It is very common for people to think that the better the camera the better the pictures are going to be that come from it but that truly isn't the case.
If you by a $1000 camera but use it like a $400 camera then you have a $400 camera that you spent $1000 on.

What do I mean. It's simple. IF you can't/don't shoot in manual mode than you don't need anything more than a point and shoot camera DSLRs are a waste of your money. If you don't know how to set up a shot or how to get good lighting and you have no desire to learn how too then you are literally pouring your money down the drain in purchasing a DSLR. Now if you are going to argue Megapixel then read this post first and come back and finish reading this......now that your back you'll understand that megapixel don't make a good argument. What makes I good picture is you, Not your camera. I know this is hard to hear but it's the truth. So before you go out and spend a whole lot of money on a new camera ask yourself "What are you going to do with it?" and if your answer is that you just want a good camera that will take nice pictures then go check out a point and shoot and save yourself a whole heck of a lot of money. But if you want a camera that you set the setting and change the lens and manipulate the depth of field and so and so on then and only then should you fork up the cash for a DSLR.

Do not! I repeat with all of my heart to not buy a camera you aren't going to use because let me tell you something cameras want to be used. they want to become dirty and worn down and they want to take a beating and be abused this is what their dirty little minds want from us and if that doesn't sound like something your ready for then step back buy a point and shoot and go from there,

Because it's not the camera that makes the picture. It's you.