donutrun wrote:something like 10 megapixels,
amazingly fast focus, shutter response, and card writing (as action sports are my first love),
the ability to shoot macro (as bug pics are a close second),
a hotshoe for an external tiltable flash (I like bouncing the light in the few people photos I take)
image stabilization (as my hands shake), not sure if its better in lens or in camera,
I actually like something with some weight to it (so it doesn't feel like a toy) ...
SInce you're at ground zero, look at the D80, The D300. Look at the EOS line, the Canon 5D. Note that you are looking at 1.5 and 1.6 crop factor or DX sized sensors. Look at the features, the ergonomics, the menus, the location of resets, and of presets for function you will want to use regularly. Find someone who will walk you through the menus if necessary. Then look at the relative cost of the glass you will want to buy over the next couple of years. If you stay with DX sized sensors you will need to be aware of how they affect the imaging characteristics of the various lenses you consider. In a nutshell you get 1.5x magnification over the lenses stated size, a 100mm becomes a 150mm, and some wide angles don't work so well. Again find someone who will take the time to explain this while you shop. This may be the real clincher if you can't decide between Nikon or Canon or whatever. Once you hit the DSLR range Image Stabilization or Vibration Reduction (in Nikonese) is in he lenses not the camera body, so that's no longer a factor. All DSLRs will have a shoe mount, you will want to have a basic understanding of the flash system for the two bodies you end up choosing between. Write speed is a non issue as far as I am aware because all of your choices will have a buffer... You may want to look into which of your finalists has the bigger write buffer. On the subject of presets, I believe the D80's are loaded with exposure presets, and such. You may need to go one step higher to get away from "sports", "landscape", "portrait" type presets, again I'm not 100% on this. Finally the shutter lag mythology becomes just that, since you will be using the half down position on the shutter release to fire up the AF and metering. There is a fair amount to absorb as you search for the camera body that will do what you want, and this is where you will likely benefit from a trip to a real camera store or two. Finally be aware there are a few lenses that will not auto focus with the low end DSLR's, because the lens does not have an AF motor and relies on the body to do the AF. At the low end a couple of Nikon bodys do not have an AF motor either and thus rely on the lens to drive AF. This only affects a very few lenses/bodies. I do not off the top of my head remember if the D80 is one of these.
Now for my personal insight, the EOS line all felt like toys. I didn't have access to a 5d, but it's supposed to take great photos. I ended up choosing a Nikon D200. The D300 was released 5 months later. Do I wish I'd waited? nope. I'm shooting and making images that I like so it's all good.