Canon EOS 5D Mark II
$2,700
The successor to Canon's milestone first full-frame hobbyist-priced DSLR, the EOS 5D Mark II is possibly the most important DSLR to come out in the last two years (yes, it’s probably due for an update, but is outstanding left alone). The main reason? Video. In addition its full 35mm-sized 21MP sensor and many features that will make both pros and serious hobbyists salivate, the Mark II was the first DSLR to deliver full HD 1080 resolution at 30 frame per second, and that’s proven to be a game-changer. Demo videos that have circulated online are stunning, and show off the high quality of Canon's lineup of top-notch lenses. Image quality, compared to its predecessor, has improved, especially in low-ISO performance, where the camera has gained roughly half a stop in noise reduction (see below).
For news photographers, the EOS 5D Mark II allows for convenient video newsgathering, a feature that is becoming increasingly important as newspapers and newsmagazines continue their unstoppable shift to online delivery of information. Photographers will be able to simultaneously shoot stills and video. A news photographer with a 5D Mark II will be more marketable. Competition? Canon’s still waiting for the other guys to catch up.
Image quality test results: Objective lab tests of RAW images made with the 5D Mark II, conducted by DxOMark for digital noise levels at low light and high ISO, color depth, and exposure latitude, show excellent overall image quality with improvement in all areas over the EOS 5D. The camera excells in low-light ISO performance and color depth, and delivers a very good dynamic range. Measured ISO in all cases was about 1/3 stop lower than the indicated ISO (for example, ISO 800 measured as ISO 564.)
Maximum ISO for acceptable noise: ISO 1600
Maximum ISO for acceptable dynamic range: ISO 1600
Color depth: Outstanding (23.7 on a scale of 1-25)
Overall image quality: Excellent (79 on a scale of 1-100)
Runners up:
 Nikon D300s
$1,700
Nikon introduced the D300s, the successor to the 2-year-old D300, this past summer by souping up its continuous shooting to a zippy 7fps, moving to dual CF and SD card slots, and adding HD video capture. While this camera is considered a hobbyist-level camera because of its built-in flash and APS-sized 12MP sensor, its durable shutter, magnesium-alloy body and 100% viewfinder coverage make it very tempting as a back-up body for pros who want to travel relatively light. Sports and wildlife photographers will actually appreciate the crop factor, which gives them longer equivalent focal lengths when they need it while the camera is capable of producing excellent images at the lower ISOs. Nikon’s DNA shines through in this camera’s many features, from its 1/8000-30 sec shutter speed range to 1/250 second flash synch speed and advanced remote flash control.
If you want to add video to your bag of tricks, the D300s delivers 720p resolution HD videos, and gives you the option of upgrading the audio via an external mic jack. The only limit is that videos can not be longer than 5 minutes at full resolution but how many times will you do a single shot that lasts longer than that?
Stepping up: If you prefer going pro, Nikon’s just-unveiled full-frame D3s offers HD video and an eye-popping top ISO of 104,200 at lower resolution and 12,800 at full resolution, with impressive image quality. But you’ll be paying over $5k for it when it becomes available later this year. Consider the more compact, 12MP D700, which offers full-frame shooting for considerably less than the D3s, as a happy medium that's available now.
 Olympus E-3
$1,120
The Olympus E-3 continues to be an underground hit. At a current selling price of around $1,120, it offers pro-camera features for a hobbyist-camera price. Weatherproof and optimized for low-light shooting via image stabilization and low-noise high-ISO performance, the E-3 offers live view via a 2.5-inch swivel-out LCD, shoots a speedy 5fps. The camera is tough--it survived Joe Farace's tourture test (he dropped the camera as he slipped on a rock in a rain forest and the camera survived without a scratch). Its Supersonic Wave Drive lenses are fast and quiet for unobtrusive work.
The E-3 is a well thought-out camera that is well-suited for sports and event photography as well as studio work. At 10MP its four-thirds sensor may not be the highest resolution, but it is fine for most applications. If Nikon or Canon systems are out of your reach, do consider the Olympus E-3 as a very practical alternative.
Image quality test results: Objective lab tests of RAW images made with the E3, conducted by DxOMark to show digital noise levels at low light and high ISO, color depth, and exposure latitude, show the E3 produces the good overall RAW image quality with above average latitude. While there are other factors to consider--ease of use, ergonomics, JPEG processing, for instance--this information may help you in your buying decision process.
Maximum ISO for acceptable noise: ISO 400
Maximum ISO for acceptable dynamic range: ISO 400
Color depth: Very good (21.6 on a scale of 1-25)
Overall image quality: Good (56.3 on a scale of 1-100)
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
$2,700
Sony's first pro-level camera, the Alpha DSLR-A900, is the first full-frame 24-megapixel camera to be available for under $3,000 and were it not for the Canon 5D Mark II, would be the winner in this category. The camera is a game-changer because it introduces a new player into a league dominated by Canon and Nikon, and its price point surely helped both companies to rethink their pricing on their new products.
The A900 has all the things you'd expect from a pro camera: 100% prism finder, magnesium-alloy shell and moisture/dust resistance, 100,000-cycle shutter, 40-segment multi-pattern metering, 9-point AF system, 5fps performance (OK, that could be improved), interchangeable focusing screens, remote camera control, and dual memory card slots for CF and memory stick duo media. Is the A900 ready to play with the likes of the Nikon D3 or the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III? Time will tell.
Image quality test results: Objective lab tests of RAW images made with the A900, conducted by DxOMark to show digital noise levels at low light and high ISO, color depth, and exposure latitude, showed an impressive performance, with outstanding color depth and exceptionally high dynamic range. In fact, only three cameras--the Nikon D3 and D700, and the Canon EOS 1DS Mark II--tested better. While there are other factors to consider--ease of use, ergonomics, JPEG processing, for instance--this information may help you in your buying decision process.
Maximum ISO for acceptable noise: ISO 1600
Maximum ISO for acceptable dynamic range: ISO 800
Color depth: Outstanding (23.7 on a scale of 1-25)
Overall image quality: Outstanding (80.3 on a scale of 1-100)
Update: Sony has introduced the A850, its second full-frame DSLR, for about $500 less than the A900. The sensor and most features are identical. The viewfinder coverage is 98% instead of 100%, and burst rate is 3fps instead of 5. Worth the $700 difference?
Mason Resnick is the editor of the Adorama AIRC Learning Center. DxOMark data used with permission.
© 2009 Adorama Camera, Inc.
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