Out Of Focus (OOF). Not a dig, just what I see when I look at that image.

I've shared the side lines at sporting events with "pro" photographers, and been alongside them at auto races, airshows, concerts and the like. It's taught me that the equipment is not the deciding factor in getting "the shot" with less than 2-5k in equipment I can sit there and get the shot while the guy next to me shooting photos at the same time will miss them, and I'll leave with his business card and offers for freelancing.

Ideally I'd say get a cheap P&S first, learn how to create photographs, then choose a lens system, then pick the body you're comfortable with (holding button layout meets your minimum needs and falls into your price range) and willing to sit there and read the whole 300page manual a few times to learn the ins and outs, then learn to create photos all over again.

If you decide to read through my advice thread, when Chows4us was still around he picked apart the process of purchasing a DSLR system as an investment in a little more detail, comparing the options out there as of a year and a half ago.

Most of us here that have taken the DSLR plunge, have a bias and reasons that tipped the scale for us, as individual choices and preferences. It would be unfair for us to instill those bias values when the OP is just stating that he (assumed) is looking for an all purpose camera.

Car:






Family:






Sporting:


Landscape:




I can say I've used both I chose the Canon route, they are clearly capable of recording the types of images the OP is interested in and *I* have been extremely happy with that choice. However that may or may not be the right choice for someone else.