Focus Phenom: Nikon D7000
Continuous autofocus finally comes to DSLR video, allowing photographers to shoot moving subjects without the need to follow-focus manually.

Nikon started the video-DSLR revolution with its trendsetting 12.3-mega-pixel D90, but it and all the DSLRs that followed suffer from the same flaw: their inability to continuously autofocus when you’re shooting video. This has limited DSLR video shooting to photographers willing to manually adjust focus—particularly difficult with a moving subject and when the photographer wants to get closer to or farther from a subject.

Now comes the 16.2-megapixel Nikon D7000, which can follow-focus automatically in its HD video mode—giving photojournalists, sports photographers and others much more shooting freedom. The new DSLR accomplishes this feat with full-time contrast-detection autofocus similar to that in ILC cameras. Called AF-F, this Nikon-exclusive system can be used in four live-view/ movie AF modes, and it works best with a fast-aperture ultrasonic AF-S lens.

What’s more, the D7000’s video is Full-HD 1080p at 24fps, in AVCHD format, with manual audio levels and full exposure control. Other serious features include 100-percent viewfinder coverage, ISO 25,600 maximum sensitivity, dual SD/SDHC/SDXC card slots, 6fps capture and a weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body. About $1,200; nikonusa.com.