Labs

The D50 is the most affordable digital SLR by a fair margin, but you wouldn't guess this from using it or seeing the quality of the results.

It has a lot in common with Nikon's pricier D70s, with a largely similar set of controls and a 6-megapixel CCD. There's only one command dial, but this is put to good use, giving quick access to a wide variety of functions when used in conjunction with the various buttons. The camera didn't

Despite the cosmetic similarities with the D70s, image quality wasn't on a par. The D50's photos weren't as sharp as the D70s's, although the difference was fairly subtle. It also fared less well under artificial light, with a red cast to pictures when using the automatic white balance setting. Colours weren't neutral in natural light, either, but the D50 appears to be tuned to produce subjectively pleasing colours. Skin tones were warm and flattering, while bright colours were vibrant without becoming oversaturated and losing detail. The D50's high-ISO performance was in a different league to the D70s and every other camera here. Image noise was barely perceptible, making the D50 suited to low-light photography.

The Canon 350D's superior image quality makes it worth the extra expense, but the D50 performs better at high ISO settings