Weight: 2 lb., 5 oz. $1,300; www.nikondigital.com
4 stars
PROS Nikon has found the sweet spot between professional-grade and entry-level SLRs. The D80 has a bright 2.5-inch LCD screen, yet the camera's relative lightness keeps it from feeling like an anvil around your neck. The 18- to 135-millimeter Nikkor lens extends in just a quarter-turn for getting quick telephotos, and an ample buffer memory allows for a full half-minute of three-frames-per-second shooting.
CONS Though you can swap lenses on the D80, older film-camera lenses don't work very well, and the oldest ones are almost useless. Unlike other 10-megapixel models, the D80 doesn't shoot movies.
BUY THIS ONE IF ... You want Leibovitz-like capabilities and don't mind the bulk and complexity of a true SLR camera.