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

A significant overhaul and a great camera. At this price it’s the best all-round package on the market

High performance with a matching price tag.

A beautiful example of high technology, but we have reservations about the ultimate quality of images.

A decent enough addition to the legendary EOS range, but there are too many competitors at this price.

The 450D’s superb sensor makes it the best choice if quality is your priority. It doesn't beat the Sony A200 for value, but for the best quality below $1500 the 450D has the edge.

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.

A superbly easy-to-use and feature-laden compact camera that’s well worth the price.

A superbly easy-to-use and feature-laden compact camera that’s well worth the price. Same titanium shell as before, with a lowlight ability.

Expensive but solidly built – a fast way to get superbly vibrant A3 prints.

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

The A330 is a competent, fully featured and easy to use DSLR, but a backward step in some respects.

For a DSLR that does everything an amateur is ever likely to want, with a terrifyingly cheap price tag, look no further.

A brilliantly implemented live-view mode and high specs don’t justify the extra price over its sibling

They may look big and complicated, but a digital slr is just as easy to use and takes far better pictures than a pocket digicam

Pentax enthusiasts will be more than happy, but others may find it overwhelming

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Fantastic looks and comprehensive features Lightroom is a winner for improving workflow efficiency.

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.

A capable enough performer, but it doesn’t offer enough for the money to come out on top.