Professional photographers at the elite level understand that money is no object when it comes to the quality of the final product. In order to deliver the best results to the highest-paying clients, you need the best gear available.

Here are our picks for the best DSLR cameras from each brand:

Canon’s ultimate DSLR:
Canon EOS 1d Mk II

The best dSLR currently offered by Canon, the EOS 1d Mk II sets a new high bar in both the realms of still photography and digital cinematography. Running at around $7,500 new, they can be found on Amazon for around $5,000. 21 MP, 1080p video with crispness that stuns, extreme durability and tons of perks… what more can a guy say?
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Nikon’s ultimate DSLR:
Nikon D3X

Running at around $7,000 new, the Nikon D3X is my personal favorite from Nikon’s lineup. An extremely fast camera, the D3X is also capable of capturing an insane level of detail. Nikon is traditionally viewed as having a slight edge on Canon when it comes to still photography, and the D3X is a prime example of this edge.
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Hasselblad’s ultimate DSLR:
Hasselblad H4D-60

Now we’re getting into the really elite-level cameras on the market today. The best DSLR from Hasselblad is the H4D-60, a medium format camera capable of capturing 60 megapixels of image data. Let’s allow that to sink in for a second… Not only is that kind of number difficult to imagine, but Hasselblad’s camera follows it up with a solid, durable design and plenty of technological goodies, to the point that this camera’s power and capabilities are just kind of silly (in a good way, mind you). Don’t get too excited, though… The H4D-60 comes with a $30,000 price tag, reserving it for elite professional photographers and the super-wealthy. But if that’s your type of market, then hey, more power to you!
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Leica’s ultimate DSLR:
Leica S2-P

The best camera in Leica’s lineup is currently the S2-P, a beautiful machine that lives up to Leica’s legacy of excellent construction, design, and performance. Going for around $30,000 online, this is another model generally used by big-business photographers and diehard Leica fans with the means to afford one. I myself have never owned one, but I would certainly love to! Capable of some seriously beautiful detail in all forms of photography, the S2 series has also added a 1080p HD video recording feature, opening up the world of Leica lenses to the low-budget filmmaking industry.
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Pentax’s ultimate DSLR:
Pentax 645D

The Pentax 645D is a 45-megapixel medium format camera, that retails for only $10,000. The best model put forward by Pentax, it really is a contender in the high-end digital camera realm, especially at such a reasonable price. It is not capable of taking video, but then again, medium format cameras are more often preferred by still photographers, as they are capable of delivering image quality that not even the best current digital video cameras can attain. All in all, a solid choice for the serious photographer who might not be ready to go all-in on a Leica or Hasselblad.
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