Best Professional Digital Cameras for 2010

A point and shoot digital camera may suffice the needs of a wannabe photographer but it lacks features that are required and desired by professional photographers to fully explore their creative vision. The new digital SLR cameras available today will allow avid and experienced photographers to fully explore their creative limits. The quality and level of detail that can now be captured by these DSLRs is truly inspiring. Here we present a roundup of top 10 DSLRs currently available. Read on and take your pick.

 

1. Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

The EOS-1Ds Mark III pushes digital SLR resolution over the twenty megapixel barrier with specifically 21.1 million pixels (5616 x 3744) on its 36 x 24 mm full 35 mm frame sensor. Canon also claims to have increased the ‘light gathering efficiency’ of the sensor by reducing the amount of space between micro lenses, hence despite the resolution increase the Mark III still provides sensitivity up to ISO 3200 (with boost enabled). EOS -1Ds Mark III features continuous shooting upto five frames per second. This means that at full speed the two DIGIC III image processors are dealing with an impressive 185 MB/sec. It includes a large 3″ screen, Live View, a fourteen-bit A/D converter and fourteen-bit RAW files, UDMA Compact Flash support (up to 45 MB/sec) and a whole range of features (such as dual storage slots and Picture Styles) inherited from the EOS-1D Mark III.

2. Nikon D3S

The Nikon D3S is a 12-megapixel full-frame digital SLR camera that boasts a sensitivity range of ISO 200 to ISO 12,800; expandable all the way to an incredible ISO 102,400. Successor to the popular Nikon D3, the Nikon D3S is a fully-fledged pro DSLR and the first Nikon FX body capable of high-definition video recording. Inheriting the rugged build, weatherproofing, large and bright viewfinder, high-resolution rear screen, dual memory card slots, 51-point AF module, 9-fps continuous shooting speed and dazzling range of customization options from its predecessor. It gains a few new features, such as automatic sensor cleaning, in-camera raw conversion, dedicated Live view and info buttons, a quiet shooting mode and a stereo microphone input. Other enhancements versus the earlier Nikon D3 include a larger buffer, a new 1.2x crop mode, a bracketing option for Active D-lighting and a new Vignette Control feature that seeks to reduce the noticeable corner shading common with full-frame digital cameras.

3. Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Full-frame shooters will surely be overjoyed by the Canon EOS 5D. If you wanted a full frame DSLR to use with your Canon lenses and you didn’t want the chunky EOS-1D style body then, I think the EOS 5D will be your best choice. The EOS 5D Mark II has a stunning 21.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with DIGIC 4 Image Processor, a vast ISO Range of 100-6400 (expandable to ISO L: 50, H1: 12800 and H2: 25600), plus EOS technologies like Auto Lighting Optimizer and Peripheral Illumination Correction. It supports Live View shooting and Live View HD videos of 1080p. It can shoot up to 3.9 fps, has 9 AF points plus 6 AF assist points, a new 98% coverage viewfinder, a 3″ Clear View LCD (920,000 dots/VGA) and a rugged build.

4. Canon EOS 7D

The Canon EOS 7D is an 18 megapixel digital SLR camera incorporating a new APS-C CMOS sensor designed and manufactured by Canon. Its magnesium alloy body provides weather sealing . The 7D’s sensor offers a versatile ISO range of 100-12,800. It includes dual DIGIC 4 processors offering continuous shooting at 8fps, improved 19-point cross-type auto-focus system including Zone and Spot AF, Focus Colour Luminance metering system which measures from 63 zones, and an Intelligent Viewfinder with 100% frame coverage and 1.0x magnification. The Canon 7D’s 3″ Clear View II LCD screen with 920,000 dot resolution is used for the camera’s Live View and Movie modes, with Full HD 1080 video. The Canon EOS 7D is equipped with an integrated Speedlite Transmitter, making it easy to control external Speedlite flashguns with no additional accessories required.

