Are you looking for a new Nikon Digital SLR camera, but aren’t sure what kind to get? With nine different models of SLR cameras alone, Nikon produces plenty of options for every level of photographer. So which one is best for you? Here’s a quick breakdown of each SLR camera’s main benefits, organized by approximate price.

$500
Don’t underestimate the cheapest SLR digital camera model that Nikon produces. It packs a lot of punch for your dollar. It has split-second shutter speed, advanced focus and lens technology, and sharp 6.1 megapixel resolution. But the real beauty of the D40 is its simplicity. It’s sleek, compact, and easy to use. It even has in-camera picture editing tools, so you can edit your pics before sending them directly to a printer. The 2.5 inch LCD screen makes editing and navigation easy. The D40 gets thousands of very solid customer reviews, and negative reviews are very few and far between. For the money, it’s hard to beat.

$550
The D3000 is only a $50 difference from the D40, and yet there is a startling jump from 6.1 megapixels to 10.2. It also gets an upgrade to a 3 inch LCD screen instead of 2.5, 3 frames per second shooting instead of 2.5, and Nikon EXPEED image processing. You can also find sharper focusing technology and lighting recognition. For that extra $50 investment, you get a whole lot of camera!

$630
We then move up by $80 to the D5000, which offers 12.1 megapixel resolution, a movable LCD screen, 4 frames per second shooting, and extra low-light shooting capabilities. Another great bonus is the ability to record 720p HD video with sound. You can even tag your pictures with latitude and longitude using the GPS feature, which is great for hardcore explorers. Again, a big boost in performance for not a lot of money.

$900
The D90 has 12.3 megapixels, a small jump over the previous D5000 model. (But do keep in mind that it’s not all about the megapixels – the camera’s processor, lens, and other hardware can make just as big of a difference in photo quality.) The D90 allows you to record 720p HD movies at an astonishing 24 frames per second, and it has a big 3 inch high-resolution LCD screen so you can get the full experience when viewing your video playback. It also has comprehensive exposure control, and even a self-cleaning image sensor that removes image-degrading dust particles. The D90 boasts some pretty cool features for the price!

$1700
Now we start to move into the big boys with the D300S. It offers 12.3 megapixels with an extremely powerful processor that allows up to 7 frame per second continuous shooting. It boasts 51-point autofocus and 1,005-pixel 3D Color Matrix Monitoring, along with an advanced scene recognition system that helps the quality and speed of autofocus greatly. In layman’s terms, it works extremely fast at very high quality.

$2700
This Nikon SLR digital camera model gets an upgraded 3D Color Matrix Metering system and an FX-format CMOS sensor combined with EXPEED processing, which provides amazingly rich image quality. It also boasts broad low-noise ISO sensitivity up to 6400.

$5000
The main benefit of the D3 is the ability to shoot blazing-fast, perfectly clear pictures at full quality. You can take continuous, full-FX resolution pictures at an amazing 9 frames per second. If you’re in the business of sports photography or another field with fast-moving subjects, this is definitely the camera that can handle it!

$5200
This camera combines the D3’s benefits with a more rugged design that’s especially resilient to dust particles, moisture, and electromagnetic interference. The low-noise ISO sensitivity goes from 200 to 12,800, and HD video recording is enhanced with high-fidelity stereo sound capacity.

$8000
Finally, we have the piece de resistance, D3X. This camera is crafted for professionals among professionals, with a jaw-dropping extreme resolution 24.5 megapixel CMOS sensor that can take the ultimate in high-resolution, high-fidelity images. They combine the top features for autofocus, color matrix metering, and durable construction from the previous models, and bind them all up into one amazing package.

Check out Nikon’s SLR Camera Page to see more details on each model, or to purchase your own. We hope you’ve enjoyed this quick and easy guide to Nikon’s SLR Camera Models. Whether you’re an advanced professional or just starting out, you’re sure to find a model that will meet your needs!