This 24-megapixel camera is more compact and lightweight than the already-great D5300 it replaces. (Nikon skipped the D5400 moniker.) This camera also offers some sweet updates, including a 3.2-inch, vari-angle (rotating) touch-screen LCD. It's the first Nikon DSLR to sport a touch screen, which makes it oh so easy to tap to focus (stills and video), as well as snap a photo with a single touch.
Those serious about taking their photography or video to the next level will love Canon's EOS 70D ($1,350 with 18-55mm EF-S IS STM kit lens). The 20-MP camera packs a CMOS imaging chip with "dual-pixel" focus technology incorporating fast phase-detection pixels into 80 percent of the sensor to speed up autofocus when shooting in live view mode (framing images on the LCD). In addition, a 19-point autofocus system in regular shooting mode, a top shutter speed of 1/8,000 sec (versus 1/4,000 for most other DSLRs) and an ISO light sensitivity range of up to ISO 25,600 make the 70D a versatile shooter for almost any situation, day or night.
The D810 may look like its predecessor D800 (our previous pro camera pick). But a lot has changed on under that unassuming black exterior — so much that even D800 owners should think about an upgrade. The 36.3MP resolution from a full-frame sensor remains the same. But the sensor has been freed of an optical low pass filter — a vestige of days past designed to remove distortions such as wavy lines from some photos. The D810 shoots fine without it, and captures incredibly sharp images as a result. The D810 is also way faster. Its new 51-point AF sensor (the same as in the $6,500 Nikon D4s) is lightening-quick. A 5 frames-per-second burst speed may not sound like much, but that's for massive image files. And the enormous memory buffer allows it to shoot seemingly forever — up to 100 JPEG Fine quality (or 24 RAW) images before the camera even slows down, for a few seconds.
The Alpha 77 M2 shoots 12 frames per second for up to 5 seconds. That makes it one of the fastest DSLRs on the planet and by far the fastest anywhere near this price. (The Canon 70D, for example, shoots 7 fps.) The a77 M2 uses a translucent mirror that bounces some light into an AF sensor with a record-setting 79 focus points while allowing most to pass on to the image sensor. Unlike a standard DSLR mirror, the translucent mirror doesn't have to flip up to expose the sensor. As a result, the camera can refocus for every shot, even in burst mode.
Canon's new 7D stands out for its fast, accurate autofocus and ability to shoot 10 frames per second. That shooting speed is nothing special for a mirrorless camera but is amazing for a DSLR that has to flip its mirror up and down for each shot. Canon's EOS-1D X is a bit faster, at 12 fps, but it costs nearly $7,000. (Sony's Alpha 77 M2 also shoots 12 fps, but it uses a Sony-exclusive variation on DSLRs called translucent mirror.) The 7D MII also features Canon's new translucent LCD that displays useful settings data in the viewfinder, and it has the dual-pixel technology (also found in the 70D), that provides superfast autofocus when shooting stills or video in live-view mode. Image quality from this APS-C (mainstream size) sensor can be great if the lighting is right, but in dimmer conditions, it shows more pixel noise than the full-frame cameras it's meant to compete with, as well as Canon's own, cheaper 70D DSLR (one of our favorites). Although the two cameras use similar technology, we found the video from 70D to be cleaner, with better autofocus, than that produced by the 7D Mark II. If you own Canon lenses and are looking for a superfast shooter, the 7D Mark II is a natural choice. Otherwise, go for the cheaper, 7-fps Canon 70D.
Canon's latest DSLRs have a whopping 50.6-megapixels -- that's enough to challenge medium-format studio cameras, and 14 more than the second-highest resolution DSLR —Nikon's D810. Canon's EOS 5DS and 5DS R are targeted at professional photographers looking for superb image quality and sharpness. Featuring a 5 fps burst mode, and 100-6400 ISO range, the 5DS/5DS R sacrifice some of the speed and much of the low-light capabilities of their 5DS Mark III sibling for increased detail. As with Nikon's D810 and other new DSLRs, Canon removed from the 5DS R version the anti-aliasing filter used to prevent possible jagged lines and moiré (wavy lines) — reckoning that pros will gladly fix these flaws during editing in exchange for the greater overall clarity. (The filter is the main difference between the two models.) If you have to ask the price, these cameras probably aren't for you, but FYI: The 5DS and 5DS R will list for $3,699 and $3,899 at your local Canon retailer.
Want a DSLR to help you create your short film or documentary? Canon's upcoming Rebel T6s and T6i pack the company's latest hybrid CMOS autofocus system, which enables faster and more accurate continuous focus during movie recording, as well as when you're shooting still shots in live-view mode. The 24.2-megapixel cameras with mainstream-size APS-C sensors will be available from $750 for the T6i ($850 for the T6s, both body only) in April, and pack Wi-Fi and NFC capabilities for pairing with mobile devices for transferring photos or remote control. Both new Rebels will offer Canon's color tone detection technology to improve exposure and focus on people in pictures. Spring for the higher-end T6s and you'll get bonus features such as a microphone input jack for better audio in movies, a top LCD readout panel for a quick glance at settings, and Servo AF to continuously track a moving subject and adjust focus for each photo during burst-mode shooting sequences.