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* Photo: Todd Tankersly * You don't have to be a photojournalist to snap like one. These DSLRs serve up mondo megapixels and advanced options for thousands less than pro rigs. — Jackson Lynch
Step-Up Shooters
Nikon D300
$2,700, nikonusa.com
Big, pricey, and laden with features, Nikon's 12.3-megapixel D300 is the best prosumer DSLR out there. The 3-inch LCD is the sharpest, clearest camera monitor on the market, and the 51-point autofocus system is more accurate than any rival. Our model, bundled with a Nikkor AF-S 18-200 mm, f/3.5-5.6 lens, yielded stunning images with super color reproduction and low noise — even when pushed beyond ISO 1600. But the user interface both delights and flummoxes. The menu tree is logical, but the sheer breadth of options is enough to make your head spin.
Wired: Comfortable and ergonomic. HDMI port for direct-to-big-screen viewing. Adjustable processor allows you to choose speed and color depth. Built-in flash's D-Lighting algorithm compensates nicely for operator error.
Tired: CF memory card only. Bulky (5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 inches) and portly (2 pounds with battery and lens).
Photo: Todd TankerslyCanon EOS 40D
$1,499, usa.canon.com
For budding photophiles, happiness is a warm 40D. The 10.1-megapixel cam's nine-point focusing system is quick and accurate, letting us squeeze off six sharp frames in a second. The bundled 28-135 mm, f/3.5-5.6 lens performed better than just about any piece of glass we've used; difficult shots of rapidly moving backlit subjects came out detailed and beautifully balanced (albeit after fiddling with power output and flash settings). Even dust — infamous for polluting DSLR image sensors — is not an issue: The 40D's grime-phobic internal components combine with a sensor unit that shimmies off particles.
__Wired: __Spacious 3-inch LCD. ISO setting visible in the viewfinder. Dust management system works: No dip in image quality after weeks of lens swapping. Smart UI.
__Tired: __CF memory cards only. No shade included with lens kit.
Photo: Todd TankerslyPentax K20D
$1,800, pentaximaging.com
With a modest price and the highest megapixel count (14.6) in the group, you wonder what the catch is with the K20D. There really isn't any. The cam is thoughtfully set up with touches like a dedicated button that takes you directly to white balance, drive mode, ISO, built-in flash adjustments, and image styles without any menu spelunking. Shooting primarily with the optional 18-250 mm, f/3.5-6.3 lens, the K20D yielded impressive quality up to ISO 1600. Old-school Pentax fans rejoice: The K20D is compatible with decades' worth of the company's lenses.
__Wired: __Shoots 20 frames per second at 1.6 megapixels — perfect for posting action sequences to the Web. One-touch auto exposure bracketing. Innards protected by 72 weather seals.
__Tired: __Noisy shutter and autofocus. Pop-up flash is feeble. SD memory only.
__ Olympus E-3__
$2,700, olympusamerica.com
Oh, E-3, you have so much going for you. A proprietary Supersonic Wave Filter sensor-cleaning system eradicates dust. Your articulated LCD makes live viewing of potential images a viable option in the field. That solid, weather-sealed body allows for shootin' in the rain. Your in-body image stabilization is top-notch, and your 11-point biaxial focusing grid gives you the fastest focus we've ever seen. But you fall so short on usability and high-ISO image quality. Your scattershot backside button layout is useless and confusing. And yes, you render nice, tight, well-balanced images up to ISO 800, but after that your 10.1-megapixel, Four Thirds-format sensor just struggles to keep up with the competition.
__Wired: __Comfy eyepiece. One-touch menu access to nearly 20 functions. Quickest focus we've used.
__Tired: __Smaller 2.5-inch LCD. Features obscure XD memory card format.
Photo: Todd Tankersly__Rock Steady __
Jittery hands shouldn't get in the way of a good view. Image-stabilized binoculars use electronic gyroscopes and fluid-filled prisms to compensate for the shakes. — Mathew Honan
Fujinon Techno-Stabi 14 x 40
$2,000, fujinonbinos.com
These rugged rangers are built for real-world abuse. The waterproof body survived a full submersive dunk with no ill effect. And while the 14X magnification cranked in on distant action nicely, the real jaw-dropper was the incredible image stabilization. The binoculars maintained a steady field, even when rapidly shaking them. But all that comes at a hefty price: At 43 ounces, they're heavier than a Tolstoy novel.
__Wired: __Excellent stabilization under just about every condition we could muster. Best choice for nasty weather. Easy to operate one-handed.
__Tired: __Image stabilizer is a bummer for birders — it produces an audible high-pitched screech. Shallow eye relief sucks for glasses wearers. Weight wore out our geeky arms quickly.
Bushnell Stableview
$900, bushnell.com
These 10 x 35 peepers from Bushnell are more stable than Mike Brady, yet small enough for Cindy to tote without any whining. Even when subjected to vigorous Richter scale-worthy shaking, they were able to maintain a solid image; only the Fujinons performed better.
__Wired: __Two stabilization modes for normal and extra-jittery action. Packs away easily at 7.3 x 6 x 3.5 inches. Telescoping eye cups for perfect fit. Snazzy carrying case doesn't scream "bird nerd."
__Tired: __Wimpy 10X maximum magnification left us feeling far from the action. Hope that target's stationary: Horizontal tracking was jumpy in high-level stabilization mode.
Nikon StabilEyes VR 12 x 32
$799, nikonusa.com
Nikon's shake-stopping field glasses are solid all-around performers. The binoculars are easily mastered right out of the box and have a simple switch for activating stabilization — superior to the controls on any other model tested. And that stabilization worked extremely well, though it's not quite as jiggle-proof as the Fujinons. The one big drawback is fit. We couldn't get the eyepieces to conform against the face, and we noticed pronounced vignetting — a reduction in brightness and contrast around the edges of the viewed image.
__Wired: __Pause button lets you return briefly to normal viewing without fully exiting image-stabilizing mode. Topside finger-holds ensure a great grip. Five-degree field of view lends a wider peripheral vantage.
__Tired: __Irksome vignetting reminded us of looking at old-timey photos through a stereoscope. So-so performance in low light.
Canon Image Stabilizer 10 x 42 L IS WP
$1,599, usa.canon.com
These Canons were impressive at first blush but disappointed as we got to know them. While the lenses suck up plenty of light and the 6.5-degree field of view is ample, these binocs are a mess in almost every other respect. When pressing the image stabilization button, we separated the rubberized exterior from the body. It was attached with only a small strip of double-sided tape. Worse, we could hardly tell when stabilization was on. Only the most minor vibrations where cut by these poor performers.
__Wired: __Compact at 5.4 x 6.9 x 3.4 inches and 36.8 ounces. Effective in low light.
__Tired: __Rubberized housing is flimsy. Vibration reduction? Britney Spears is more stable.
photographs by Todd Tankersley
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