Have you checked out the DPReview forums? Here's the link:
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/ These message boards are a very useful tool, since the people dicussing the cameras are using them, not trying to sell them.
My first real camera (non-digital) was a Pentax P3, and it was a really good camera, so I trust the brand. I've never owned a Cannon, but that doesn't mean it's bad, my printer is by Cannon and I like it. What it comes down to is what you want with a camera. Out of the two, I would choose the Pentax because it seems to do a lot more, and I'm not interested in a point and shoot camera. However, a lot of the modes the Pentax uses are things that can be done to a photo later in Paint Shop or PhotoShop. The other reason I would pick the Pentax over the Cannon is because of the zoom. But then, I'm a zoom snob and my current camera (Olympus 2100uz) has 10X optical zoom (with image stabilization).
Heidi
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zoom zoom...