Holiday Camera Guide

Everybody has a photographer like them on their holiday shopping list: someone who's owned a compact digital camera and now is ready to move up to a more advanced digital SLR with interchangeable lenses. The big question: which one? Yes, there are lots of digital SLR (DSLR) cameras out there right now and I've had a chance to look at some of the best ones released in the past year.

Check out the this Holiday Camera Guide which includes a list of my favorite DSLRs of 2009 with links to full comprehensive digital camera reviews.

1. Nikon D3000
Total beginners will love the Nikon D3000 ($499) which is one of the easiest digital SLRs I've ever used. This 10.1-megapixel camera's snappy 3 frames per second shooting speed -- combined with its responsive shutter button -- make the D3000 a great camera for photographing small children or capturing some sporting events. The biggest addition to the D3000, from the previous model, is the built-in photo help in the D3000's Guide Mode. This mode will literally walk you through some of photography's challenges -- such as how to freeze motion for vehicles or people; and how to take good close-up "macro" photo. The D300 is an excellent "gateway" camera for anyone interested in making the leap into advanced photography.

Read the full Nikon D300 review here.

2. Pentax K-x
Pentax has also come out with a very nice camera for the entry-level user and it comes in multiple colors. Called the K-x, this 12.4-megapixel digital SLR is available in black, white, or limited edition navy blue and fire-engine red. What's more important than the way it looks is how it performs. And this is a very nice all-around camera with a remarkable level of sophistication for just $649. It can shoot 4.7 frames perfect with a 1/600th-second maximum shutter speed for freezing the action. It also shoots High Definition video at 720p and has a High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode which combines three different images to create one with improved exposure.

Read the full Pentax K-x review here.

3. Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Moving further up the chain of photo sophistication and features, I really liked the 15.1MP Canon EOS Rebel T1i ($899) this year. The Rebel T1i has a built in HD movie feature and can capture high def clips at 720p, 30 frames per second; or full 1080p HD at 20 fps. The camera can capture still images at a decent speed of 3.4fps and uses a very responsive 9-point autofocus system that's in many of other Canon's cameras. The Rebel T1i also fared well when shooting in low light without flash at high ISOs.

Read the full Canon EOS Rebel T1i review here.

See a Canon EOS Rebel T1i video I shot by clicking here.

4. Nikon D5000
The Nikon 12.3MP D5000 ($849) can do a lot of what the Rebel T1i can do but with a twist: it has a flip-out 2.7 inch LCD screen. That screen is not just a novelty. It allows photographers to more easily compose their photos via the camera's Live View function whether they're shooting down low or up high. The screen also comes in handy when using the D5000's 720p, 24fps, High Definition video mode. Photographers with small hands will like the diminutive D500 but it felt a little dainty to me. As a still camera, the D5000 has a formidable 4 fps shooting speed and was a quick all around performer. Best of all, photos looked great in a variety of lighting conditions.

Read the full Nikon D5000 review here.

See a Nikon D5000 video I shot here.

5. Pentax K-7
And finally, if you have a little more money to spend and are shopping for a more advanced DSLR, I really enjoyed shooting with the 14.6 MP Pentax K-7. The K-7 ($1,200, body only) has a lot of the features that its less expensive sibling, the K-x, has including 720p HD movie capture at 30fps; and High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode which combines three different images to create one with improved exposure. But it has a tougher, professional body that's weather resistant, dustproof, and coldproof. It also is very fast: shooting speed is 5.2 fps. And if you like capturing HD video, the K-7 has built-in stereo mic jack for better sound.

Read the full Pentax K-7 review here.