DSLR Reviews

The new Canon EOS-1D X Mark II professional DSLR is the long-awaited follow-up to the EOS-1D X, which was launched in 2012 and quickly became one of the most popular cameras for action and sports photographers. In that respect, the 1D X Mark II has some very big shoes to fill. The new camera does add a lot of new features, including a new sensor, a new AF system, new video capabilities, and much more. The resolution of the 1D X Mark II’s new full-frame sensor has increased by 2MP to bring it to a respectable 20MP.

Yes, it’s official. Canon just announced the long rumored 5D Mark IV DSLR and Shutterbug was one of a handful of media outlets to get our hands on this new 30.4MP Full Frame camera and take it for a test-drive.

The Nikon D500 is the “little sister” of the company’s flagship D5 professional DSLR system. The prosumer/enthusiast-focused Nikon D500 is the long-awaited successor to both the D300, which was shipped in 2007, and the upgraded D300S from 2009. The new camera offers an APS-C-sized sensor with a little more than 20MP in resolution. (The D300/D300S had a 12.3MP chip.)

The new Canon EOS Rebel T6 is the follower of the EOS T5, which was introduced two years ago. Just like its predecessor, the new camera is an APS-C system with an 18MP sensor. The new camera has a slightly modified image processor (“Digic 4+” instead of “Digic 4”) and shows some differences in its feature list. It still uses a 3-inch LCD screen on the back, but this screen now offers 920,000 RGB dots instead of 460,000. However, despite the doubling of dots this LCD resolution isn't that impressive anymore, given what is currently on the market. Also, the screen doesn't offer a hinge or swivel point so it is fixed and can't be moved.

The Pentax K-1 ($1,796.95) is the first full-frame (36x24mm) SLR from the company since it introduced the legendary LX film camera back in 1980. The Pentax K-1 has a 36.4-megapixel sensor that lacks an anti-aliasing filter to increase sharpness and image quality, a trendy feature these days. Pentax spins it differently by including an AA Filter Simulator that eliminates moiré without requiring a physical anti-aliasing filter.

The 20.8-megapixel D5 is Nikon’s latest flagship full-frame DSLR and with its robust, almost muscular build and speedy overall performance, this professional camera is designed for action and sports photographers and photojournalists. One of the Nikon D5’s most eye-popping features though is that it can shoot at up to ISO 3,280,000 (no, not a typo!) to capture images in extreme low-light conditions, which could open this camera up to a whole new group of photographers. (Surveillance imaging, anyone?)

We recently got some hands-on time with a pre-production version of the forthcoming 36.4-megapixel Pentax K-1 DSLR at the WPPI show in Las Vegas and put the camera to an early test while shooting a few dozen images. We whittled down the test shots to ten of our favorites and included them below.