When you buy a dSLR you aren't buying a camera you are buying a
system.  Look at Canon and Nikon and see which as the system which
will most fit your shooting style and the directions you want to go.

One big plus for Canon it provides a path to a full frame sensor which
all it's EF lens will work with unlike Nikon which only offers a 1.5
cropped sensor.  

ever popular delay when I push the plunger and it takes the pic when it gets
around to it. I want a DSLR for the speed, like so many others. I have
narrowed my search down to a Canon or Nikon. I really would like an EOS 30D
but have to save up for it. I like the upgrades and the 2.5" screen.
However, would I be happy starting with an XT or a D50? Will I see a big
jump in response over what I am using or should I hold out for the 30D or
D70s?

Speaking strictly personally here, I think that people who are serious about
their photography need to have a lens budget thats at least equal to the
camera budget - if not twice the camera budget.

The 350D is a great camera - as is the 30D - but it's the lens that's going
to make or break the shot. Both come with a kit lens that many here will
argue is "just fine" - others (such as myself) feel that the kit lens is a
useless hunk of junk - either way you're eventually (probably) going to feel
the need for additional lenses.

If that's the camera body you want and you have good reasons to get it,
then you should continue to save up for it.

There is little sense in buying something to satiate your desires just
so you can go out and get what you want later - it's a financial loss
that just doesn't make sense.

You have to work within your budget, and if that means waiting several
more months, you should do that.

I have no idea what you want, so I can't answer the question.

Do you have more info about your needs?
Shooting style?
Specific subjects?
Anything...?

It's easy to recommend a camera...but what I want and what you want may
not be the same thing.

I just bought a D2H for under $800 with a 28-85mm lens. It offers me
everything I need in digital photography and what I really like about it
is that I can use all my old manual focus nikkors with full metering
capability.

I'm not a bit fan of the Canon consumer-line of cameras, but that's not
to say they aren't any good. I have been shooting with a D70 for the
past 20 months and its a great camera, made all that much cheaper and
more accessible on the used market since the advent of the D200.

If you've got any accessories - flash, remote cord, etc - think about
grabbing a secondhand Konica Minolta 5D when the Sony Alpha 100 hits the
streets. I would imagine a good number of 5Ds will be sold for around
$350. All the accessories except the battery are A200 compatible - the
software if you own Dimage Master, the CF slot (the Nikon D50 does not
take CF cards so would not be a top choice for you), the .MRW raw
format, the mains adaptor if you have one. It's a pity the A200 dropped
the big NP400 battery used by the A1 and A2, and also by the 7D and 5D,
as having one battery type for three cameras has been a big help for us.

You may miss the anti-shake function of the A200 more than you think, so
a used KM 5D would be a good follow up.

David