New photographers looking for an inexpensive, starter DSLR should run out and get the Nikon D3000. This successor to the popular Nikon D40 sells for just $499 with an AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR kit lens or $399 body only. While image quality from the 10.2MP D3000 may not compete with pro digital SLRs, it’s more than adequate for basic portrait, candid, and low-impact sports photography. And because the small D3000 is light and highly portable, it’s a better-quality replacement for that compact point-and-shoot camera you’ve been carrying in your bag for years. Beginning photographers will also appreciate the D3000′s Guide Mode which walks you though some basic shooting situations and offers tips right on the camera’s 3-inch LCD screen. Though the D3000′s 3fps shooting speed won’t impress anyone on the sidelines, it’s certainly fast enough to keep up with most subjects in the studio. If you’re looking for a camera that also shoots HD video, the D3000 isn’t for you. This is a no-frills, stills-only model which more experienced photographers will probably find to be frustratingly simplified. But if you want a small, inexpensive no-brainer DLSR, you can’t do much better than the Nikon D3000. — Dan Havlik

Product Information

MSRP: $399 (body only); $499 with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR kit lens

Manufacturer data: Nikon USA | Nikon Europe

Availability: Amazon | CNet