http://www.amazon.com/

http://www.adorama.com/

"Which one is better?" — I’ll have to say the Nikon D300 is better. It has faster auto-focus, significantly higher resolution screen, better image quality, much more lenses available, significantly more cross-type focus points, weather sealed, significantly more dynamic range, significantly larger sensor, more focus points, better color depth, has an optical viewfinder, shoots slightly faster and has faster max shutter speed. The disadvantages i see here is it doesn’t shoot movies and is more expensive compared to the Lumix G3.

I found this link where you can read the user review for Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera:

http://www.amazon.com/review/R35ZMUOTC2BREU/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R35ZMUOTC2BREU&tag=famavca-20

You can buy it online from this link below:

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-D300-12-3MP-Digital-Camera/dp/B000VJX7DW/ref=cm_rdp_product&tag=famavca-20

But since you seem concerned about the video feature, i’d say you should go with Panasonic Lumix G3. I found a link where you can read a user review for it:

http://www.amazon.com/review/R1HUNASKHD51MO/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R1HUNASKHD51MO&tag=famavca-20

I also found a link where you can buy it:

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Four-Thirds-Interchangeable-Free-Angle-Touch-Screen/dp/B005058BTW/ref=cm_rdp_product&tag=famavca-20

I hope this helps you make your choice.

The d3100 and the d3000 are pretty similar. The d3100 is a bit newer and can also take HD video. The d3100 is the d3000’s slightly "older brother." Not a big difference between the two. The largest difference is the video.

I would personally recommend the d5000 or the d90. They have both been discontinued but you can still buy them. The d90 is considered a semi-pro camera, while the d3000, d3100, and d5000 are entry-level cameras. You can get the d90 for about $900 with a kit lens, which is a very reasonable price for all it can do. The d5000 runs for about $650, I believe.

Thanks.

I am still using Nikon lenses from the 70’s with my Nikon digitals. So probably yes you can use them with Nikon DSLR. Non-AI, Pre-AI (also called NAI are the original Nikon F bayonet lens mount and lenses introduced in 1959 for the Nikon F camera) will not mount on some DSLR. On others it may mount but not meter. On AI converted lenes it will mount but may not meter on all Nikon DSLR. An AI ( circa 1977) lens will work.You may not be able to use all the functions with the lens depending on what series lens it is, some Nikon DSLR do not have autofocus motors in the body.. . AF, AF-D, AF-S, AF-I, VR and G will work ( AF and AF-D will not auto-focus on D-40s or D-60s)
There is a really good chart on lens compatability here

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm

You wouldn’t be able to use lenses from an EOS digital SLR on an EOS film SLR, though… they are EF-S lenses and have an extra piece that the EF mount doesn’t have.

I’ve included a few links in the sources, the second link gives you some great information about the Digital Rebel set of Cameras, and they are highly recommended and surpass the competitors in quality, and are easy enough for beginner hobbyists and even if you want to go pro they can meet your needs.

I love my Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, and it loves me.

Good luck on your camera quest! Photography is wonderful.

If your film camera is an auto-focus EOS then these used EF lenses which will fit and work on any Canon digital SLR.

The above only applies to Canon manufactured lenses.
If you have older Sigma lenses for your EOS film camera they will not work on a digital SLR. The electronics are incompatible so they will give "Error 99 (?) lens error" if you try to use them at anything other than full aperture. Some can be rechipped but most cannot. I found this out the hard way when I bought a cheap 2nd hand Sigma lens for my EOS450D.
Based on this experience, other older non Canon manufactured lenses may also physically mount onto a Canon digital SLR but may not be electronically compatible.

There is an other maker of "professional" cameras and its "intermediate" camera is the D7000

Here is how the sensors of those two cameras compare. You may want to take some time and visit a camera store to hold both of them in your hands to see which you really want

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Camera-Sensor/Compare/Compare-sensors/(appareil1)/680%7C0/(appareil2)/663%7C0/(onglet)/0/(brand)/Nikon/(brand2)/Canon

If you are at all interested in shooting in low light, you can see which is the better choice