Olympus OM-D E-M5 $1856.5 (12 – 50mm lens)
After its success in resurrecting the PEN
brand, Olympus was inevitably going to emblazon the legendary OM moniker across
its first compact system camera with a viewfinder. And boy, does it live up to
the name. This isn’t just any old CSC, but one with pro aspirations. You get
astoundingly fast autofocus, 9fps burst shooting, an excellent EVF, a
weatherproof body, tons of controls, and superb 16MP pics right through to ISO
25,600. The cherry on the well-iced cake is the Live Time mode for live view of
long exposures. Post-launch deal prices see it rise to the No.1 spot
Killer
feature
The truly amazing Live Time mode – you’ve
got to see it
Our
Ratings: 5/5 stars
The best compact system camera so far,
boasting super-fast autofocus and great advanced features
Canon EOS 650D $1049.5 (body only) 5/5 stars
Our new favorite DSLR has a new hybrid CMOS
sensor which enables continuous autofocus during video recording, a responsive
touchscreen and 5fps burst shooting image quality from the 18MP sensor is
excellent and focusing is super-quick. Brilliant
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 $678 (body only) 5/5 stars
The spiritual successor to the GF1, the GX1
offers a Micro Four Thirds cam that’s as satisfying for the enthusiast as it is
for those stepping up from a compact Plenty of controls and a touchscreen
combine well with a superb 16MP sensor
Sony NEX-7 $1461 (w/18 – 55mm lens) 5/5 stars
A host of manual photo and video controls
are available via its gorgeously minimalist unmarked knobs, but it’s the
exceptional quality of its 24.3MP images that really impresses. A pop-up flash
and handy mic input top off the (admittedly pricey) package
Nikon D5100 $678 (body only) 5/5 stars
Improvements over our old favorite the
D5000 are a vari-angle screen that’s grown to 3in, 1080p video recording and a
16.2MP chip sensitive up to ISO 6400. Its sensor is amazing in low light,
serving up punchy stills and hi-def video
Sony SLT-A55 $1049.5 (w/18 – 55mm lens) 5/5 stars
Thanks to Sony’s translucent mirror tech,
the A55 can shoot at pro-level speeds of 10fps and autofocus in 1080p video
mode. The trade-off is an electronic rather than optical viewfinder, but we’ll
forgiver it. A worthy alternative to tradition DSLRs
Olympus PEN E-P3 $1017 (w/14 – 42mm lens) 5/5 stars
You could get a great DSLR for this money –
but while it would often do a great job, this Micro Four Thirds camera will
always feel more special. It’s got quality build, styling, and lightning-fast
focus. We’ve a sneaky suspicion that a successor is imminent, though
Canon EOS 60D $1178.5 (body only) 5/5 stars
The Canon 60D is a DSLR camera aimed at the
serious amateur: a ruggedly built, feature-stuffed snapper that counts full
1080p video among its charms. An all-round great choice for the Canon user
looking to step up from the entry-level models
Sony SLT-A77 $1566 (body only) 5/5 stars
The A55’s big brother is even more capable,
with continuous shooting speeds of up to 12fps, a 24MP sensor, rugged body and
an absolutely stunning electronic viewfinder. The only downside is the huge
premium you’re paying for those souped-up specs
Nikon D3200 $710 (body only) 4/5 stars
Like its D3100 predecessor, the D3200 has
an excellent photography-course-in-a –camera Guide mode, but that’s no longer
the star attraction. This entry-level DSLR has a very non-entry-level 24MP
sensor that’s capable of truly professional results.
Instant expert
Simon
Osborne-Walker prime suspect
With Canon having finally announced a compact
system camera, the EOS M ($1243 w/18 – 55mm lens), it seems a good time to
induct another of the company’s legendary cameras into the SLR Hall of Fame.
The T90 was the last SLR to use the FD manual-focus lens mount before the
introduction of the EOS range and EF lenses. It was introduced in 1986 and
earned the nickname ‘The Tank’ because, despite looking like a black jelly
mould, it was built to last. And that’s why there are still many in service
today – you can pick the bodies up on eBay for under $161.5. The only problem
is that the market for adapters to mount vintage lenses on CSCs has meant FD
lens prices are creeping up, albeit for a good reason: they’re excellent.
“Canon’s T90 was nicknamed ‘The Tank’ – it
was built to last”
What to look for
1.
Continuous shooting
If you’re into action photography, you’ll
appreciate a camera that can fire off shots like a machine gun. The average is
3fps, but 6fps and above is ideal
2.
Live View/HD video
The former allows you to frame shots using
the SLR’s display; the latter captures video at 720p or 1080p. 1080p is best;
look for 24fps (or faster) framerates
3.
Kit lens
Most interchangeable-lens cameras can be
bought with a standard, or ‘kit’ lens, which is usually around 18 – 55mm (or 14
– 42mm on an Olympus or Panasonic). That’s Ok for starters, but you’ll want
more length to get closer to the main event with sports and action
4.
Image stabilization (IS)
Anti-shake tech is built into more
expensive lenses, but if you’re buying a load of extra glass you’ll ultimately
save money if there’s an image stabilizer already built into your camera’s body
