Looking at camera bodies on eBay through the MS Live 30% cash back link. $900 dollar body suddenly becomes a $700 dollar body (maximum of $200 off). Can't get deals like that even on Amazon.
What should I get? I want a DSLR. Yum yum.
The way to aproach this is to remember you are NOT buying a camera. You are buying into a system of parts. The DSLR body is just one part and actually the least important part. Once you own a system every other part you buy will be of the same brand. That SLR body will need to be replaced in five years but you replace it with the same brand. All your lenses will be the same brand and the flash unit(s) and so on.
People will tell you to fiddle with the controls on a (say) D40 and see if you like it. Well, before you commit to Nikon know that you are committing now to also buying Nikon in 2013 and 2018 or something like that. You can't hold those yet to be designed cameras so don't just pick up the D40. Look over the ENTIRE line of Nikon equipment and all the Pentax stuff too and choose the line (brand) you like. Pick out the set of lenses you might like to own and then finally buy the camera body that fits those lenses and your budget.
In short make the selection in this order: Brand, lenses, body.
Or you can forget all of the above and ask the sales guy at best Buy for help. He'll ask how much you are willing to spend and the show you the camera body and lens combo that sells at exactly that price point. Most people actually use this method to select a camera.
