Recommend a "pro-sumer" camera?

Posted by Sir Four at 11:35am Feb 3 '14
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I think I'd like to get a little more serious about taking quality pics, and while I love point and shoot cameras, their small sensors just struggle to capture really great shots in less than perfect conditions.

So I think I need to venture into the scary world of cameras with those big lenses that can be swapped out.

I don't want to spend too much, and I still care about ease of use. I don't want anything too bulky. Also, having a built-in flash is a must. Two options that stood out to me after searching around:

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera and DIGIC 4 Imaging with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

I understand this is a very popular entry-level DSLR camera, and at $509 it's certainly one of the cheapest. Any thoughts?

And this one:

Sony NEX-3NL/B Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera Kit (Black)

It's styled more like a point and shoot, and the price is great at $339. Thoughts?

Forgot to mention, the Sony has a big-ass sensor despite the lower price. This makes it a real bargain, I think.