If you're looking to buy your first dSLR, you're spoilt for choice — or possibly overwhelmed by the options.
In the last few months we've seen new entry-level digital SLRs from three of the big names in the camera business — Canon, Nikon and Olympus — and Sony has also entered this market, using camera technology bought in from Konica Minolta.
To be honest, these cameras are more similar than different. All four are aimed primarily at people making the jump from a compact digital camera to an SLR — people who already understand the digital half of the equation and want to upgrade to an SLR to take their photography further. An SLR is more responsive than a compact, allowing you to take photos more quickly; it gives you more control, so you can be more creative; and it's more flexible, allowing you to change the lens or use accessories such as flashguns and remote controls.
Because these entry-level SLRs are designed for people who are used to pocket-friendly compacts, the manufacturers have kept them small and light. Experienced photographers may scoff, telling you that larger and heavier cameras are easier to handle and hold, but if you're used to a compact, you won't want anything too big. If size is absolutely everything, the Olympus E-410 is the smallest and lightest of the cameras featured here.
The Canon EOS 400D Olympus E-410 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 both have 10-megapixel sensors, while the Nikon D40 lags behind with just 6 megapixels. This is enough for most purposes, including prints up to A4, but it gives you less scope for cropping your images or making poster-size enlargements. Since many top-end compacts now offer 7 or even 10 megapixels, you might feel behind the times with the D40, although pixels aren't everything — you're still getting the benefits of a physically larger sensor and a bigger and better lens, so the D40 will produce better images than a compact.
The Canon EOS 400D and the Nikon D40 both ship with 18-55mm zoom lens, although the 35mm equivalents are slightly different (because the cameras have slightly different sensors), with the Canon lens offering the equivalent of 29-88mm and the Nikon 27-83mm. The Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 comes with an 18-70mm lens, or 27-105mm in 35mm terms and the Olympus E-410 comes in a twin-lens kit with 14-42mm and 40-150mm lenses, or 28-84mm and 80-300mm in 35mm terms.
In the short term, the Sony and Olympus cameras gives you a better zoom range out of the box, but in the long term, Canon and Nikon offer more lenses and other accessories. If you can imagine buying additional lenses in the future — for example, if you might want a telephoto lens for photographing wildlife — go for the Canon 400D or the Nikon D40. Both cameras are compatible with a wide range of lenses, flash guns, remote releases and so on.
What about other features? The Nikon D40 has a beginner-friendly menu system, with sample images that help you choose the right settings. The Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 has built-in image stabilisation for taking pictures in low light (Canon and Nikon offer image stabilisation via special lenses). The Nikon D40 uses SD memory cards, whereas the others take CompactFlash, although the Olympus E-410 also accepts xD memory cards. The Canon EOS 400D, Olympus E-410 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 have cleaning modes that vibrate the sensor to shake off dust.
Canon EOS 400D 
The Canon 400D remains a very good first dSLR, with a balance of automatic, semi-automatic and manual controls to progress through as your creative photography skills improve.
Nikon D40
The Nikon D40 is a great transition camera for going from point-and-shoot to your first dSLR.
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Aimed at first-time dSLR users, Sony's 10-megapixel debut entry into the dSLR market features image stabilisation, auto focus, an antistatic coating and 21 compatible lenses.
Olympus E-410
Olympus' compact dSLR for newbies, the Evolt E-410, is a decent choice if you're looking to save space in your bag, but issues with its automatic exposure and white balance make it an unsatisfactory option as a first dSLR.
sandyc
30/03/2007 12:14 AM
Read all the comments about the Canon eos400D. Was very impressed with the way the review was written - could be understood by anyone. This site is easy to use too. Great.
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still nutty
23/07/2007 01:42 PM
I'd like to thank CNET for providing excellent, impartial and easy to read reviews in many categories. I've been using this Site more and more to make well informed purchasing decisions.
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harry
10/01/2008 02:05 AM
CNET provids good data and its easy to read.In first use only i am impresed.
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Supra_138
09/02/2008 09:40 PM
So would or would anyone say the Fujitsu S5700 is a Digital SLR camera or similar to? Overall i think the review is good.
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