The Sony A3000 is now around $350 most places and comes with a kit lens. If I add two filters I am still under $400. Could this be the camera to buy if I want something better than a point and shoot. Check out the review below-they like the camera.
This does seem like a stock photographer's dream from an image quality versus price perspective. However, once you start using the low res viewfinder I think it will be lacking on the overall experience... Still, it should be a good jump up in image quality from a P&S, getting you into a good system without much of a price hit up front!