Replying to Looking for a camera for entering photography

Im looking to buy a camera for just getting into photography, skiing and general. this is NOT going to be the camera that i take up with me on the hill daily, i have a gopro for that. video would be nice as well.

i was looking at the sony nex 5 or nex 3, looks like a point and shoot body with interchangeable lenses and some dlsr features, plus hd video. and its compact too. any thought on that?

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1) What is your budget? How much money can you spend right away, and do you think you can get more money to invest in the future? $500, but im willing to go over that if its really worth it. yes i can invest more later.

2) What experience do you already have with cameras? Have you ever even used one before? Have you helped your friend out with his camera? Have you owned your own? video: filmed with a casio ex fc 100 last season. use familt camcorder for films, so i know how to adjust white balence and apeture and the like. take high school film class. photo: can use a basic camera, never worked with interchangable lenses and such.

2) What gear, if any, do you currently have? (tripod, old camera lenses, mics, etc) cheap tripod that does the job, family camcorder, gopro hd, used to own a casio ex fc 100, but it broke.

4) What are you planning to shoot and how do you want to use your camera? Are you going to use this with the sole purpose of shooting skiing? or do you think you might try other stuff as well (movies, documentaries, short films, etc) shooting skiing, occasionally filming skiing, general photography

5) Do you want a camera that you can hand to your friends, that could or could not have film experience, and let them shoot you? or will you be doing all the filming? giving it to my friends would be nice, but its not a huge priority

6) When filming skiing, how do you tend to shoot? (follow cams, leave it on record on a tripod and hike, film from a tripod, etc) just holding and shooting, sometimes a tripod off the hill.

7) What computer do you currently have/use to edit (if not currently editing, what would you most likely use)? If you can provide specifics, such as hard drive space, RAM, processor size, that would be great. imac with final cut pro 7 and photoshop cs.

7) What program do you currently edit on? How familiar are you with it (1- just learning; 10- I can make tutorials and know the keyboard layout) final cut: 5, photoshop: 3

---------------------------Optional Section, for those seeking a more intensive upgrade/purchase------------------------
1) Do you think you might consider using a DSLR? yes

2) Do you have any knowledge about the HDSLRS? no

3) Do you know the limitations to using HDSLRS? no

4) Are you willing to take the time to learn about a DSLR, and how to shoot with manual lenses? yes

5) Again, do you want a camera that you can hand to your friends, that could or could not have film experience, and let them shoot you? or will you be doing all the filming? giving it to my friends would be nice, but its not a huge priority