• Best Ultracompact/Compact
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• Best dSLR
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• Best Prosumer Camera
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Canon EOS 5D Mark II

The good: Full HD-video recording; impressive image quality even at high ISO; solid feel from camera body; clever technology used in battery.

The bad: No HDMI cable supplied; zooming in on images in playback mode needs to be faster; position of power switch.

The bottom line: The EOS 5D Mark II is a very good camera for enthusiasts who are looking for a full-frame option, and has all the bells and whistles which makes this shooter not only a decent still image shooter, but also an industry grade video camera, too, as long as you have proper equipment.

» Read full review of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Nikon D700

The good: Excellent photo quality as high as ISO 6,400; fast focus and shooting even in low light; first-rate build quality and control layout.

The bad: Relatively heavy; low resolution for its class; viewfinder provides only 95 percent coverage and lacks interchangeable focusing screens; occasional issues with automatic white balance under artificial light.

The bottom line: As long as you don't need seriously high-resolution photos, video capture or machine gun-fast sports shooting, the Nikon D700 has everything in a pro full-frame camera for a reasonable price.

» Read full review of the Nikon D700

Canon EOS 450D

The good: Excellent photo quality for its class; better-than-average speed.

The bad: Maximum ISO 1600; huge spot-for-spot metering.

The bottom line: It doesn't stand out for its feature set or design, but the Canon EOS Rebel XSi delivers on performance and photo quality.

» Read full review of the Canon EOS 450D