- Nikon D3100 with 18-55mm VR lens, RM2,198
- Sony Alpha A290 with 18-55mm lens, RM1,499
- Canon EOS 1000D with 18-55mm lens, RM1,899
- Pentax K-x with 18-55mm lens, RM2,188
- Olympus E-450 with 14-42mm lens, RM1,899
BEST ON TEST
1st NIKON D3100
Head and shoulders above the competition, this is a major upgrade to the older, best selling D3000. Recently launched, it's still quite expensive, but once prices start to drop a bit, it will end up as a real bargain buy.
What's good: Great image quality, innovative guide mode and 1080p movie capture.
What's bad: No socket for attaching an external microphone when shooting movies.
Rating: 4/5
2nd PENTAX K-X
What's good: Excellent range of features, fast drive mode and 720p movie facility.
What's bad: No AF point illumination in the viewfinder, problems with NiMH batteries.
Rating: 4/5
3rd OLYMPUS E-450
What's good: Smart range of scene modes and art effects with solid build.
What's bad: Only three AF points to choose from, and there's no stabilisation.
Rating: 3/5
4th CANON EOS 1000D
What's good: Very intuitive in both basic and advanced shooting modes.
What's bad: Low-res sensor, plus the kit lens doesn't feature image stabilisation.
Rating: 3/5
5th SONY ALPHA A290
What's good: Very easy for beginners to use, and includes sensor-shift stabilisation.
What's bad: No live view mode, and menu options are a little limited.
Rating: 3/5
