photo - Ken Gilbert

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 popphoto.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 photography 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