Ready to upgrade from a compact camera to a more-capable DSLR? Or looking to trade in your old DSLR for a newer, faster, video-capable model that won’t cost you an arm and a leg? Check out the roundup I wrote in this month’s Outdoor Photographer magazine.

INTRO:
Big-Time DSLRs Under $1,000
Packed with power, advanced features and high performance, the latest sub-$1,000 ­­HD SLRs are outstanding options for serious nature photographers
By Michael J. McNamara

It’s hard to believe that the very first DSLR was introduced only 20 years ago, but that’s ancient history in the world of digital cameras. Priced at an astronomical $26,000 for the basic color model, the Kodak DCS-100 had a jury-rigged, 1.3-megapixel camera back attached to a Nikon F3 film SLR and a shoebox-sized 200 MB hard drive that slung painfully over your shoulder. By today’s standards, the DCS-100 was a real clunker—but the same can be said of any DSLR that’s more than five years old, as recent advancements in digital camera technologies have upped the performance ante dramatically in DSLRs from entry level to professional grade. Now, if you’re a serious photographer who can’t justify spending several grand on a rugged, full-frame DSLR, or even a pro looking for an affordable, lightweight backup camera and one that just happens to record great video, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the features and performance found in DSLRs costing under $1,000.

READ ARTICLE:

On day two of the CES 2010 trade show Sarah Myers of CEA asked me to give a roundup of the trends and products I found most interesting on the show floor. Check it out:

Photokina, the largest photo-trade show in the world, kicks off in Cologne, Germany on Sept.23. Predictably, manufacturers announce their top models just prior to the show, and this year it’s no different. Both Canon and Nikon just made back-to-back announcements of their top advance-amateur DSLRs (we’re still hopeful for pro announcements prior to the show!) In this radio segment, Scott and Mike take sides in a verbal shootout of the features to see if Canon’s 50D ($1,400) is a better deal than Nikon’s D90 ($1,000).

Which of these cameras is the best value? Listen to the spirited debate on the Inside Digital Photography radio show (slide forward to the 11 min mark for this segment).

Or do your own comparison with some help from the lists below:

Nikon D90 Key Features:

1. 12.3 MEGAPIXEL CMOS sensor with LIve View
2. Records HD movie clips (720p at 24fps, 1280×720)) up to 5 minutes on fast SD cards
3. 920,000 dot 3-inch screen
4. 4.5 fps burst mode, stores to SDHC card
5. Built-in commander mode for external flash
6. 11 point AF with scene recognition and face detection. Up to 5 faces. Auto zoom to faces in playback.
7. Live view with contrast detection AF.
8. New Expeed processor for fast start up and low noise
9. ISO 100 (normal 200) up to 3200 (expanded to 6400).
10. HD video with VR lenses activates VR during capture.
11. Advantage in movie depth of field control vs most camcorders
12. Built in audio mic (no external input)
13. Kit lens adds 3-stop VR. AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR.
14. New in camera editing and image processing includes distortion control, lens abberation, straighten, and fisheye effect.
15. Shutter tested to 100,000 cycles
16. Up to 850 shots CIPA rating on battery.
17. New Pictmotion slideshow playback feature
18. New optional GP-1 GPS unit.
19. $999.95 MSRP body
20. $1299.95 with 18-105 lens
21. Nikon Capture NX 2 optional ($180), Camera Control Pro 2.0 Software ($149)

Canon EOS 50D Key Features:

