Produces top-notch photos and will appeal to photographers with a stash of Nikon lenses.

The Minolta 7D offers a profusion of manual controls and an innovative anti-shake feature, but its image quality was sub-par.

The small, lightweight Nikon D70s offers conveniences you won't find on many other models, though its image quality lags behind many other SLRs.

The Nikon D70 is feature-packed and takes superb photos. If you already have Nikon-compatible lenses the D70 is a great way to get into high-end digital.

The *ist DS is certainly a great camera, combining 6.1 megapixel resolution, decent build quality and great controls for beginners.

A brilliant camera for advanced photographers, but new users should look elsewhere.

If you don't want to fool with interchangeable lenses (or you prefer framing shots with an LCD panel), and you don't need the gee-whiz features found on other advanced models, the S9500 is a good compromise

Its uncommon antishake mechanism, large LCD panel, and well-arranged controls make the Dynax 5D a good choice for someone seeking a consumer-friendly SLR.