I am glad you enjoyed it so much.

I use a Nikon d700. I don't know how much you know about higher end cameras, but they come in two varieties: full 35mm frame (which mine is), and cropped frame (nikon calls this DX). DX cameras are less expensive, but they only see 3/4 of what a regular lens shows. This is actually good if you are into telephoto because it makes a 300mm lens into a 450mm lens, but if you like wide angle (as i do) you lose. it changes a 20mm into a 30mm.

I prefer nikon to canon because nikons are more user friendly and they have better lenses in the range i use. however, canons are very good and if you are planning on doing wide angle, you can get a full frame canon 5D used for like $1000. my camera is $2500.

With all that said, i would start simple so you don't get overwhelmed trying to learn too much at once.

Nikon's newest entry level camera is the d3000. it comes with a good zoom lens, is 10 mega pixels, and is $600. it is a DX, but nikon also just released a wide DX lens (10-24mm) that compensates for the wide angle problem so starting this way gives you great flexibility for the money.

hope this helps. let me know what you decide on and if you have any more questions.

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Life is for the Living