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Camera Labs Buyer's Guide:
The best semi-pro digital SLRs
If you’re shopping for a semi-pro DSLR, you’ve come to the right place! At Camera Labs we provide in-depth reviews but understand you’re busy people who sometimes just want recommendations of the most outstanding products.
So here we cut to the chase and list the best models around right now. We’ve fully tested each one and there’s links to our reviews for more details – and to see an actual demonstration of their highlights, be sure to check out our video tours.
If you find our reviews useful and would like to support Camera Labs, please use our price-checking service next to each camera below. This will let you find the best prices for that particular model from reputable stores, so it's a win-win situation which saves you money and keeps us up and running. We really do appreciate your support and once you’ve bought your new camera we’d love to hear what you think in the Camera Labs forums!
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| Canon EOS 50D - full review / video tour |
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Canon’s EOS 50D is a semi-pro DSLR which may share essentially the same body as the EOS 40D, but features a number of key differences. First is a significant boost in resolution to 15.1 Megapixels, and an increase in the maximum sensitivity to 12800 ISO; despite the higher resolution, continuous shooting is only fractionally slower at 6.3fps. The screen remains 3in, but is a new high resolution VGA model, and there’s also now an HDMI port for HD slideshows. Completing the spec are AF micro-adjustment, in-camera vignette correction, contrast-based AF in Live View, and software which lets you remote control the camera with your PC or Mac. The 50D is now a worthy rival to the Nikon D300 and a highly recommended model at this price point.
Pros: High resolution. Quick handling. VGA screen. HDMI.
Cons: Needs a good lens to exploit resolution. Face Detect mode slow.
Overall: A feature-packed DSLR, but compare closely with D300. |
Nikon D300s - full review / HD video tour
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| Nikon’s D300s builds upon the already highly capable D300. As such it inherits a 12.3 Megapixel sensor, large viewfinder, 3in VGA screen, powerful 51-point AF system, Live View, HDMI port and a tough body with great ergonomics. To this the D300s adds HD movies in the 720p format, a slight boost in continuous shooting speed to 7fps and dual Compact Flash / SD memory card slots, allowing you to backup images as you shoot them. The D300s also now features a Quiet shooting mode and a virtual horizon in live view. It remains one of the best semi-pro DSLRs on the market, but unlike its predecessor, faces a direct rival in the form of Canon’s EOS 7D. If you’re not already committed to a platform, compare both models closely.
Pros: Superb build and handling. Dual card slots. 720p movies.
Cons: No histogram in Live View or 1080p video.
Overall: A superb DSLR, but compare closely with Canon 7D. |
| Canon EOS 5D Mark II - full review / video tour in HD |
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| Canon’s EOS 5D Mark II is a powerful DSLR that represents a significant upgrade over the original 5D, and a tough rival in the growing ‘affordable’ full-frame market. The 5D Mark II may share essentially the same body and AF system as its predecessor, but almost everything else has changed. The sensor’s been boosted to 21.1 Megapixels, the sensitivity increased by three stops, continuous shooting accelerated to 3.9fps, and the screen greatly improved in size and detail to a 3in VGA model. There’s now also Live View, AF micro-adjustment, support for quick UDMA cards, an HDMI port, and High Definition movie recording in the 1080p format. It’s one of the best DSLRs for the money, although compare closely with the Sony A900 and Nikon D700.
Pros: High resolution and low noise; HD movies; VGA screen.
Cons: No popup flash; only 3.9fps; v/f not 100% coverage.
Overall: Highly recommended for stills or movies. |
| Nikon D700 - full review / video tour |
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The D700 boasts many of the flagship D3's features, but squeezes them into a smaller and lighter D300-sized body. So the D700 sports the D3's 12.1 Megapixel full-frame sensor, 3in VGA monitor, 51 point AF system and Live View, but additionally features a popup flash and anti-dust features. The viewfinder may not deliver 100% coverage, but as a full-frame model it's still large, and continuous shooting remains a respectable 5fps - even with 14-bit RAW files. There's also AF micro-adjust and in-camera correction of vignetting and chromatic aberrations. The D700 faces tough rivals in Canon's EOS 5D Mark II and Sony's Alpha A900, but handles admirably while delivering great quality output. It's also steadily becoming the most affordable of the new full-frame models.
Pros: Superb build. Quick handling. Full-frame. VGA screen. HDMI.
Cons: 'Only' 12.1 Megapixels. No histogram in Live View.
Overall: A superb DSLR, but compare closely with its full-frame rivals. |
| Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 - full review / video tour |
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The Sony A900 is the flagship DSLR in the Alpha range, and the company’s first to feature a full-frame sensor. Impressively it’s also the first full-frame DSLR to boast built-in image stabilisation which works with any lens you attach – a key advantage over its Canon and Nikon rivals. The Alpha A900 also overtakes the Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D700 to boast 24.6 Megapixel resolution, tying with Nikon’s much pricier D3x. Continuing the professional specification are 5fps continuous shooting and a viewfinder with 100% coverage. It may not sport Live View or movie recording, but there’s no denying Sony’s arrived in the semi-pro market.
Pros: Very high resolution; built-in IS; 5fps; 100% v/f.
Cons: No Live View or movie recording; basic upper screen.
Overall: An impressive spec, but tough rivals from Canon and Nikon. |
Camera Labs Buyer's Guides
Budget DSLRs / Mid-range DSLRs / Semi-pro DSLRs / Compacts / Premium Compacts / Clearance bargains
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