Ok I know this isn't answering your question exactly but since an SLR camera is a big purchase I want to give you some advice. I thought the same exact thing. I LOVE taking pictures and thought an SLR camera was what I needed to go to the next level. But SLR cameras are a huge step up and are very expensive (you have to buy lenses separately) and they're bulky. I talked to my parents and also my great uncle who is an award-winning photographer about getting one, and, long story short, I got a Canon Powershot SX10IS which is not an SLR. It is an amazing camera with lots of features but doesn't require you to have to change lenses. It isn't a cheap little point and shoot but it's not an SLR either. Look up the model on Amazon.com and just check it out. It takes great photos. You can still take great pictures without an SLR. I actually just won 1st place in a statewide contest out of 39 other participants using photos from this camera and last year I got 5th place (using an inexpensive point and shoot Kodak Easyshare). Just as a piece of encouragement: the judge of the contest and my uncle both told me that no matter the camera, it's the vision, the creativity,..the eye of the photographer that makes the photography he shoots great.