Just in time for the Photokina event happening tomorrow in Germany, Pentax has announced its new entry-level DSLR camera – the K2000 otherwise known as the K-m for the European market. Targeting digital camera users who are about to take the leap into Digital SLRs, the Pentax K2000 comes in the form of an ultra-compact DSLR. So as not to annoy first time DSLR users and to make their transition as pleasant as possible, Pentax has put in Auto Picture modes that include Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action and Night Portrait.

What started as rumor has now finally come true, as Canon introduced its latest professional DSLR camera model, the EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera. It might have taken Canon three years to update its highly popular EOS 5D released sometime in 2005, but it looks like the three long years of wait may be well worth it. Improving on its predecessor’s features, the 5D Mark II features a full-frame CMOS sensor coupled with HD video capture. This may not be the DSLR industry’s first camera to have this feature since Nikon has introduced it with their recently announced D90 DSLR, but it is certainly the first Canon DSLR camera to have it.

Aside from the HD video capture, the EOS 5D Mark II is packed with great features and functionality that would certainly please professional camera users. These include; a 21.1 megapixel full frame 24 x 36mm CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 imaging processor and an ISO sensitivity range of 50 to a whopping 25,600. In addition, the 5D Mark II also has a 3.9 fps continuous shooting capability, 15-point Autofocus with nine selectable AF points, a 3-inch clear view LCD, optical viewfinder with 98 percent coverage and a 150,000-cycle shutter durability.

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Rumors about Nikon’s next DSLR model, the D90 started surfacing as early as December last year. This was heightened a couple of days ago when leak photos and specs started appearing again. But finally, Nikon has ended all the speculations and announced the D90 with a new feature which some may love while others may not like at all. We’re talking here about the D90′s video function which is a first among DSLR cameras.

The D90′s D-Movie mode function allows for capturing high-definition movie clips at 720p. For some this might be the realization of a long time longing for a DSLR function, while DSLR purists might find this simply unacceptable. At any rate, we all have to accept the fact that from now on, the camera that we used to know is now a hybrid of a point-and-shoot and DSLR cameras.

Olympus has unveiled the world’s lightest and smallest digital SLR named E-420 to integrate the simplicity of point-and-shoot digital cameras with high quality images associated with professional cameras.

More than that, this new product marks the entry of more affordable digital SLR with its estimated street price of $499. But you have to shell out an extra hundred bucks to get a 14-42mm digital zoom lens or $200 more for 25mm lens. The Olympus E-420 is expected to hit the market this coming May 2008. Hopefully this will encourage other players to come out with their own line of affordable DSLR’s for trigger-happy consumers.