Nikon D300s

Nikon’s D300s builds upon the already highly capable D300. As such it inherits a 12.3 Megapixel sensor, large viewfinder, 3in VGA screen, powerful 51-point AF system, Live View, HDMI port and a tough body with great ergonomics. To this the D300s adds HD movies in the 720p format, a slight boost in continuous shooting speed to 7fps and dual Compact Flash / SD memory card slots, allowing you to backup images as you shoot them. The D300s also now features a Quiet shooting mode and a virtual horizon in live view. It remains one of the best semi-pro DSLRs on the market, but unlike its predecessor, faces a direct rival in the form of Canon’s EOS 7D. If you’re not already committed to a platform, compare both models closely.

Pros: Superb build and handling. Dual card slots. 720p movies.
Cons: No histogram in Live View or 1080p video.
Overall: A superb DSLR, but compare closely with Canon 7D