You'll get some advantages, but many disadvantages with the SLR. Namely, price. to get a lens that matches your average point and shoot will be another $100-$300 on top of your body purchase..

I don't think I could do what I want with an SLR for less than $1000(Used 350/xti and 70-300 IS).'Be right, fearless, faithfull, and true to others...'T.S. Elliott..

I guess it all depends on what you really want from a camera. Many P&S cams have a much longer zoom range, much better standard closeup ability and are generally easy to use with very low maintenance and not much need for expansion. You have the advantages of small size, live view and low weight..

A DSLR on the other hand has flexibility out the ying-yang.. for a price. Much better low light performance, operating speed and the ability to take you way beyond the average P&S in terms of lens quality, image quality, flash quality/power and shooting options. You will, of course, incur much higher costs as you inevitably expand your system. There will be more maintenance with cleaning. Inconvenience of lens swapping and much added weight and bulk..

If you feel that the P&S is limiting your creativity or flexibility in some way and don't mind the drawbacks of DSLR then it's an easy choice. Many are quite content with a good P&S camera, and some are very good indeed for their intended market. A DSLR will give you options that you wouldn't otherwise have, what it wont do is make you a better photographer. I love my DSLR and like my P&S. Personally I wouldn't want to go back to using my Sony cybershot exclusively, the DSLR is just way more fun to use and gives me options the P&S can't..

As long as the older DSLR is a decent one in good working order I wouldn't hesitate, but it will mean more money vanishing when you start to buy more lenses and a flash and.... yes, you will. Trust me on this Gary..

I simply don't trust buying used complex items such as DSLRs sight unseen and that's what your doing on ebay. My answer is therefore NO. Use your Z712 and save for a new DSLR...

First: a D-SLR will encourage you to explore photography and photograpic techniques much more than any P&S will ever do. A D-SLR will force you to get more involved with the way you take pictures, in that way it cn make you a better photographer..

In general, I would not have a problem with buying a used D-SLR. However, eBay would not be my first choice unless you are dealing wit a seller 1) with a very good reputation and 2) that lives near enough to you to have a hands on look at the camera before closing the deal. I would never buy a D-SLR camera unseen, it's just to much of a risk for the considerable amount of money you are spending..

As for extra costs for lenses: of course you will want to expand the range of lenses you have with your camera, but you can get good used lenses for not that much money. There's no need to go for high end professional lenses (say: Canon L-models) right from the start..

There's no problem so big that you can't run away from it!..

I would be a bit hesitant to buy a used DSLR on E-bay. From a reputable store, I could see buying nothing less than a 20D if it were a Canon. Even then, I would be looking at some of the new alternatives...

What's your budget?.

Good Day,Roonal.

'Money doesn't buy happiness, but it makes for an extravagant depression' by golf tournament sportscaster..

A year ago in July 2006 the Pentax *ist DL with 18-55mm kit lens was available for $367 after rebate -AND- HP was offering a $100 rebate on the HP Photosmart 8250 photo printer available from Staples at the time for $100 or FREE after rebate (must purchase any digital camera any time in July 2006 separately or together for $299 or more to quality for rebate)..

That was a DSLR body PLUS a nice kit lens PLUS a nice photo printer for $367 shipped. A bunch of folks on the Pentax SLR Talk forum took advantage of those deals last year, myself included..

If that wasn't enough, Pentax currently offers a $125 rebate on the combined purchase of a K100D and a Pentax flash. The K100D body just happens to cost new $125 more than what a used DL body sells for on eBay. So, if you bought a DL last year, you could add a Pentax flash and upgrade your year-old DSLR to the newer K100D (new 11-point AF module and in-camera image stabilization) for the cost of the flash alone. I know because I just did it..

The best DSLR bargain anywhere currently is the Pentax K100D plus DA18-55mm kit lens plus DA50-200mm lens qualifying for a USA only rebate of $150 (current rebate offer expires 7-31-07). Unfortunately, so many people have taken advantage of this offer that the DA50-200mm lens is out of stock almost everywhere..

Http://www.pentaximaging.com/purchase/rebates_offers/.

Group Captain Mandrake: 'I was tortured by the Japanese, Jack, if you must know; not a pretty story....Strange thing is they make such bloody good cameras.' (Dr. Strangelove, 1964)..

If you want the camera to take better photos for you, then DSLR will do just the opposite. It's not any smarter than a point & shoot..

However, if you need some of the capabilities that the DSLR allows, then you'll love it. Even an older generation one (like the Canon 300D) will provide all of these options that you can't get in a piont & shoot:.

Less focus lag. More light sentitivity for shooting in low light.

The ability to switch lens. This mean I can buy an F1.2 lens if I want to, or an 800mm lens if I want to (provided I have the money .

Optical view finder is much better than the resolution-limited electronic view finder.

Very fast shutter speed of 1/4000s to 1/8000s, or very long shutter (bulb mode). Less depth of field for subject issolation.

Better ergonomics for demmanding shooting conditions. For example, you can change aperture, shutter speed, and focus points very quickly without fiddling through the menu..

What you'll lose are:. Portability.

Compose by LCD screen (except for some limited capbilities in Olympus and others). Movie mode..