[allanmb]

To the OP. I am a Canon shooter so can only really give you advice from this camp. If you are into portraits, there are 2 options at the moment which are still on the market which are great for portraits: 5D Mark II and 1Ds Mark III. The 5DII has the advantage of being newer so has nice features such as hi-res LCD screen and video however once you have used a 1D you will rarely be happy with a non-1D again; the AF and the sound of the shutter/mirror are great! Obviously the 1D is far more expensive and weighs a tonne but it is a great machine. The 1DsIV is also due out soon if money really is no option.



Now the problem with the above is that they are both full frame therefore the focus points lie more tightly in the centre of the frame. Sorry to say but I dont know of any FF SLR that doesnt. So I think you will have to make a decision of which is most important, AF point layout or IQ for portrait (read Full Frame). If you choose AF point layout then you open up a couple more options. The 1DIV has fantastic IQ and even better AF however the points still dont cover a huge part of the frame. The 7D however has decent AF and the point coverage is the best in Canon camp. The problem with the 7D is that it is a cropped camera, and cramming in 18MP means that you will need very good glass to get the most of it.



I hope this helps you in your decision!

Allan.