Rick - If you haven't had a DSLR camera before you might want to start with the popular base model and use it for a while to see if the DSLR lifestyle works for you. Many people are not committed to the DSLR benefits enough to be willing pack that big of a camera and the associated gear. If you get hooked you can sell the base model or add a couple of lenses and as the learning curve improves buy a serious camera body. You could also keep the base model body for a backup.
