I would normally recommend you get the camera with the best lens you can find in your budget, of course. But digital cameras have put another parameter into this. The CCD sensors and the software built into the cameras play a big part in camera selection now. Also the ease of use. Some cameras have so many features, you need a computer science degree to know how to take advantage of them all.
Canons are generally decent value for money. I've taken some pictures with Canon EOS 10D slr and have been quite please with them. However, with all those megapixels, you also need computer space to store all those pictures.
As time marches on, you'll probably find better pricing on digital cameras as the technology matures. I'm still waiting for the price of a Leaf-Aptus to come down....