Gadget of the Year 08 - Prosumer DSLR

It's a stiff competition between the Canon EOS 450D and the Nikon D60 with the EOS 450D winning by a hairline. The 450D is a great camera to upgrade to for compact camera owners mainly because it makes the jump a lot simpler. Firstly, it has live view, which can be used during manual modes, and should make compact camera owners feel right at home. Then it gives you an image that's "ready-to-use", in the way that it automatically saturates the image to the right extent, and adds that bit of punch that makes the pictures instantly appealing.

The EOS 450D is definitely the most expensive camera on this list at it's retail price of Rs. 43,990  (Body + Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens), but looking at the number of cheap second-hand lenses and 3rd party lenses available in the market for Canon bodies, you may end up saving money in the long run. If you want to play it safe and get a camera that does everything for you right out of the box, then there's no doubt that the EOS 450D would be the prefect choice for you.

Runner Up - Nikon D60

This one's for the enthusiasts who are looking at absolute control. The Nikon color tones in the RAW mode are a more natural than other DSLR cameras in its category, which makes it ideal for users who want full control over the saturation and sharpness levels of the images.

The biggest asset to Nikon DSLR cameras are the excellent Nikkor lenses, which deliver unmatched image sharpness. The drawback is that since the D60 uses the newer AF-S lenses, finding 3rd party alternatives might get a bit difficult. Still, there are plenty of original Nikkor lenses to choose from in the market these days, and you'll possibly not run out of options for a very long time. At it's price of Rs. 36,995 (Body + Nikon AF-S 18-55mm DX VR  G ED lens), the Nikon D60 is a great option out there for enthusiasts.

Best Value - Canon EOS 1000D

With a price like Rs. 29,990 (Body + Canon EF-S 18-55mm Lens), there's no doubt that the EOS 1000D is the best value for money option out there. Though I personally am not impressed with the light build quality, the specs are quite impressive!

10 megapixel resolution, live view and 7-point autofocus make some great features for a budget DSLR, and with the DIGIC III image processor in place, you're not compromising on quality either. There's no doubt that it's been a great year for Canon with new DSLR launches across all the segments, but the release of the 1000D was more than a pleasant surprise for enthusiasts who found the EOS 450D a bit unaffordable. Look out for our full review of the EOS 1000D, soon.