While the popularity of compact, mirror-less interchangeable lens cameras — such as the Sony NEX series, Olympus PEN series, and Panasonic G series – may have made a dent in the digital SLR market this year, we’ve still seen at least 16 new dSLRs announced so far (11 of those in August and September alone).
Sony accounted for a whopping seven of the 2010 models (all of which were in the sub-$1,000 range) but we also saw some major announcements from Canon and Nikon in the midrange, with key updates to some favorite models. All of this means there’s a vast array of dSLRs to choose from this holiday season.
To help you narrow down the options, here’s a list of my five favorite dSLRs of the moment:
Pentax K-x
Though it’s starting to get a little long in the tooth in dSLR years (which means it’s about a year old), it’s still hard to find a better deal than the Pentax K-x.
It holds its own against the slightly more-expensive Nikon D3100 and hangs onto its title as the lowest-priced dSLR to offer HD video recording (720p HD video recording mode at 24fps), albeit by the skin of its teeth now that the Sony Alpha SLT-A33 is on the scene with even higher resolution video at the same list price. But with street prices as low as $470 (with an 18-55mm lens),
The K-x bests most similarly priced cameras with its 11-point autofocus system, 4.7 fps continuous shooting speed, and impressive sensitivity range (ISO 100 to 12,800 expanded). Plus, its famous candy-color body options will help it stand out under the tree.
[See a photo gallery of the Pentax K-x and a gallery of sample photos shot with the K-x.]
