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Out with the old, in with the new. Sure they're not the latest and greatest, but last year's DSLR models are certainly worth a long hard look, particularly for those on a tight budget. Among others, Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus and Pentax have all released cutting edge models for 2008, but if you're not dying to have a live-view display or enough megapixels to plaster a semi with that adorable picture of Toto, settling for the best of 2007 might be worth the savings as retailers move inventory to make room for new models. We take a look at last year's models and let you know which camera, old or new, is the best buy. Current body-only prices for each camera are listed from four different merchants with kit pricing (body plus zoom lens) in parentheses if available.
With the lowest body-only price of $379 offering a savings of 53% over Canon's newest model, the 8-megapixel XT is the biggest bargain of the bunch, appealing to photographers on a tight budget. Choosing the older model doesn't come without sacrifice though, as the XSi (available in late April) includes a 12.2-megapixel sensor and larger LCD with live-view support.
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Released: December 2006
Original MSRP: $599
Current Pricing (only available with kit lens):
Compare to: Nikon D60 - $630 (street) |
With all prices including a kit lens, snagging a D40 for about $480 isn't the deal of the century, but the sub-$500 kit is great for photographers looking to make the jump to a DSLR without dropping loads of cash on new gear. When including a kit lens, the newer 10.2-megapixel D60 (available now) will run you about $730, leaving a 34% price gap between the older model.
If you don't mind waiting until late-May, the $500 E420 will include a 2.7-inch live-view display and will carry the distinction of being the "world's smallest digital SLR." With only a $100 difference in price from last year's model, the E420 will be the better buy when it's released, unless the older model sees a significance drop in price come May (presuming there's any E-410s left!)
With the K10D offering a 35% savings over the newer model, photographers in need of a very capable and weather-tough sub-$1000 digital SLR should consider picking one up now. The just released K20D offers several advantages over its predecessor though, including a 2.7-inch live-view display, and a newly developed 14.6-megapixel sensor.
Though not a direct revision to the A100, the Sony Alpha A350 offers a 14.2-megapixel sensor and 2.7-inch tilting live-view LCD at a 40% premium over Adorama's price of $449.95 for the older model. While not without its improvements, the significantly higher price of the A350 makes the A100 the best buy for photographers looking to snag a great closeout deal.
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