What are the best digital slr cameras?

It depends really on what you are looking for. If you want a camera that is backwards compatible with SLR lenses (i.e. you can use lenses from new cameras or lenses from cameras made 50 years ago) I would go with a Pentax. Any lens made by pentax will fit any SLR camera made by Pentax, whether film or digital. This leaves the potential for picking up great glass at a great price.

If you are just looking for a great intro camera, try the Pentax *ist DL. The cheapest and lightest DSLR camera out there.

If you want high resolution (8 megapixels +) you may want a canon or a nikon, since pentax has not gone past 6.1 megapixels with their DSLR's. Although that really isn't too big of a deal.

In general though, the image quality between the major camera manufacturers is similar. It is usually better to have a great lens than an overly expensive camera body. You really won't notice the differences between the major manufacturers unless you are really looking for them.

Obviously, Canon and Nikon are two of the best known brands. There are several other brands I would trust like Fuji, Pentax, Olympus and the like.

You need to have more decided before jumping in. How much do you want to spend? Is this a hobby or are you going to attempt to make it a business? What kinds of picture situations are you most likely going to be in?

All of these questions are going to help direct you to the camera that is right for you. One more aspect that many people don't think about is how the camera feels in your hands and how well the buttons to operate it are logical for you.

If you want just a best guess answer, I would say go buy a Minolta 5D or 7D with two lenses, one in the 30-85 range and another in the 70-200 range. You should get a good price since Minolta is getting out of the business. At the very least it would be a great camera to learn on.

Nowadays mostly SLR cameras are in the market. And if you check in the market all branded cameras such as Nikon, Kodak, Cannon etc. are having common features except few addition features which not generally in use.
My suggestion is that which ever camera suits your requirement and most Important your budget is the best one for you to buy.
Happy Buying

Not all Digital SLR bodies offer similar performance. Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Olympus have some unique features that make them interesting.

The best digital camera would combine the best features of the current cameras of every line.

It would have:
- a full frame 16Mpix sensor based on Fuji's Super CCD HR design to provide noise free, high dynamic range images
- a sensor mounted on a vibration reducing frame as the one of the Minolta D7D
- a sensor with a self-cleaning feature such as the one available in some Olympus 4/3 cameras
- the tropicalized body of an EOS 1D MkII
- the exposure meter and AF of a Nikon D2X
- the possibility to increase framerate by taking only the center of the image as the Nikon D2X does.
- the cordless Flash capacities of the Minolta D7D
- the choice between Canon or Nikon lens mount

In fact the best digital SLR camera is the one that best suits your needs. For me right now it would be the Canon EOS 5D.

Great responses above. If you wanna learn more about all these cameras, go here

http://www.dpreview.com/

And check out both the review and forum sections. This is the main digital photography site on the net.

From the current models:

Canon EOS 1Ds MkII - The way to go if you have the cash. Full frame, pro weather sealed body.

Canon EOS 5D - Full frame body, cheaper then the 1Ds MkII if you don't need the weather seal etc.

Olympus E330 - Live preview and Supersonic wave filter to keep the dust off

Nikon D70s,Canon Digital Rebel XT - Great entry level cameras. Bang for the buck.

Or if you really have to have the best, get a Hassleblad H2 with digital back.

Haslo was right on target above saying go to www.dpreview.com
It all depends on what you want to do with the camera or you will be getting someone else's opinion and it may not match your objectives. This site will allow you to research all characteristics of digital cameras. Of course budget enters into the picture for most people. No one mentioned it yet but Sony makes a great camera (Nikon uses their sensor chip). Some models like the Sony DSC-R1 uses a Carl Zeiss Lens, etc... Not a SLR but close and cheaper and often better. DP Review is the last word you'll find for researching your dilemma.