Need to buy a amateur/professional level camera

OK so now there are many cameras SLR, DSLR, EOS etc. M confused which camera Nikon or canon or Sony etc should i buy. Have been using point & shoot camera for a very long time so now i need to upgrade amateur/professional level camera. As buying a amateur/professional level camera is once a lifetime thing so can't prefer buying a beginners level one now. My budget for the camera is 35000-40000 INR ( In dollars it would be around $627-718 approx).so kindly please suggest me a camera with preferred lenses if possible.

Indeed you should look at a DSLR, as high as you can get for your money. Nikon, Sony, and Canon are all top brands, each has its strong points and its quirks. I'm a Nikon user. At that price you won't get a true 'professional' level camera, but it will give you excellent image files and will likely give good service for many years. Don't forget that later you may want extra lenses, for your money you will only get one lens with the camera.

The best thing to do is visit an actual camera shop and try the different models within your budget to see which feels the best to you AND they can answer your questions about the cameras. I bought a Canon for its ergonomics/feel/menu and control layout and a fellow photog chose Nikon for the same reason… It is about personal preference.

You can go go to http://www.canon.co.in/business/web/salesnet or http://www.nikon.co.in/..._zones.xml to find the closest Canon or Nikon shops in India

About the only lens your budget will allow is the 18-55mm "kit" lens. The thing to remember is that you need money to cover an extra battery, memory cards, camera case, a USB memory card reader if your computer doesn't have one, and taxes (these can add another $200-$250 to the entry level camera price).

I noticed that you originally asked in the India section. You can buy a camera without paying taxes there, BUT you will not get a receipt by doing that. If you ever need to get warranty work, you will need a receipt.

Also, the very first thing you should do once you have bought the camera is to read the manual to see how to charge the battery. While the battery is charging, sit down and read the camera manual cover to cover to learn about it. Then, after the battery is charged and put in the camera, sit down and re-read the camera manual again and practice what the manual has taught you about using the camera and all of the different features and settings.