5. Nikon D300s

The Nikon D300s is a 12.3-megapixel resolution Digital SLR with exceptional 51-point Autofocus. The new model adds 720p HD video capture with optional autofocus, in-camera video editing, an on-board mono microphone and a stereo microphone input, a dedicated button for Live View access, dual memory card slots, fast continuous shooting, a new Quiet drive mode, a Virtual Horizon to aid you in keeping the camera level, a redesigned eight-way controller with a centered set button, plus an all-new Info button and on-demand screen tips for new users. Pretty much everything else is unchanged from the older D300, including the environmentally sealed magnesium-alloy body, the large optical viewfinder with 100% frame coverage and the fixed 3 inch rear screen with 921,000 dots.

6. Sony Alpha A850

Sony Alpha A850 DSLR offers almost all features of the company’s flagship full frame DSLR A900, but at a more affordable price. It is built around the same 24.6MP CMOS sensor incorporating A900’s 3.0 inch 921k LCD, sensor-shift image-stabilization and Dual Bionz processors. It features a 98% viewfinder coverage and fast continuous shooting.

To complement the A850, Sony has also announced a mid-priced 28-75mm constant F2.8 SAM lens to fit with the A850’s affordable full-frame ethos.

7. Olympus E-3

The Olympus E-3 sports a 11.8 megapixel sensor and latest TruPic III processor. It also features live view, sensor-shift image stabilization, 11-point AF, fast continuous shooting with bigger buffer. It has a top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec and flash sync speed of 1/250 sec. It sports a 2.5″ high resolution vari-angle screen and a bigger as well as brighter viewfinder.

8. Pentax K-7

The Pentax K-7 is an exciting DSLR camera. The Pentax K-7 joins the growing list of DSLR cameras that can record video, with a best quality setting of 1536×1024 pixels at 30fps. In-camera High Dynamic Range is another up-to-the-minute feature, combining three differently exposed images on-the-fly to create a single photo with expanded dynamic range. Autofocus, traditionally one of the weaker points of Pentax SLRs, has been significantly upgraded to a new 11-point wide-frame AF module with 9 cross sensors and 2 line sensors. The dust, weather and freeze-proof Pentax K-7 has 77 weather / dustproof seals, a stainless-steel alloy chassis, a shutter designed for 100,000 releases, a top shutter speed of 1/8000th second, a through-the-lens optical viewfinder with 100% frame coverage and 0.92x magnification, and a new 77-segment matrix meter. It boasts of a high-resolution 3-inch LCD monitor with 920k dots, built-in dust removal and shake-reduction systems, continuous shooting rate of 5.2fps, improved Live View with Face Recognition AF, and automatic compensation of lens distortion and lateral chromatic aberrations with DA and DFA lenses.

9. Canon EOS 500D

The Canon EOS 500D (also known as the Digital Rebel T1i) is a digital SLR camera that features HD video capture. The 500D can record Full HD 1080p video as well as 720p and VGA quality footage, and is the second Canon DSLR to offer video recording after the professional 5D Mark II model. The Canon 500D / Rebel T1i offers a number of significant features, including a resolution of 15.1 megapixels, Live View with three different modes including Face Detection, a 3 inch LCD screen with 920,000-dots, and ISO range of 100-12800.

10. Olympus E-620

Olympus E-620 is the latest addition to Olympus’ now extensive range of Four Thirds system digital SLR cameras. It is very light and compact as the tiny E-450, but additionally offers an image stabilisation system that’s built into the camera body, which means that any lens that you attach, automatically benefits from up to 4 EV steps of stabilisation. The E-620 also has a free-angle 2.7 inch LCD screen, 6 Art filters, Multi Exposure mode and four different aspect ratios. Other key features include a 12.3 megapixel Live MOS sensor, 7-point autofocus system, optical viewfinder with 95% field of view, Live View with high-speed contrast autofocus, 4fps continuous shooting and Supersonic Wave Filter dust protection.