Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus, Pentax - I've used them all. And all the current entry-level DSLRs blow away everything that was available a few years ago. I do like built-in image stabilization. And if that's something you want, Sony isn't the only game in town. Olympus and Pentax also offer it. And like SmartWombat said, Canon and Nikon are both offering image-stabilized kit lenses with their newest entry-level DSLRs (Canon XSi / 450D and Nikon D60). Take a look at the Olympus E-510 and the Pentax K200D if you want an alternative to the Sony. I don't think you can go wrong with any current camera. Like SmartWombat said (again) it's more about the system you're buying into than the camera itself.