The powerful technology found behind the lens of Nikon's flagship D3 DSLR is the culmination of over a decade of work. The camera packs a punch with a 12.1 megapixel sensor, which can shoot at 36 by 23.9 mm — or the standard size of a conventional piece of 35 mm film. But what's really cool is how the D3 works with you, the photographer, to take clearer pictures in a myriad of different situations. The Nikon D3 combines a scene recognition system with technology that is able discern general shapes and colors, so in effect the camera will be able to analyze what it's looking at, see where its darkest darks are and its lightest lights (while factoring in abnormally strong sources like the Sun), and sort out the right color temperature and exposure each and every part of a scene should have.

Sound like the camera's taking a picture for you? Not at all, but the beauty of digital technology is what aid it can allow — after all, you could just turn it all off and shoot manually. The flexibility the technology warrants is still there when you want it. The inexperienced will find it a comfort and the pros, no doubt, will find neat tricks to pull off with it. The Nikon D3 DSLR toes the line between consumer and prosumer at $5,000. — Kevin Hall

Via Nikon