Pentax K20D 14.6MP

    Pentax K20 has a very favourable price compared to it’s competitors. Also the ability to fine-tune the auto focus system so that if a lens is front or back-focusing, you can correct for it is a very nice otion. This allows you to change the relationship between the point you focus on to the front-to-back area around that object that is also in focus known as the depth of field. This feature could save you a lot of heartache with poorly calibrated lenses that would otherwise be useless. A significant new feature is the new imaging device from Samsung, producing excellent low noise quality photos at sensitivities as high as 1600 ISO. The RAW button on the left side of the camera body enables you to shoot most of the photos in JPEG, but allows you to switch to RAW for a single image to get the most out of it. This feature really conserves memory card space, but at the same time allows shooting of intermittent RAW images when they are really needed. The internal software of the camera has really been upgraded and includes an in camera capability to convert RAW images to TIFF or JPEG, a really neat feature if one is on the road and doesn’t have access to the computer software necessary to process RAW images but yet wants to view them on other portable imaging devices.

Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX

    At last I had the chance to test-drive the Nikon D5000 MP DX. The first new feature I found was the movable LCD (which is more useful than I thought) and Live View button, but not too much more to separate the outer look and feel from D40 mode. After some time setting things up and shooting – After just a couple of hours I just loving this thing. Especially the menus are more logical build than the former Nikon menues I’ve seen. The high ISO performance for low light is another point that I noticed as a big score. Theadjustable LCD screen is helpful for reading the menus and changing settings with the camera. It’s also helpful at odd angles to review what you’re just focusing.

Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP

    The D90 is solid, tight, and well balanced with the 18-105 VR lens. It’s always ready and it shoots very fast. I love all the direct access buttons. They’re easy to press, and you don’t have to go into the menus as much allowing you to work pretty quickly. It’s heavier than the D60, but it’s still very manageable to carry around. It fits my average-sized hand better too. Biggest surprise was the 18-105 VR lens which I expected would be ho-hum, but turned out to be pretty sharp and clear. Better results than the 18-55 VR.
o Great sensor, amazing colors
o Auto D-lighting to restore shadowed regions
o Feels great in hand, very comfortable to hold…
   lighter than a Canon 40d/50d.
o The optical viewfinder is bright and big,
   with great coverage
o AF tracking points are easy to spot and switch to
o Great 320K dots LCD