The biggest news in digital cameras so far this holiday season is the arrival of three 10-megapixel SLRs priced below $1,000 (for the body only; a kit lens costs an additional $100 to $300, depending on the lens.) Besides upping the ante for resolution in this price range, the new Canon, Nikon, and Sony cameras offer such amenities as an LCD larger than two inches, the ability to remove or compensate for dust that settles on the internal sensor, greater auto focus flexibility, and a higher capacity for continuous shooting than previous models. Some of those features were previously available only in SLRs with a four-figure price tag.

The three SLRs had excellent image quality in our lab tests, using the manufacturer's 50 mm. F 1.4 lens. As with nearly all digital SLRs, the trio had virtually no shutter lag, excellent battery life, extensive manual controls, and can capture images in RAW format, which allows more creative control over contrast, sharpness, and other image characteristics. All three offer at least nine autofocus areas in the viewfinder to choose from, making it easier to direct the camera's autofocus to a subject that's off-center.

If you've decided a 10-megapixel SLR is the right type of camera, see our recommendations and the chart below, which highlight some noteworthy differences among the three new models. For more detail on each model, see our First Looks for the Canon Digital Rebel Xti, Nikon D80, and Sony DSLR-A100.


ALTERNATIVE CAMERAS

Unless you do a lot of cropping or make very large prints, you probably don't need 10-megapixel resolution. If that's the case, there are several SLRs on the market available for under $1,000, with resolution between 6 and 8 megapixels. And there will soon be another, Nikon's new 6-megapixel D40, a relatively compact SLR that should be available in December for about $600, lens included. For more on the D40's pricing and features, see our Shopping blog. We will publish a First Look for the D40 as soon as we complete an in-lab assessment.

If you're not sure whether to move up to an SLR or stick with a high-resolution point-and-shoot, such as an advanced compact or super-zoom (Ratings available to subscribers only), the three new SLRs' attractive prices make cost less of issue than before. But before moving up, weigh an SLR's advantages against some of its costs, such as greater weight and bulk. And high-quality, interchangeable lenses for an SLR can be costly. Also, mastering the typical SLR's controls and settings can be time-consuming.


THE BOTTOM LINE

If you're an experienced photographer who needs advanced features, buy the Nikon. It performed well in our labs, including a battery life of 600 shots. It also has a feature that is unusual among less-expensive digital SLRs: It can measure reflected light, or can spot meter, on a very small portion of an image--2.5 percent. Spot metering can help you determine the best exposure in tricky light conditions or for creative effect.

The Canon doesn't have spot metering. But if you don't need that feature and are comfortable holding a body with a grip that's a bit small for an SLR, the Canon is a good choice. It costs less than the Nikon, has excellent image quality, and has the highest capacity of the three models for continuous shooting of JPG and RAW images. (If you prefer a Canon SLR, but need advanced features like spot metering, consider the Canon PowerShot EOS-30D (available to subscribers). We don't recommend the Sony because it produced images with noticeable graininess at ISO settings above 400, a serious limitation for an SLR.