Summerwind,

dont get confused. The Canon 1000d is also known as the Rebel XS. It is typical for these companies to name their models different for different countries and continents. It is an entry level DSLR on the same lines as the 400d /450d excep it has 10mp, 7point AF, and LiveView (the 400d has 12mp, 9point AF, no liveview).

The FZ38/FZ35 isint your traditional P&S. You can look at the review of the same on the dpreview site also. Been there, done that (I mean looking at all the reviews, did it for nearly two weeks or more).

With regards to progressing in photography, yes, the DSLR will help me in that. But I have two reservations: 1) It takes a lot of time for learning how to use a DSLR properly (we have a hard work culture in India and it is difficult to find much time to do anything else, atleast on weekdays) 2) For a DSLR, you need to carry atleast 3 lenses: general (28-55), macro and zoom and additionally, it can do video- the 1000d (The FZ35/38 does 1280x720 or 720p at 30fps). That in addition to the airplane, all the tools and fuel. Seeing I dont have a vehicle of my own just yet (we car-pool to the field) and the immense cost of those lenses, DSLRs are best left to another day in the future (by which time I will get bored with this one just as I have got bored with the Sony W30 P&S 6MP camera I had so far). By the way, the 7D costs nearly twice that much, atleast here and that is withoit any lenses.

Try this link from the same site

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q110...roup/page8.asp

Ameyam