I use this site to get information about video cards and CPU's, and I trusted in the information provided here, but this article changed my mind.
I read a lot of information about dSLR cameras, and this is the worst article that I read!
1. The camera dust reduction method aren't very effective. In fact, some dust reduction systems increased the amount of dust in the sensor according to some tests. That's why a lot of semi and pro dSLR cameras doesn't have dust reduction systems, and Nikon refused to introduce this kind of system in the entry-level dSLR until the D60.
2. In my opinion, the most important characteristcs of a dSLR camera is the low noise on high ISO without destructive noise reduction (that means a big sensor with a crop factor of 1.6x or bigger), the interchangeable lens and the optical Trought-The-Lens (TTL) viewfinder (not electronic, please).
3. A bigger zoom means a lot of optical distortion. That's why prime lens (fixed focal length) have a better image quality than zoom lens. And the zoom doesn't mean anything if the focal length isn't provided: a 15-45mm lens is very different from a 80-240mm, but both lens have a 3x zoom.
4. If you want to make movies, don't buy dSLR!
5. If you want a non-dSLR ultra-zoom, the best is the Panasonic FZ18, with 18x optical zoom (28-504mm) and low optical distortion. But like the others very-small-sensor cameras, the high-ISO performace is very bad.
6. If you really want to buy a entry-level dSRL with a lens kit:
Sony has a bad high-ISO performance
- Canon don't have the best high-ISO performance, but it have the most sharp image (low noise reduction) and a lot of good lens.
- Nikon uses the Sony sensor and have a smooth image (high noise reduction) and the body are too small, but it has the best flash metering and the very cheap 55-200mm VR lens.
- Panasonic/Samsung have the best anti-dust reduction system.
- Pentax provides more features (like shake-reduction in the sensor and a weather sealed body), but we don't know about the future of this brand.