[Dabhand16]

I don't think that you can generalise the costs between Canon and Nikon like this. The Canon 40D can be bought for about £700 whereas the Nikon D300 is £1300. The Nikon D200 with a kit lens will also be dearer, and most likely will be discontinued when it will come down in price. The D80 will not be a fair comparison with a 40D.

When looking at different makes for 'equivalence' it is not so easy because each camera will have one feature or another that might sway you if it is important enough.

If you are going to look mostly at Nikon and Canon, you could start with the D80/D200 and the 30D/40D.

These cameras may well have features you will not use from the start, but that goes for pretty much everything we buy from DVD player/recorders, kitchen gadgets/appliancies to mobile phones.

Concentrate on how the camera feels and how easy it is to change the settings. Both makes have extensive systems and support from third party manufacturers. Try to get a lens that covers the 18-70 or 18 - 85 range to complement the body of your choice and you will be set up.

You might want to consider a good used camera to try out if you don't want to invest too much in the first instance. Nikon D50/D70 or Canon 20D/30D might be worth a look. A good Nikon D70 with a 18-70 lens can be got for about £300 - £330 for instance.