SLRs for savvy shooters

Compared to high-end professional cameras and sub-$1,000 consumer SLRs, these midrange SLRs are neither here nor there. But for many photographers--both pros and serious amateurs--they occupy exactly the right middle ground. If you don't require the durability of a war photographer's camera or the speed to shoot for Sports Illustrated, you'll probably be perfectly happy with the build quality and the performance these models offer. And with smaller, lighter bodies, they're also less likely to land you in a physical therapist's office. These SLRs won't give you quite the level of customizability and fine-tuning that the priciest cameras offer, but they come with all the tools that most proficient photographers need. The bottom line? They cost a lot less than the top-end pro SLRs, but you can take professional-quality photographs with them.