I have a Minolta 400SI. I love it!!
I only have experience with Minolta, but I have found it to be a great camera, with plenty of features, and easy to use.
I also have:
28-35mm lens(Minolta)
100-300mm lens with Macro @ 300mm(Sigma)
170-500mm lens(Sigma)
SLR cameras are excellent for those who want more freedom. Digitals are good, if you want to edit your photos on your computer, but to take a picture "as-is" definitely go with SLR.
If I had to do over again, I would get what they call "Medium Format". Those are the camera\'s that the proffesionals use, you know the ones where they hold down the shutter button and it rifles off shot after shot without pausing.
The SLR can do multiple shots also, but no nearly as quick.
The 500mm lens I have is freaking AWESOME for wildlife. You can be 100yards away and take a photo like you were right next to em\'. Spendy though, my 500mm cost $600:eek:
.....great for "survelance" shots too:)
As far as research. Go get some photography mag\'s they\'re always running comparison articles.