I guess before jumping into what DSLR should I get, the first question should be am I trying to capture images that a P&S with full manual mode just flat out cannot do? When you say professional looking photo, what does it mean? Different professional photographers had different needs, sport photog will need high frame rate, fast focus body with the fastest glass they can get . Studio, wedding photogs just need good portrait lens but might spend half their budget on lighting (strobe, softboxes, flash).