The eagerly anticipated Nikon D80 and Canon Rebel XTi, which capture the fourth and fifth spots on our chart, improve on their predecessors, the D70s and Rebel XT, in several ways. The new single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras offer a 10-megapixel sensor and a larger (2.5-inch) LCD. The D80 focuses more quickly than the D70s and has a faster burst mode. Unlike the Rebel XT, the XTi includes a sensor-cleaning feature; an eye proximity detector turns the camera's LCD on and off.
Despite having a modest 6.1-megapixel sensor, the number eight Pentax K100D can boast image stabilization and a dust-removal mechanism. On the other hand, its maximum burst speed is only 1.5 frames per second for JPEG images, and its battery life was poor.
Eric Butterfield