[darren]

You could probably pick up a first-generation Canon Digital Rebel for not too much coin. It's not the most advanced camera (no RAW mode, for example) but it'll get you into the DSLR game for not too much. Lenses are the real killer anyway, and the body can always be upgraded later.

 

[darren]

I don't think you're going to find a DSLR in the $200 range. But if you weren't spending $300 on ink, you'd have more funds available for other stuff.

RAW mode is basically the raw output from the CCD, saved in an uncompressed data format (contrary to popular belief, there is no single ".raw" file format... it varies from one manufacturer to the next). You have to make sure your white balance is right when shooting in RAW mode, or you'll get disastrous results, but most pro photographers start with RAW images and do all their colour-correction, cropping, editing, etc. in post-production, using the most image data possible, then save down to whatever other file formats as needed. Not every camera or digital photo app supports RAW images.

Raw image format - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[darren]

I don't think you can get into DSLR photography for less than $450-$500 to start.

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/search/sss?query=Canon+digital+rebel&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max