Canon 6.3MP EOS 10D

How does the EOS 10D stack up against competitors?

Nikon D100 ($1,700, street)

This popular 6MP DSLR accepts Nikkor lenses (with a 1.5X magnifation factor). It also features 28 custom functions, sophisticated metering options (including a precise 1.1 percent spotmeter), a pop-up flash, and a bright AF-assist light. However, the D100 has a less rugged polycarbonate body and can only capture up to 6 high-res JPEG images at 3 fps. RAW bursts are slower, and RAW conversion software is optional. While image quality is extremely high, the D100 has slightly lower color accuracy and higher noise levels at ISO settings of 200 compared to the EOS 10D.

Sigma SD9 ($1,500, street)

Sigma's first foray into the DSLR battle features the Foveon X3 sensor with slightly lower noise levels than the EOS 10D at ISO 100-400 settings. It also features a higher 1/6000-sec shutter speed and AF sensitivity down to EV 1. However, the SD9's resolution is closer to a 5MP camera, it lacks a pop-up flash, and it has a narrower 1.7X magnification factor with compatible Sigma lenses. You are also limited to capturing RAW image files, which require a computer to process and slow down the burst rate. Finally, the SD9 doesn't ship with rechargeable batteries.