As I've mentioned, buying a camera, and especially an SLR, is an investment into a brand. You're locking yourself in, so make sure you've done your homework.

A good brand of SLR is going to offer not only a great camera, but a range of lenses and accessories that make the camera versatile. There are brands with great reputations and long histories in photography.

Once you've settled on a brand, most SLR cameras break down into the following four groups.

Entry-Level SLR Cameras - Amateur

These cameras are perfect for the beginning photographer, but in the right hands also provides images of professional caliber. They're perfect cameras for learning photography.

Before buying an entry-level SLR, look for a manual exposure mode as well as the ability to shoot in RAW format. Also, make sure there is minimal shutter lag. For serious photography you need the camera to fire immediately when you push the shutter button.

You're going to find that the sensor in an entry-level SLR is a little smaller than a 35mm film negative. As we've said in "Digital Sensors Small and Large" this means your camera will be cropping in on your lens. This will be more of a problem with wide angle lenses. For more on that, go to the "Lenses" webinar.

Compared to higher-priced cameras, these might not be as rugged. But that's okay for a first camera. It's not until your second or third camera that you'll realize it's okay to bang it a round a little.

The pop-up flash on most of these cameras is convenient, but don't expect to make serious photos with it. Expect to need a more powerful flash soon.

These cameras are often available in package deals with a zoom lens. While these are often well-priced deals, keep in mind that the lenses packaged with these cameras is often a low-end model. Not a bad thing if you're starting out, but you will definitely outgrow most of these "package" lenses.

Mid-Level SLR Cameras - Amateur

Your mid-level SLR cameras are basically smarter versions of entry-level SLR's. You're usually paying a little more for a faster response, quicker autofocus, and the ability to shoot more photos in a row without waiting for the camera to process them.

Some brands offer a fast mid-level and also a slower mid-level that shoots more megapixels. If you're interested in sports photography get the faster camera.

Professional SLR Cameras - High Speed / High Quality

The professional camera market seems to have broken down into two directions - extreme speed and extreme quality. Both types are priced beyond the reach of most amateurs.

And while you're going to drool over the quality, speed, and features of these high-end professional models, never forget that for the same price as one of these camera bodies you could outfit yourself with a nice mid-level camera and a wide range of lenses.

Of course, if you've got the photography bug, you're not going to be thinking rationally when it comes to spending money.

A high-speed professional camera capable of 8-10 frames per second is going to increase your odds of great photographs considerably when it comes to action and sports photography.

A high-quality professional camera capable of 14 megapixels and up is going to allow your work to stand out from the herd, especially when printed in large sizes.