I use a Canon EOS 300D and Canon EOS 20D with a 17-85mm efs lens and a 300mm efs lens. Film camera is a Canon 30.
The price of high end cameras can get quite pricey at times but camera tech i continuosly increasing. My 20D (newist version of 20D is 30D)is far better than the 300D (newer version of 300D is 400D) but i have taken a lot of good photos with the 300 still, even better with the 17-85mm efs lens (makes a big difference).
I guess what im trying to say is that even a second hand 300D with a decent lens can take awsome shots. And second hand 300's are cheap as now days