The camera marketplace is literally packed with options for the keen (and not so keen) photographer. All the major manufacturers are pitching to the public with their version of the latest SLR designs looking to exploit the ever growing band of snappers.

Nikon have been regarded as camera specialists since the 1960s and not much has changed. Amongst their current offerings are the Nikon D4, D300s and d5100.

The D5100 is an extremely popular offering based on its capacity to create highly creative pictures with the included luxury of video making. Featuring a 3 times digital zoom, adjustable monitor and 16.2 mega pixels it ticks most of the boxes for the semi-professional photographer. It is fairly priced but quality lens accessories can be costly.

Samsung have been making serious roads in the last decade on the established players of the camera industry. Their offering of NX1000 brings a new slant to design offering a slim lightweight gadget. It operates with a mirror-less system and offers a tasty 20.3mp standard resolution. Samsung are not renowned for offering glorious financial packages on their products – and compared to other on the market the NX1000 is rather steep.

Most impressively this camera is equipped with 3D functionality to really interest the consumer.

Another relative newcomer to the marketplace is Sony. Their design of the Alpha A77 was forward thinking and offers a 24mp resolution. It is packed with features and settings although the number of buttons may become confusing for users.

The Panasonic Lumix G3 is the third generation of mirror-less cameras from the global giant. Featuring a 16.7mp sensor and tracker feature within the video mode it is another popular seller; aided by a very reasonable price.

Finally Canon, like Nikon are established camera producers and carry a wealth of experience along the way. For a top of the range price tag this camera only offers 18mp sensor display which is disappointing. It does however allow for movie shooting in full 3D as standard and ISO speeds of 6400 – certainly worth writing home about.

All brands bring something to table and depending on your photograph speciality different cameras will offer varying standards.

The modern SLR cameras are extremely technical and capable of producing exceptional photography. Many purchasers will stick with brands they are familiar with but in a competitive arena it is worth searching for a camera body that will allow the best scope for your needs in a progressive manner. If any of these camera models take your fancy, they are all readily available at their respective manufacturer shops, or country wide retailers like Jessops or Argos.