Best Enthusiast dSLR

This is a tough one to pick, and a ton of readers will complain about this choice, no doubt. The truth is, the Nikon D7000 and Pentax K-5 are ridiculously evenly matched in just about every aspect. The D7000 has slightly better autofocus but resides in a bigger and less-refined body. The K-5’s control layout is impeccable and, while this is subjective, feels wonderful. Thankfully, Nikon has added Easy ISO to map ISO to a control wheel, so that major annoyance has been put to rest. The K-5 shoots at a slightly faster 7 frames per second and is the better performer at ISO’s above 3200. Yes that’s right, these cameras perform admirably up to ISO 6400 and even beyond. Though it costs $200 more than the D7000, the K-5 has in-body stabilization, which will save you a lot of money in the long run if you decide to invest further in the system (with Nikon, you pay for stabilization every time you pay for a lens). We haven’t really mentioned Canon’s 60D, and that’s not a knock against it. The 18 megapixel sensor is really great at low ISOs but can’t keep up at higher settings. It does have a great design, though; its articulating LCD complements its excellent video mode quite well. The prosumer dSLR market is a tight race, and all these cameras offer fantastic value. Pentax has just done something right with the K-5, and we feel it’s the one to beat next round.