If your budget is 1000$ and will not be higher in the next years, than buy the Minolta which really is a great camera. No use in buying a SLR without some lenses. If you may have additional money available soon, than buy your Digital Rebel which is the better (read as "more versatile and better pics") camera (using this one myself) and she's not limited to one lens as the Minolta is. But do never forget: the "cheap" 300D-body will need at least the same amount of money for lenses to be really useful. Especially in your case, where focal lenght is a matter to worry about. (If there's even more money to spend, the Nikon would be no bad choice to, but she should be compared to the 10D, not the 300D) F828: don't believe all those fanboys "blahblah". If (ever) this cam will be available, we'll see, what she is able to to. Prior to that, i don't even read reviews. ;)