000 in certain arenas, but we'd still stick with the trusty great white K2000 when it comes down to splitting hairs over image quality. The E-620 also ships with a single wide-angle kit lens while the K2000 includes two lenses in the box and retails for 100 bucks less. However, we loved the E-620's swivel LCD and bounty of buttons and controls. The interface was a bit antiquated, but its rapid functionality and excellent Playback mode made up for the Pac-Man graphics. Features were spewing from the E-620, and the level of advanced manual control was impressive. We also enjoyed shooting with a few of the Art filters. This was also one of the smallest DSLRs we've ever tested, thanks to the Four Thirds system. The Olympus E-620 is definitely a winner, and deserves its TIPA award. Release: May 2009. Price: $800.
Pros: Great overall image quality. Excellent features. Stellar design.
Cons: LCD resolution is weak. Consumer-oriented features are not as impressive.
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84%
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