if its for professional photography use those SLR cameras. I personally like the Nikon brand b/c it offers pretty good features, easier to use, and lens lets in a lot of good light. Picks up the colors well.

For a daily, I would recommend getting a camera with a rechargeable battery only b/c its response time is quicker than the cameras using AA batteries. Typically the AA run cameras run around $200 or less. One level up and you pay around $300-500 for a decent camera and I would look at this price range.

Canon, in particular the Canon PowerShot A620, can offer you more bang for your buck.