Gear of the Year

The Digital Rebel XT is smaller and lighter than the EOS 30D. It lacks some of the 30D’s lofty specifications (ISO tops out at 1,600, for example, and the Rebel’s fastest shutter speed is just 1/4,000 of a second), but the camera still offers lots of manual controls compared to point-and-shoot models. Like the EOS 30D and most other DSLRs, the Digital Rebel XT also accepts many lenses other than the one in the box.

DSLR neophytes might be surprised to discover that, with most models, a see-through viewfinder is used in place of the LCD screen to compose your shots. Digital displays on DSLRs are typically reserved for reviewing photos once they’ve been taken. The Olympus Evolt E-330 ($1,000, with lens), however, is the first DSLR camera to buck that trend. Like the compact models familiar to most consumers, the E-330 delivers a live, electronic look at what you’re pointing at before you press the shutter button. The 2.5-inch LCD also flips away from the camera body, making it easier to take shots from odd angles or with the camera hoisted above your head. The E-330 has a 7.5-megapixel image sensor. Its shutter speeds range between 1/4,000 per second to 60 seconds, and ISO equivalent settings range from 100 to 400. The 14–45mm, f/3.5–5.6 lens is included in the camera’s kit.

Global positioning system (GPS) technology is finding its way into all kinds of products. A variety of companies offer devices that elegantly fit GPS applications with other functions.

At first glance, the Garmin, Ltd. Nüvi 360 ($900) looks like a standard, albeit smallish, in-car GPS navigation system. Yes, the Nüvi displays three-dimensional maps and provides spoken driving directions, but once you reach your destination, it continues to enhance your travels. The device plays MP3s and audio books, displays digital photos, calculates currency and measurement conversions, and with optional software ($75), produces text and spoken translations of words and phrases in five languages and dialects. Back in the car, the Nüvi is a Bluetooth-enabled, hands-free cell phone, with a built-in microphone and speaker. Touchscreen commands call up contact lists, make calls, and access a preloaded phone directory of hotels, restaurants, and other points of interest.

Garmin’s Forerunner 305 ($350) is a wrist-worn device that tells a whole lot more than time. It tracks speed, distance, pace, heart rate, and calories burned during outdoor exercise. In addition, the unit’s GPS receiver guides you as you walk, run, or bike. Download a trail map before setting off; the Forerunner can continually show you where you’re going, and even alert you if you veer off course. You can compete against your own previous performances on the same route, or stir up your competitive spirit with the Forerunner 305’s pre-programmed workouts.

Combined with Garmin’s new shoe-mounted Foot Pod accessory ($100), a Forerunner 305 can also monitor speed and distance while a runner trains on a treadmill or an indoor track where GPS signals aren’t available.