everyone needs:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0702/07...s1dmarkiii.asp
and nothing less..
the issue with going the SLR route, you want to get the best purchase for your money, but the SLR is only as good as the patients and understanding of the photographer, as well as the future investments you will make. Odds are it will need a better lens, something for landscapes and something for portraits...that can be expensive as well, so its really a long term investment
but having the control of aperture and shutter speed with no limitations is much nicer than having a point and shoot tell me I cant do something...