Nikon D50

The perception when it was announced was that the D50 would undercut the 350D. But in most shops and online stores the prices of both the kit and body-only versions of the two rivals are within a few pounds of each other. For the kit versions, however, this gives Nikon a clear advantage for one simple reason: the 18-55mm Nikkor G ED kit lens, although the same in basic specifications to Canon's 18-55mm EF-S lens, is superior. The ED designation indicates extra-low-dispersion glass, giving fewer chromatic aberrations, and it's noticeably sharper too, more than neutralising the Canon's 1.8-megapixel resolution advantage.

As a picture-making tool, the D50 has a lot to recommend it. If you're looking for a complete digital SLR kit at the best price point and don't already own, or aren't intending to buy, better-quality lenses, it's the superior choice. For the body-only option, however, the 350D is more logical and comfortable to use, and it's difficult to ignore those 1.8 million extra pixels, better action-photography potential and the up-to-date, lighter and more compact body design. The D50 is a great camera, but doesn't quite knock Canon off our A List.

Author: David Fearon