Once you've made the decision, that a tiny point and shoot cameras simply aren't going to cut it for you any longer, you've probably started looking in to the world of cameras known as SLR. SLR stands for single lens reflex, and if you think that sounds confusing, you ain't seen nuthin yet. There's a whole jungle of tech terms you get to learn, if you proceed further down this path.

If you haven't already figured it out, I should probably warn you, that the route to getting a good SLR camera can be quite an odyssey. Especially, if your the type, that likes to compare, analyse, investigate, or otherwise dissect every possible pro and con of any item or service you pay for. SLR cameras can be a somewhat complex science.

So, without much further adieu, let's dive right in. If your a fan of technology, your gonna love this stuff, as there is an almost limitless array of jargon, and technological advancements you can learn about with SLR cameras. That information should serve you well in making your final decision however. As, that same technology that has given the consumer a wonderful number of features, has also forced the manufacturers to be extremely competitive with one another. The result many a lot of very capable SLR cameras loaded with features at pretty affordable prices.

So, don't worry, you will get a good SLR with pretty much any camera these days. I'd stick with the major brands, and reputable retailer to hedge your bet. The best prices are still online, and the big online stores are as good or better than local stores with their return policies. Online buying is not just for price comparisons anymore. Olympus, Nikon, or canon are all reliable choices these days. For under a grand, you'll find a lot of entry level SLRs to choose from. The Canon Rebel line-up with the XT, XTi, XSi, XS, and soon to be release T1i are definitely worth a look.

Given the quality of all the top brands, the major differentiating factor between the final quality of your photographs has very little to do with the camera. That major factor is the person behind the shutter button. You, the photographer. Learning more about the art of what makes a good picture would be a good investment on your part. As well as spending some hands on time with the cameras your considering. Either borrow a friends camera, or sweet talk the sales clerk at your local photo shop into letting you take one home for a few days.

Try out as many models as you can, taking pictures of people, things, shadows, and any odd lighting areas of the store you can. Try different lenses to. Have lots of questions for the sales people, but take their answers with a grain of salt. They are sales people after all.

Technical specs are good for narrowing down your short list of cameras, but the final camera choice you make should be based on personal experience. How does the camera feel in your hands, is more important than burst mode, ISO quality or the size of the image sensor.

Still feel a need to look some more? That's fine. Like I said there are a crazy number of choices when it comes to digital SLRs. It never hurts to take a peek into what Canon, Nikon, Olympus and others are offering as the latest and greatest SLR cameras. Just remember, the more time you spend looking for a camera, the less time you spend taking pictures.

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2. Getting Comfortable With Buying A Good Digital Camera
3. I Found A Very Good Point And Shoot Digital Camera
4. How to Compare Good Camcorders
5. Canon Digital Rebel XT, XTi, XSi, XS, T1i