I would seriously NOT consider a digital SLR that is modelled on an older 35mm type camera. 35mm SLRs and their lenses were designed to get light onto a 35mm piece of film. For optimum quality, CCDs need light hitting them at 90 degrees in parrallel rays. Lenses designed for 35mm film cameras don't do this. Next generation cameras and lenses DO. Also the new digital lenses are of much higher resolution than film lenses. So when 40megapixel cameras come along the lenses will be up to the job.
Also because the CCD is much smaller than the film size, the lenses on a digital SLR are focusing on a smaller area, reducing their resolution further.
The current digital SLRs based on film SLRs are an intermediate "fix". They will be superseeded.
Read this for more info on next generation digital cameras
www.olympus-esystem.com/dea/technology/dl.html
www.olympus-esystem.com/dea/technology/index.html