Successor to the ubiquitous 350D, Canon's affordable yet powerful 400D D-SLR is a serious weapon whether an amateur or pro.

Rarely has a new camera received as much attention as the EOS 300D, released amid a flurry of excitement among photographers and a massive marketing campaign. Why the fuss? Because it's a true 6.3-megapixel digital SLR for under $2,000 including lens. It sounds expensive in the context of the cameras in this month's digital cameras Labs, but the previous generation of several models in that test were nudging a grand when they were released.

Not flawless, but Sony’s debut DSLR impresses with a 10.2-megapixel resolution and built-in anti-shake.

Good performance and handling, low price and far better quality than any digital compact.

Olympus first introduced SLR (single lens reflex) to digital cameras in early 1998 in the form of the Camedia C-1400L.

The Olympus PEN E-P1 may look like a throwback to retro photography, but it’s expensive and flawed. However, it's beautiful image quality renders almost impossible to dislike.

Digital photography has made enormous strides in recent years, and as a result, the technology is being incorporated into affordable consumer products.

Attractive styling and a long lens will tempt some, but we recommend spending more on a real SLR.

More expensive than its direct competition, but thanks to its brilliant features the D80 is money well spent.

As a reviewer, there is no greater thrill than being privy to a product that you know will either revolutionise or turn the world upside down. The first Palm Pilot, USB devices, and the Canon 1Ds.

In appearance the Olympus Camedia is rather ordinary, mirroring closely what is standard fare in the conventional SLR field, and perhaps even a little dated. This however belies the superior performance that the Olympus put in this month, which impressed the Labs team enough to award it with the Labs Award for Quality.

A feature-rich SLR at a good price. If you can live with the weight and design quirks, that is

Worth the wait. The E-3 matches pro SLR capabilities with the ease of use of an entry-level cam

Excellent performance and features, but at a price that’s too high

Good quality and with a proper li-ion battery, but expensive and bulky compared to the Olympus.

Canon’s SLR fails to make the enormous splash of its predecessors, but it’s still a great camera in its own right.

High performance with a matching price tag.

A completely new digital SLR system has arrived in the shape of the Olympus E-1 and is perhaps the most eagerly awaited professional camera this year.

An ideal companion for a DSLR, this is a compact for the photography enthusiast rather than the happy snapper

A great combination of new features and the usual Nikon image and build quality make this a superb camera.