1. 15.1 MP CMOS sensor with live view function
2. Built like the 40D, with magnesium alloy frame, weather seals, and 100,000 cycle shutter.
3. Digic 4 processor, 14-bit A/D conversion
4. ISOs from 100 to 3200, enhanced to 6400 and 12800.
5. 6.3fps burst mode, with up to 90 JPEGs in one burst or 16 RAW
6. Takes UDMA Compact flash cards (higher capacities available than SDHC)
7. Automatic Peripheral illumination adjustment: smart term for vignetting control based on library of lenses.
8. Comes with Digital photo pro software RAW converter and other neat programs.
9. Auto Lighting Optimizer control—smart auto levels control.
10. 3-inch, 920,000 dot LCD screen.
11. HDMI video out
12. 9-zone AF system with 9 cross sensors and super sensitive central sensor (works as cross even with f/5.6 lenses.
13. Microadjustment feature for fine-tuning lenses.
14. Creative full auto setting has adjustable controls.
15. Live view mode includes QUICK MODE AF (phase detection)< LIVE MODE AF (contrast detection)< and Face detection live mode AF (contrast detection ).
16. Detects up to 35 faces!
17. Two small RAW formats: 7.1MP and 3.8MP
18. Ultrasonic CMOS sensor cleaning system
19. $1399 body, $1599 with 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens.
20. Canon also announced a new 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS usm lens for $699.

Photokina, the largest photo-trade show in the world, kicks off in Cologne, Germany on Sept.23. Predictably, manufacturers announce their top models just prior to the show, and this year it’s no different. Both Canon and Nikon just made back-to-back announcements of their top advance-amateur DSLRs (we’re still hopeful for pro announcements prior to the show!) In this radio segment, Scott and Mike take sides in a verbal shootout of the features to see if Canon’s 50D ($1,400) is a better deal than Nikon’s D90 ($1,000).

Which of these cameras is the best value? Listen to the spirited debate on the Inside Digital Photography radio show (slide forward to the 11 min mark for this segment).

Or do your own comparison with some help from the lists below:

Nikon D90 Key Features:

1. 12.3 MEGAPIXEL CMOS sensor with LIve View
2. Records HD movie clips (720p at 24fps, 1280×720)) up to 5 minutes on fast SD cards
3. 920,000 dot 3-inch screen
4. 4.5 fps burst mode, stores to SDHC card
5. Built-in commander mode for external flash
6. 11 point AF with scene recognition and face detection. Up to 5 faces. Auto zoom to faces in playback.
7. Live view with contrast detection AF.
8. New Expeed processor for fast start up and low noise
9. ISO 100 (normal 200) up to 3200 (expanded to 6400).
10. HD video with VR lenses activates VR during capture.
11. Advantage in movie depth of field control vs most camcorders
12. Built in audio mic (no external input)
13. Kit lens adds 3-stop VR. AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR.
14. New in camera editing and image processing includes distortion control, lens abberation, straighten, and fisheye effect.
15. Shutter tested to 100,000 cycles
16. Up to 850 shots CIPA rating on battery.
17. New Pictmotion slideshow playback feature
18. New optional GP-1 GPS unit.
19. $999.95 MSRP body
20. $1299.95 with 18-105 lens
21. Nikon Capture NX 2 optional ($180), Camera Control Pro 2.0 Software ($149)

Canon EOS 50D Key Features:

1. 15.1 MP CMOS sensor with live view function
2. Built like the 40D, with magnesium alloy frame, weather seals, and 100,000 cycle shutter.
3. Digic 4 processor, 14-bit A/D conversion
4. ISOs from 100 to 3200, enhanced to 6400 and 12800.
5. 6.3fps burst mode, with up to 90 JPEGs in one burst or 16 RAW
6. Takes UDMA Compact flash cards (higher capacities available than SDHC)
7. Automatic Peripheral illumination adjustment: smart term for vignetting control based on library of lenses.
8. Comes with Digital photo pro software RAW converter and other neat programs.
9. Auto Lighting Optimizer control—smart auto levels control.
10. 3-inch, 920,000 dot LCD screen.
11. HDMI video out
12. 9-zone AF system with 9 cross sensors and super sensitive central sensor (works as cross even with f/5.6 lenses.
13. Microadjustment feature for fine-tuning lenses.
14. Creative full auto setting has adjustable controls.
15. Live view mode includes QUICK MODE AF (phase detection)< LIVE MODE AF (contrast detection)< and Face detection live mode AF (contrast detection ).
16. Detects up to 35 faces!
17. Two small RAW formats: 7.1MP and 3.8MP
18. Ultrasonic CMOS sensor cleaning system
19. $1399 body, $1599 with 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens.
20. Canon also announced a new 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS usm lens for $699.