Camera Labs

I couldn't agree more. Taking my budget and the features I wanted into account, I narrowed my options down to either the 550D or the D5000 and the moment I held both cameras, the 550D felt far more natural in my hand and that sealed the deal for me to get it.

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Bodies: Canon EOS 550D w/ Magic Lantern
Lenses: Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX f/2.8, Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Accessories: YongNuo Speedlite YN-468 Flash, Neewer Macro LED Ring Light, Meike Battery Grip, YongNuo RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger & Receiver YongNuo WR-128 Wireless Remote Control

For me, direct access buttons are more than just dedicating the direction buttons on the navigation set to four commonly used functions. The more expensive a camera gets, the easier it is to access common features such as auto-bracketing, etc.

Most all cameras have some direct access buttons beyond the navigation buttons - so I would agree that it is arguable that this is becoming less of a mid-range camera thing. FPS speed, on the other hand, is still quite different when you go from what I see as entry level to mid-range -- as noted in my previous entry. One thing that is definite -- and that is that more expensive cameras have better viewfinders -- ie. tend to be larger and cover more of the actual picture -- the new D7000 is a 100% viewfinder if memory services me correctly. Entry level cameras are still not really there from the viewfinder perspective, imo.

At the end of the day -- whether a camera is mid or entry level is probably less important to the OP - so long as it feels right in the hand, and has all the features one is after - and fits within their budget. It may be you can get all you want in an "entry-level" or you may need to go to a higher price point/feature set to secure the features you are after.

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Olympus e-620 / 14-42mm / 40-150mm
Metz 48 AF-1
Kata 3-N-1 20, LowePro Orion Mini, LowePro Nova 2
My Flickr

Thanks for all the info guys it has been very valuable I have more or less settled on the Pentax kx which comes with 2 lenses an 18-55 & 55-300mm lense. I think that will satisfy my needs. I have had a hold of the camera & it feels right I don't have the biggest of hands & found both the Cannons & Nikons a little heavy. If any one has any last words of advice good, bad or indifferent before I hand over my bucks I would be very grateful.

Direct access or dedicated, it does exactly the same thing.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

What do you mean???

People seem to think that dedicated buttons are better. It doesn't make too much of a difference, really.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

I personally prefer more direct access buttons rather than fiddling with menus. If you have the key controls available on a dedicated button, you may find it easier to mess about with settings. ymmv.

BTW -- I think the Pentax is a good choice. But then, I also don't believe that there is currently a "bad" DSLR out there these days -- you just need to find the one that fits your needs, and -- most importantly -- feels best in your hands.

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Olympus e-620 / 14-42mm / 40-150mm
Metz 48 AF-1
Kata 3-N-1 20, LowePro Orion Mini, LowePro Nova 2
My Flickr