It used to be that if you wanted better photos than your pocket snapshot could provide, you traded up to a digital SLR (DSLR); a larger sensor and the ability to change the lens in use providing a better quality picture. Or, if you were put off by the perceived learning curve and didn’t want the bother of investing in a set of lenses, you went for a big-zoom bridge model.

Not any more: DSLRs have been under attack of late from interchangeable lens hybrid models, such as the Panasonic GF, Sony NEX and Olympus Pen series. These offer the best of both worlds, combining compact size and DSLR power – achieved by removing the mirror mechanism to bring the lens and sensor closer together. Though we haven’t yet felt the quality of these hybrids has truly matched that achievable with an un-tinkered with DSLR proper, there’s no doubt they’re very capable and exciting alternatives. So where does that leave the traditional photo enthusiasts’ and professionals’ camera?

Unsurprisingly, we now find the DSLR also trying to break with (35mm film) tradition. The latest models not only incorporate video recording, a feature of humble compacts since practically day one – and one which manufacturers suggest their customers are now demanding – they also offer one-touch record buttons borrowed from camcorders. Many also include tilt-and-swivel rear LCD screens for greater compositional variety, a feature inspired by bridge cameras.

Add in High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) output for connecting to flat-panel TVs and monitors, the ability to attach supplementary off-camera microphones for more professional sound, and the DSLR of today is not just a photographic tool, but a multimedia one. Sony’s A33, reviewed here, even features a 3D panorama mode, though you’ll need a 3D TV to play back the results in all their multidimensional glory.

Of course, with all these features now included, it doesn’t make a decision any easier when choosing which DSLR to buy. And remember, it’s not just the individual camera you should be considering, but also the level of support offered by its manufacturer in terms of accessories – flashguns, additional lenses and batteries – all of which in time you might find your photography benefiting from. So let’s examine the six contenders.

Buying Advice

None of the DSLRs gathered here, if viewed and tested in isolation, would do anything less than impress; but pluck a winner from a field of prime athletes we must. Though the ‘big two’ of Canon and Nikon offer the broadest accessory ranges, they don’t necessarily offer the best value or, with the notable exception of the D3100, necessarily the most user-friendly packages. This is where the likes of Sony and Pentax have something to offer those who look beyond the obvious, with their own ever-growing accessory ranges. Bear in mind too that the prices quoted here are the manufacturers’ own, so street/online deals should find them cheaper still.

We’re predicting the biggest price drop for the Olympus E-5. It feels the least enticing for new converts in present company at £1,500 for body only, when the Canon 60D, perhaps its closest competitor here courtesy of its own tilting LCD, is a good £400 cheaper for body only.

For anyone starting out with £1,000 to spend, either the Canon 60D or Nikon D7000 would be a better bet and their identical body-only prices mean that it’s very hard to choose between them. But we’d have to admit the advantage of the 60D’s articulated screen for those not already wedded to either brand just tips the balance in its favour.

We also really liked Pentax’s K-r. The fact that it comes with a zoom lens for just a fraction more than the cost of a body-only Sony A33 means that it also comes recommended for keen amateur and/or those on a budget. That’s despite the Alpha’s many plus points and general overall ease of use, in particular its angle-adjustable LCD making it well suited to the beginner.

That leaves Nikon’s D3100, which might not possess the build quality of the top-end models, nor all the professional bells and whistles of the Canon 60D or Nikon’s own D7000, but has to be taken in the context of those cameras being roughly twice its price. Though only marginally cheaper than the Pentax K-r, pound for pound the baby Nikon delivers the best value on test, and in this day and age that’s important.

Anyone upgrading from a compact or bridge camera will be able to pick up the Nikon D3100 and be shooting potentially the best images of their lives within seconds. And with HD video on board too, this feels like a lot of camera for the money. A deserving test winner, therefore.