Super Shooters

Photographs by John B. Carnett Photographs by John B. Carnett

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1. Autofocus on People
Inexperienced photographers need smart cameras–particularly when shooting groups of objects. The autofocus in Minolta's 3.7X zoom Freedom Zoom 140 ($179, shown) and 4.3X zoom Freedom Zoom 160 ($199) 35mm cameras is as intelligent as they get, singling out human forms and making them the focal point–even if they move. www.minolta.com


2. A Film Camera Doubles as Digital
Can't decide between film and digital? There's no need to choose with Kodak's Advantix EasyShare APS camera. Take a shot, and the camera exposes APS film and stores a low-resolution image. The digital images are perfect for e-mailing. Price: $200. www.kodak.com


Bring on 6 Megapixels
Finally, high-end SLRs to go with your high-end lenses.


Digital choices for photographers who own high-quality SLR lenses have been limited-namely, the $2,500 3-megapixel Canon D30 or a $5,000 pro camera. But this summer the field widens with three new digital SLRs. All will cost around $3,000. Canon's D60 and Nikon's D100 bring 6 megapixels within reach of the average snapper. But the dark horse is Sigma's 3-megapixel SD-9, which uses a Foveon X3 sensor to capture full color at each pixel-traditional sensors need four pixels for color. The trick: Each pixel has three light detectors instead of one; they're placed on the sensor's silicon at the precise depths that red, green, and blue light are absorbed. The result: The SD-9, with half the pixels, could surpass the D60 and D100 in image quality. We'll test the much-hyped Foveon cameras in future issues.


3. NIKON D100
Price: $2,000
Sensor: CCD (charge coupled device)
Megapixels: 6.1
Compatible Lenses: AF Nikkor mounts


4. CANON D60
Price: $2,999
Sensor: CMOS (complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor)
Megapixels: 6.3
Compatible Lenses: EF mounts


5. SIGMA SD9
Price: $3,000
Sensor: Foveon X3 CMOS
Megapixels: 3.4
Compatible Lenses: SA mounts

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