Nikon D5000

The D5000 is Nikon's answer to the fantastic Canon 500D. It takes superb pictures: accurate colours and that 12.9MP sensor, while less than the Canon's, is still enough to make giant prints. The screen is reasonably good at 2.7in, and tilts and pivots out from the body (potentially useful for shooting over people's heads). The video mode isn't much to shout about - if you want HD video recording on your next DSLR, the Canon makes more sense. But for everyone else, the D5000 is incredibly responsive, good value for money, and takes excellent pictures. ·