Hi all. I've been browsing through these boards for a while now, as well as buying mags, researching websites etc. I'm a 'newbie' with the SLR world (have always loved photography, but only with my Cannon Ixus point n shoot at the moment), but want to get involved and buy myself something with a bonus I recently got from work. Now I was originally going to be spending 600/700 for this, however all my research really does keep on pointing me to to the Pentax K20D. It feels right(handled one in jessops), seems to do everything to a high quality, and just seems to fit the bill.... it's obviously is a little bit more than my initial budget but can stretch to it.

Question is, is it too much for a first timer?

I want to be 'ahead of the curve' and get a recent and new camera, but will the functionality scare me off? Am intending to get some books and self-teach myself, with the view to doing a course when they start kicking off terms in a couple of months.

Thoughts would be much appreciated!