Nikon D5000 Among Top Sub-$750 Cameras

If you're looking to make a transition from a point and shoot digital camera to a beginner-level DSLR, my list of the top five cameras for under $750 should give you a good starting point in your research.

The recently released Nikon D5000, pictured here, heads the list, along with models from Canon, Olympus, Pentax, and Sony.

We discussed the release of the D5000 in May, and it has proven to be a popular digital camera for those looking for an introductory DSLR camera. The other models on the list of best sub-$750 digital cameras will work well, too, offering plenty of resolution, high-end LCD screens, and very strong continuous shot and burst modes.

Keep in mind that many DSLR cameras are sold as camera bodies only without lenses. Other DSLR cameras are sold as a kit, containing a basic lens with the camera body. For those more familiar with today's ultra-compact, point and shoot models, a DSLR model represents a big transition. But it will provide very good image quality and, thanks to its manual-control features, it will help you learn more about photography than a fully automatic point and shoot model.