Six of the best: digital SLR cameras

1] Pentax K10 £500
Pentax's flagship SLR has been well received. Its dust proof, water-resistant body, allied with clever features such as "shake reduction", enables professional shooting at an affordable price. In a fit of self-congratulatory back-slapping, Pentax has commemorated the K10's 2007 Camera Grand Prix win with the release of the K10D Grand Prix, a limited edition version of the original, but in souped-up clothing.

2] Nikon D40X £450
Launched just four months after the near-identical-but lower resolution-D40, the D40X is Nikon's response to the hugely popular Canon EOS 400D. With a whole host of intuitively-labelled features packed into an impressively compact body, this is Nikon's best entry-level camera to date.

3] Canon EOS 5D £2,000
Traditionally, digital cameras have employed smaller-and hence cheaper-image sensors than their 35mm cousins. The Canon EOS 5D is one of only a handful of full frame digital models, which means the image isn't unnecessarily cropped, and resolution is improved by allowing for an increase in size and number of pixels. Excellent value.

4] Leica Digilux 3 £1,800
This is a serious piece of kit. The Leica gets as close to shooting on traditional 35mm film as it's possible in digital format, with the emphasis on manual control. Image quality is superb, especially in low-light conditions, thanks to handy "image stabilization" technology. As you might expect, it's a tad on the heavy side, weighing over a kilo once a lens is attached.

5] Olympus E-510 £700
The Olympus E series has proved a great advert for the company's ability to manufacture intuitive, reliable cameras that suit both amateurs looking for superior picture quality, and professionals looking to control almost every aspect of their shots. The E-510 also features a live monitor view, which allows users to frame images while viewing the subjects on the LCD monitor.

6] Fujifilm s5 Pro £980
Perfect for the accomplished studio photographer, the S5 Pro is packed with an impressive array of electronic imaging trickery, such as film-simulation modes, which allow the user to mimic different types of film, and thus a photo's tone and contrast. Also included is Fuji's "Pro-imaging sensor", which combines two photodetectors per pixel, allowing a wider dynamic range than usual.