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No doubt about it. 2005 was the year of the digital SLR. Sure, serious photographers (with serious money) embraced them long ago. But this year DSLRs went mainstream, with sub-$1,000 models selling like crazy to soccer moms and football dads.
With 20 DSLR models, priced from $620 to $7,400 (street), how do you choose the right camera for you? Start with our All-Star lineup—seven DSLRs with talent, value, and features special enough to earn MVP status—listed in order of street price for the camera body only. (For our Camera of the Year, the Canon EOS 5D, click here.)
 Canon EOS-1DS Mark II
($7,400) High-Scoring Champ
As the league leader in image quality and pro features, the 16.7MP (effective) Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II demands top dollar. But if you're a pro looking for a supertough, gasket-sealed DSLR that can deliver image quality exceeding that of most films, the investment may prove worthwhile.
It boasts a full-frame CMOS sensor with no 35mm lens factor, a hyperfast and sensitive 45-point AF system, extensive exposure and metering controls, vertical shutter release, and long-life rechargeable battery. With dual card slots, the 1Ds Mark II is also capable of capturing JPEG, RAW, or JPEG + RAW images and saving them simultaneously to both CF (Type I and II) and SD cards. Canon includes its powerful (and free) Digital Photo Professional 2.0 RAW conversion software, and even a software utility that lets you control the camera remotely via its fast FireWire connection.
Okay, the EOS-1Ds Mark II has only a 2-inch LCD monitor, but in the perilous environments that this camera may find itself, a larger LCD could be a detriment.
 Nikon D2X
($5,000) Low-Light Leader
The 12.4MP (effective) nikon d2x provides much more for those who can afford it than the similar-looking 4.1MP D2hs ($3,500). No other DSLR we've tested controls its noise at higher ISOs as well as the D2x (without resorting to a blurring filter)—one of the reasons it earned an excellent image-quality rating all the way up to ISO 1600. Some credit goes to its Sony-manufactured sensor—the first CMOS-based imaging sensor to be used in a Nikon DSLR. Although its APS-size creates a 1.5X 35mm lens factor that turns a 28mm wide-angle into a 42mm lens, Nikon offers several Dx-series lenses to compensate.
The D2x isn't as bulletproof as some other pro Nikon DSLRs, but its rugged body has a stainless-steel frame, molded magnesium-alloy casing, and weather/dust-resistant seals. It also sports a vertical shutter release, 40 custom settings, high-capacity rechargeable battery, gorgeous 2.5-inch LCD monitor, and faster burst rate of up to 21 highest-quality JPEGs at 5 fps. And low-light lovers will appreciate the D2x AF system's speed and sensitivity, as well as its advanced exposure, metering, and white-balance controls. The D2x is a top performer and a great value.
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