Originally Posted by carleton

Do you want to learn how to make good photos or do you want to learn how to operate a DSLR?

To paraphrase Helmut Newton, [Newton points to his camera] "This? It's automatic." [points to his head] "The photo is made in here."

You have to imagine the photo in your head then use whatever camera you have to make it happen. There are MILLIONS of hacks with $10K worth of camera gear, lights, computers, and software that couldn't shoot their way out of a wet paper bag.

A DSLR with a full kit of lenses won't make you a good photographer. Understanding light and composition will.

Many of the great photos of the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, were taken with cameras FAR less sophisticated than the $100 point and shoots at every Target and Walmart.

Also, don't get caught up in megapixels. That's a red herring. I've had magazine covers with images that were shot with a 2.7MP camera.

The best camera to learn with is the cheapest one with a wide lens that can go full manual so you can control the light and depth of field. Something like a Canon G12.