The Canon EOS 1000D offers very good image quality at low price (it has the same 10 megapixel sensor used also in the Canon 400D and Canon 40D), but it is pretty poor in terms of features. It is slow (only 1.5 FPS makes it the slowest DSLR cameras on the market), it has the old 7 points AF of the 350D. On the US market, it is available only in kit with the 18-55 IS lens: what about if you already have this lens? Maybe Canon wants people to collect 18-55s? Usually I recommend to invest in lenses rather than in camera body, but in this case I recommend to avoid this camera; an used 450D or 40D are not much more expensive and they offer much better features. I expect to see a successor (1500D? 2000D?) later this year, hopefully with better specs: at least 2.5 FPS as the other brands equivalents, newer AF system and video mode.

Similar bodies: Nikon D60, Sony A200

The 500D is a step up from the 450D. It has a sensor similar to the 50D sensor, that offers very good resolution and good image quality up to 800 ISO (1600 is usable, 3200 is barely ok, the higher setting are way too noisy for anything except snapshots). The 3.4 FPS x 9 RAW continuos shooting is good for an entry level camera, and it has a nice 3" LCD screen with 640x480px resolution, the same of the 50D and 5D2. Another big update is video: after the 5D2, the 500D is the second Canon SLR that offers HD video (1920x1080p at 20FPS or 1280x720p at 30FPS). In my opinion video in SLR is a great news, and the fact that after the 5D2 Canon has added video also in the 500D means that all future Canon cameras will offer video. I said that the 450D was "a good camera, but it cold have been better"; the 500D fixes the 450D downsides and it adds nice features as video...a very good step forward.

Similar bodies: Nikon D90, Sony A350, Olympus E-620

The 40D was one of my favorite Canon cameras, and the new 50D has been improved in various aspects: it has a 15 megapixel sensor with just a little more noise than 40D, 3" high resolution LCD, autofocus micro-adjustment, live view with autofocus, and support for UDMA CF card. I think that overall it is a nice camera, but you need high quality lenses to get the best from the very high resolution sensor. My main complaint is the lack of video: if you are interested in this feature, I'd recommend to wait until 2010 for the 60D (after the 500D announcemend, it is sure that all new Canon cameras will include video). I recommend it in particular to bird and wildlife photographers; the 15mp APS-C sensor, coupled with high quality tele lenses, gives a lot of reach thanks to the 1.6x multiplier (or 1.4x if you compare it with the 1DsIII cropped to 15 mp) and to the great cropping possibilities.

Similar bodies: Nikon D300, Sony A700, Olympus E-3

The new Canon 5DII is a big improvement in comparison with its predecessor: it has the same resolution of the 1Ds3 and the same noise performance, it has live view and it is the first Canon reflex that offers video mode. It is not super fast (4 FPS), so if you take mainly action photos the 50D or the 1D3 may be a better choice for you, while if your interest are macro and lanscape, the 5D2 is a perfect choice. In various aspects, it is even better than the 1DsIII - it is cheaper, smaller, lighter, and it offers the video mode! Video quality is very good, even at very high ISO, and it offers both high resolution (full HD, 1920x1080p) and 35mm depth of field. Other than that, you can use all your EF lenses (even wide agles, fisheye, macro, supertele) for video! Considering the price - one third of the 1Ds3 - I highly recommend the Canon 5D MarkII.

Similar bodies: Nikon D700, Sony A900

The 1D3 is a sport and wildlife photographers dream. In the past (from its announcement and october 2007) is has suffered from serious AF problems, but now it seems that canon has finally sorted out the AF problems. The Canon 1D3 has very low noise (it is almost on par with the exceptional Nikon D3) and it is the only camera currently avaible that has 10FPS at 10 megapixel resolution and with AF traking. I recommend this camera to nature photographers that have an high budget and are specialized in wildlife and action. Personally, I have preferred the 1DsIII because it is a more "all around" camera; I don't like the 1.3x crop factor of the 1D3, and I prefer higher resolution cameras that give more cropping possibilities. It is a relatively old camera, but I don't expect to see a replacement this year; the 1D Mark IV is likely to be announced next year.

Similar bodies: Nikon D3

In the field of nature photography, the 1Ds3 may interest mainly landscape photographers, even though the improvements in comparison with the previous versions make it much more usable as all-around camera; its speed does not come even close to the 1D3, but it is already pretty good. The features are essentially identical to the 1D3, except the burst (5 FPS instead or 10PFS) and the sensor: the fullframe, 21 megapixel sensor a dream for those who want the maximum detail and for those who often use wide-angle lenses. That said, it is greatly overpriced (as the Nikon D3x), and there are cheaper cameras that offer the same resolution (5DII, A900), and more features (the 5DII has a fantastic video mode, so you can use it both for photos and videos). Nowadays, I don't recommend the 1DsIII - if I had to choose now, I'd go for the 5D Mark II.

Similar bodies: Nikon D3x