An essentially revolutionary concept, even if the idea had already been brought up (and applied in medium format), the Leica Digital-Modul-R is one of the most talked-about products at Photokina 2004. The small-format digital camera back fits the Leica R8 and R9 SLRs. Needless to say, the arrival of the Digital-Modul-R is anything but discreet, and the Leica exhibit is never empty. A photographer lucky enough to own a Leica R8 or R9 can move to digital without changing any habits. In short, while the Leica "niche" remains what it is, this product clearly marks Leica's arrival in the digital sector....

If you're in the market for a pro quality DSLR, don't forget to check out cameras from Panasonic and Leica, excluded here due to the press of deadlines. The two brands share one DSLR in common, the 7.5 megapixel Leica Digilux 3 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1. The newer 10.3 megapixel Leica M8, £2,900 / €4,200 retail body only, is available only from Leica. It uses Leica M bayonet mount lenses and has an angle of view magnification factor of 1.3x like Canon's 1D Mark II and III. If you want a Leica DSLR with legs and have lots of bucks, go for the M8. I'm guessing that the Digilux 3/Lumix DMC-L1 ain't long for this world....

• -Buyers' Guide - 26 Digital SLR Cameras

Finally, we need to make a visit to the famous Leica stand. Long absent from the digital world, Leica has now joined a specific market battle: SLRs. But Leica has developed its product in a very unorthodox and immensely pleasing way: A digital back (the Digital-Modul-R) with 10 million pixels and a sensor a little smaller than 24x36 (with a conversion factor of 1.37), designed to fit the R8 and R9 film cameras....

The lens is an 83mm Leica Dicomar with 13X optical zoom....

Note: DSLRs from Panasonic and Leica should have been included in this Buyers' Guide; time constraints prevented their inclusion....

If you are a fan of high quality Leica lenses, Panasonic has two optically-stabilized point-and-shoot cameras that will make you happy....