Quote Originally Posted by Tarzanman View Post
You don't need a DSLR to get into photography. Canon in particular makes some pretty good point & shoot cameras. (S9? G10?)

If you don't know what you like yet, or what kind of photos you will be taking for the most part.... beg, borrow, & steal equipment and use it until you get an idea of which direction you are going in.

With a few exceptions, taking pictures in good light and good conditions of stationary objects that don't move does NOT require a particularly nice camera. Its the other stuff that gets tricky.
I normally don't agree with you, but I do here.

There are some very good point and shoots that are borderline DSLR's (Olympus C8080 for example, but I'm not sure if they make it anymore) that give you more than enough room to grow into w/o the big cost. DSLR's main claim to fame is in the glass, which can get expensive. Like Tarzan said, if you're going to be taking mainly stationary pics, then you'll be fine. Break your teeth in with the good PNS camera and then step up to DSLR's.

Good luck and happy shooting.