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guide the our opinionated take on the cameras and lenses we’ve tested canon eos-1d mark iii canon eos-1ds mark iii 1/2 canon eos 5d mark ii 1/2 APS-h fuLL-frAME PRICEY fuLL-frAME amateur pro amateur pro amateur pro $3,700, street, body only the emphasis is on speed over megapixels in the 1D mark III, an ideal tool for shooters of fast action. read about its soon-to-be replacement, the EoS 1D mark IV, in this issue. standout spec Demonic speed in auto- focusing, subject tracking, and, notably, burst rate: 10 fps for full-res JPEGs. canon eos 7d APS-C amateur pro sensor 10.1mP cmoS, 14-bit raW capture imaGe staBiliZation Lens-based video none lcd 3-in., 230,000-dot $1,700, street, body only canon’s new top aPS-c body is also its first with wireless flash control through the pop-up. Solid, weathersealed build is nEw ModEL bolstered by high-res images with low noise at high ISos. raW capture standout spec Its 8-fps imaGe staBiliZation native burst rate is the fastest Lens-based of any aPS-c format body, just video rES/FramE ratE beating out nikon’s D300s. 1080p/30 fps, 720p/60 fps sensor 18mP cmoS, 14-bit lcd 3-in., 920,000-dot canon eos reBel Xs 1/2 APS-C amateur pro $500, street, with 18–55mm f/3.5 –5.6 eF-s is lens Inheriting the sensor of the former “top rebel” Xti, the XS adds live view to round out canon’s most economical DSLr. and it comes with an IS kit lens, standard. standout spec the XS, for an “entry-level” model, autofocuses faster than many a pricier camera. gEtting oLd sensor 10mP cmoS, 12-bit raW capture imaGe staBiliZation Lens-based video none lcd 2.5-in., 230,000-dot Our Star ratingS 2001: a space odyssey star wars star trek Flash Gordon spaceBalls cameras and lenses—tested and rated For Full test reports and inFo on how we test and rate cameras and lenses, visit pop<strong>photo</strong>.com/reviews. $6,115, street, body only once canon’s megapixel king, it now shares that throne with the newer EoS 5D mark II. awesome image quality in a bulletproof body—at a high cost in both weight and dollars. a favorite of nature and studio shooters both. standout spec medium-format imaging from a (sort of) 35mm body. canon eos 50d APS-C amateur pro $980, street, body only now second banana in canon aPS-c models, it offers near class-leading image quality, a great build, and very speedy shooting—but no video. For that, you’ll need to move up to a 7D—or down to a rebel t1i. standout spec 6.3-fps burst rate still a standout in this class—but no longer the fastest of the fast. canon eos reBel Xsi 1/2 APS-C amateur pro $600, street, with 18–55mm f/3.5 –5.6 eF-s is lens While it lacks video, the XSi’s well-designed package of fine imaging, fast-for- any-class aF, and excellent viewfinder make it a hit in its class. If you don’t need video, this may be your reb. standout spec relentless consistency of image quality throughout the ISo range. nikon d3X fuLL-frAME amateur pro sensor 21.1mP cmoS, 14-bit raW capture imaGe staBiliZation Lens-based video none lcd 3-in., 230,000-dot sensor 15.1mP cmoS, 14-bit raW capture imaGe staBiliZation Lens-based video none lcd 3-in., 920,000-dot sensor 12.2mP cmoS, 14-bit raW capture imaGe staBiliZation Lens-based video none lcd 3-in., 230,000-dot Guide to the Guide In these three pages, we rate all of the current DSLRs (and one rangefinder), plus all of the current lenses within a given focal range, that we’ve tested. The star ratings reflect: CamERaS image quality: Includes resolution, noise, and color accuracy performance/capabilities: Includes autofocus, metering, and burst rate usability: Includes ergonomics, controls, and customization LEnSES optics: Such as sharpness, distortion, light falloff Barrel design: Includes focus and zoom rings, markings, and aF motor To match cameras and lenses, look for the labels. APS-C four thirdS bESt in CLASS gEtting oLd Is it worth the dough? Look for: fuLL-frAME nEw ModEL STEaL PRICEY $2,700, street, body only Long-awaited update of the original full-frame workhorse, the mark II impressed us with stellar image quality, hD video, rugged construction—but not the older aF system recycled from the mark I. Film students have taken to its video big time. standout spec Excellent image quality to ISo 3200—’nuff said. canon eos reBel t1i APS-C amateur pro nikon d90 1/2 APS-C amateur pro sensor 21.1mP cmoS, 14-bit raW capture imaGe staBiliZation Lens-based video rES/FramE ratE 1080p/30 fps, 720p/30 fps lcd 3-in., 920,000-dot $750, street, with 18–55mm f/3.5 –5.6 eF-s is lens as far from a “starter” camera as any rebel has ever come, the t1i has the same sensor bESt in CLASS and nearly the same processing power as pricier raW capture big brother EoS 50D. imaGe staBiliZation standout spec Sheer Lens-based imaging power—both still and video rES/FramE ratE video—ranks best for this price. 1080i/20 fps, 720p/30 fps sensor 15.1mP cmoS, 14-bit lcd 3-in., 920,000-dot $810, street, body only the first DSLr with video, it remains nikon’s main midlevel model, with great resolution, hD movie-making, and near-perfect layout. unlike sensor 12.3mP cmoS, lesser nikons, it accepts 12-bit raW capture lenses without aF motors. imaGe staBiliZation standout spec the pop-up Lens-based flash that supports wireless video rES/FramE ratE flash control. you won’t find 720p/24 fps that on the D5000. lcd 3-in., 920,000-dot PoPPhoto.com January 2010 popular <strong>photo</strong>graphy 93 PRICEY $7,600, street, body only Without question, the overall image quality champ of current DSLrs—and should be for a while. Built like a tank, it’s heavy and expensive, but bESt in CLASS those who love it don’t care. has the fastest aF in low light. 14-bit raW capture standout spec the imaGe staBiliZation absolute, breathtaking Lens-based state-of-the-artness of it. video none sensor 24.5mP cmoS, lcd 3-in., 920,000-dot www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com leica m9 1/2 fuLL-frAME amateur pro $6,995, street, body only Leica finally serves up a full-frame m body, and it produced Excellent image quality through ISo 800. outside the lab, we loved the classic Leica style and good old-fashioned simplicity of operation. But what’s with the max ISo of 2500? standout spec a sensor that delivers all the quality PRICEY nEw ModEL Leica lenses can provide. sensor 18mP ccD, 14-bit raW capture imaGe staBiliZation none video none lcd 2.5-in., 230,000-dot STEaL
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