Best DSLR Camera for beginner? (looking for certain things)

[arcsbite]

not sure if this is the right place to ask...
I'm looking to upgrade to my first DSLR Camera, up till now I've been using an Olympus C770 ultra zoom (4mpx 10x optical zoom)
I use my camera mainly for holiday's but I also use it a lot at music concerts so the optical zoom on mine is great but the quality is getting a little old.
any recommendations? I'm not wanting to spend more than £300-£400 in total ($500-$700)
the most important things to me are -
- speed of start up (my current camera takes forever)
- shutter speed (unsure what DSLR's are like but there's an awful lag on mine...no good for concerts)
- zoom (like I said, I'm used to a 10x optical on mine so I'd like some zoom on my new one)


any advice on what to look for, or what to avoid would be great

 

[xfiftyfour]

No need to duplicate threads in different places. That just clutters the forums.

 

[arcsbite]

No need to duplicate threads in different places. That just clutters the forums.

so does pointless replies.

 

[smueboy]

how about posting ONE thread in here and people may help you.

 

[xfiftyfour]

so does pointless replies.

Def. not pointless - if you won't read the rules yourself, someone has to point them out.

 

[arcsbite]

how about posting ONE thread in here and people may help you.

I didn't know we had a photography forum.....serves me right for never leaving the comfort of mac-central!

thanks


Mod - please remove this thread, I can't see "delete" in the edit section