Professional camera under 600 dollars?

I'm looking for a small camera, that takes great photos with stunning image quality, for under 600.
I fell in love with the Nikon D550 but can't afford it sadly D: so I was wondering what some cheaper alternatives to that would be.

All I need is HD video, burst photos, and a professional lens that has GREAT IMAGE QUALITY. Image quality is really all I care about, all my other digital cameras take ugly pictures and I really just need a camera that takes professional photos, that look like real life.

Preferably I would want a small-sized camera, that I can fit nicely in my hand, but it doesn't matter.

You could get a body like a Canon 550D (Rebel T2i) or Nikon D3100 for that price. But a lens to give you "great" image quality will cost about $1, 000 and upwards.

I have just bought a second hand Sony NEX-3 off eBay… Was only £240 ($390) RRP: £400ish ($600ish)

14 Mega-Pixel, DSLR sensor, 720p video, burst capture, interchangeable lenses and compact.

I would recommend it but have a look on youtube e.t.c for unbiased reviews and hands-on stuff.

Since you "need" HD video, your only alternative is the $700 Nikon D3100 or $900 Canon 550D

I have no idea why you need "burst" photos. Are you planning on making animated videos from them?

As a sports shooter, I can tell you that catching the action has to do with timing, the knowledge of the sport and even the plays certain teams can be expected to execute.

The fastest I shoot any sport (football) is at a shooting rate of about three shots in five seconds. It is bad enough that I fill two 4 gb cards (shooting RAW + JPEG. About 135 shots per card) during a complete game without shooting in the burst mode. I can't imagine how many cards that would fill.

I spend about as much time in post as I do shooting an event. That is plenty of time to process RAW images and post them to my website. Shooting 150 to 250 shots per game is plenty and when I edit them (sort), I usually come up with about 50 keepers. This is mainly because just about the time I press the shutter release, an official or other player steps into my shot, spoiling it.

Photoace, the T3i is $899.00, the T2i is only $799.00. Let's keep everything accurate.

You should buy Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera
*12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor
*Outfit includes the 3x AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens with image stabilization
*D-Movie Mode with sound; record 720p HD movie clips
*Vari-angle color 2.7-inch LCD monitor; one-button Live View