The first thing I must stress is that buying a SLR will not magically make your pictures look better. It’ll be no different from pictures produced by a decent compact or a semi pro. On the other hand, if you’ve felt that you’ve outgrown your compact or semi pro camera and require more control over your shooting, upgrading to a dSLR will be the best thing you’ve for yourself. By upgrading, you will be able to control your aperture, shutter speed, ISO sensitivity, exposures, depth of field and many other things, and an entry level dSLR is the best way to get to achieve this.

Canon 400D. The updated 500D is what you ought to be getting.

The SLR market is dominated by two companies, Nikon and Canon.There are other manufacturers such as Sony, Olympus and Pentax. Functionality wise at each level, you won’t have much of a difference as the base specifications are similar to each other. Technical image quality is also almost identical. However, what you will be doing is buying into a system. Each brand has their own photography systems, ranging from bodies, lenses, flashes and other accessories. This is something you have to consider because once you start with one brand and invest into the system, you’re more or less stuck with it.

What the beginner needs is a SLR that covers most of the features, such as the Nikon D60, Canon 1000D or Sony A200. These have technically good image quality and are easy to learn, as well as being the cheapest in the range. One step up is the amateur Canon 50D and Nikon D90. These have more features, but are larger and heavier and considerably more expensive (about double the price of an entry level) , but you won’t outgrow them as quickly. What you don’t need, is a high end camera like the Nikon D700 or Canon 5D Mk2. These are not just expensive, but they also have far too many features that a beginner won’t need, and by the time you’ve learned to shoot them, there will already a newer model out.

Looks good, but you don't need this yet.

What I will recommend is that you try each of the bodies in turn, maybe by trying out friends cameras or at a shop. Don’t listen to the salesperson who will convince you that one brand is superior over another! Personally, I was attracted to Nikon after trying my brothers D80, preferring Nikon’s ergonomics and ease of use over Canon’s systems. Another thing to note is that Sony’s system tends to be more expensive for equivalents from Canon or Nikon. I’m neutral on Canon.

My recommendations around the RM2000 range would be the Nikon D60 or Canon EOS 1000D, both of which are available as kits with a 18-55mm stabilized lens. One step up would be the Nikon D90 or Canon EOS 50D, which are around RM2000 more expensive, but have considerably more leeway and better kit lenses. Note that the D60 is currently end of life and is being replaced by the Nikon D3000, which is a minor upgrade.

The new Nikon D3000

Although the SLR bodies may be similar, but the series of lenses and accessories are what you will be buying into.The lenses are of primary interest, because they will be the largest determinant in your images (other than skill), and provide flexibility to what you pictures you can take. Lenses of shorter focal lengths have a wider view, whilst for longer focal lengths the opposite applies. Different types of lenses serve different purposes. There are wide angle lenses which can give a 100 degree field of view, telephoto lenses which can show things clearly kilometers away, lenses which allow photography without distortion and without flash and night and more. The first lens you will get to use is your kit lens, which is usually sufficient for most of which you will take. I will, another time, discuss what sort of lenses you should be getting after you’ve found out what you like shooting!

Although cost of entry to the hobby is somewhat affordable, it can quickly become a major expense as lenses can cost upwards of RM3000 and other accessories like flash units up to RM2000.

Remember, you’re getting a dSLR to expand the ways you can make pictures, so learn as much as you can from different sources about the ways to use your new camera to the limit! A dSLR is wasted when shot in auto, so make the best of it.