There is also a new Canon EOS 1000D, a similar camera - a step down in my opinion. It just seems to be a model war now.
The Sydney Morning Herald reviewed 4 this week here
http://www.smh.com.au/news/reviews/roadtest-digital-slr-cameras/2008/08/23/1219262604157.htmlThere are short separate reviews for each camera. Go to
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/digital-life/ and click on cameras iof the link above is truncated.
Here's their finding
THE CONTENDERS
SONY ALPHA 300
Price $999 with 18-70mm lens
Rating 5 out of 5
http://www.dslr.sony.com.auThe 300 is the largest but it packs some great features considering the price. It has image stabilisation in the body, so all pictures with all lenses are steady. The screen tilts down, helping the fast-focusing Live View work very well. It also has the longest zoom, is a reasonable price and takes great pictures. For enthusiasts, there isn't a feature missing; it's easy to get to grips with for beginners.
CANON EOS 1000D
Price $1099 with 18-55mm IS lens
Rating 4 out of 5
http://www.canon.com.auThe 1000D is very simple to use for beginners but also has advanced features for enthusiasts. It's certainly a camera you can grow into. The lens with the kit is image-stabilised, making it easier to get sharp shots indoors and there's a huge range of others to choose from. Live View is a bit fiddly to operate but that's the only weak point with this all-rounder. It could be cheaper, though.
NIKON D60
Price $999 with 18-55mm IS lens
Rating 4.5 out of 5
http://www.nikon.com.auNikon's D60 is aimed more at the enthusiast market. It's the oldest of the group but that means the price has dropped to starter level. It's not as quick to get to grips with as the other cameras but the lens is the sharpest and the controls and features are top-notch. There's no Live View mode, which might put off beginners, but this is a great camera to grow into.
OLYMPUS E-420
Price $899 with 14-44mm lens
Rating 3.5 out of 5
http://www.olympus.com.auOlympus aims to make the transition from compact to SLR very simple. The E-420 is the smallest SLR around (at 380g). It takes CF and xD memory cards, has the shortest zoom and is the cheapest. It takes pictures in the squarer 4:3 format rather than an SLR's 3:2 and its Live View function works well. But it feels like "my first SLR": once you master it, you'll want something else.
THE VERDICT
The standard is incredibly high but Sony's Alpha 300 is our recommendation. Considering the price, the 18-70mm lens gives a noticeable boost to zoom shots and, although we feel the Nikon lens is slightly sharper, performance is impressive. The Sony has every feature an enthusiast could want. The well-labelled switches and dials make it easy to pick up and use for beginners, too.
