cameras

Within weeks of Canon announcing the Rebel T1i (500D), the company's top entry level digital SLR camera, Nikon has announced its answer - the Nikon D5000. The D5000, which falls somewhere between the D60 and D90, is an upper entry level model that will compete with Canon's EOS 500D. The camera is packed with features that make it suitable not only for experienced photographers but for those looking to upgrade to DSLRs for the first time as well. Though it is not shipping yet, it is available for pre-order from several retailers:

For the basics, the D5000 has a 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor and Nikon's exclusive EXPEED high speed image processing system. It is capable of continuous shooting at a rate of four frames per second (7 RAW, 25 JPEG Fine, 100 JPEG Normal). It uses 3D Color Matrix Metering II to obtain clear, accurate images. It also features an 11-point selectable autofocus system that includes subject tracking for motion shots.

The EXPEED system includes features such as Scene Recognition, Face Recognition, Active D lighting and Picture Control. The scene mode makes capturing the perfect shot easy and provides an excellent

Just a few short weeks after Canon announced their 15.1 megapixel entry-level DSLR, the Rebel T1i (500D), Nikon has announced their newest offering to the entry-level market. The Nikon D5000 seems to be intended as direct competition to the Canon 500D, offering many of the same attractive features. The Nikon D5000 is, for the most part, a simplified version of Nikon's very successful D90 camera.

The D5000 offers key features which include: 12.3 megapixel DX-format (cropped) CMOS sensor, HD movie capture up to 720p (1280x720), Live View with contrast-detect AF and face detection, automatic sensor shake cleaning system, ISO 200-3200 (100-6400 expanded), 2.7" tilt and swivel LCD monitor (230,000 dots), 4 fps continuous shooting (7 RAW, 25 JPEG Fine, 100 JPEG Normal), in-camera retouching and development, new increased-capacity battery, hot shoe connector for optional GPS unit for automatic geotagging of images, and 11 auto-focus points with 3D AF tracking.

The Nikon D5000 takes on many of the above features from its D90 big brother, including the 12.9 megapixel sensor and its 11 point AF system (though the D5000 actually one ups the D90 by adding

Canon's highly anticipated EOS 50D Digital SLR 15.1 megapixel camera, which was announced about a month ago, is now in stock and ready to ship at select retailers including Amazon, Adorama and Ritz Camera.

The 50D is essentially designed to "bridge the gap between the novice and the seasoned pro." It features an APS-C sized 15.1-megapixel CMOS sensor with improved noise reduction, wide range ISO 100-3200 (H1: 6400, H2: 12800), 14-bit conversion for smooth color tones and gradations. It also has a new DIGIC 4 Image Processor for faster processing (6.3 fps up to 90 JPEGS using UDMA CF cards; 60 consecutive JPEGS or 16 RAW using standard CF cards) and and improved ISO capabilities up to