I have to agree w/ CLS and Fast Glass.

Recently returning to what was a modest profession 30 years ago, and is now a hobby, there are some things that are bicycle like and come back pretty quick..... Then there is the whole technology thing, LOL thud - laughed at myself so hard I fell from my chair. I can remember lots of people coming into the store and expressing "professional" status just because they had a SLR and PERHAPS 2-3 lens while I was standing in front of 8x10 linhoff w/ a giant schneider on it. It still goes on.... to quote Fast Glass "I just take pictures."

While I am really impressed with what the modern camera can do, I think I have read where the positive film (slides) still has a dynamic range the electronic sensors are several steps away from. I can believe this looking at shadow detail, etc. Dave Dugdale did a nice piece on the 5d3 v d800 that highlighted the dynamic range issues pretty well. Notwithstanding the stupid destruction (think donate to a worthy cause!?!?!) the review of the ISO/Sensor performance of the 5d3/ v d800 of usable iso vs. noise in ever declining light for the video side - which hee hee is so amazing to what was around 30 years ago.

If one is going to go all the way artsy, certainly a DSLR paired to medium format or 4x5 shooting positive film with similar effective focal lengths would seem to be the upper end - the resolution and dynamic range of 4x5. (there is always the Leica medium format if you want to spend big bucks chasing better, but how much, image quality).

On the other end of this is now the cell phone camera (used to be the P&S but even that has been eclipsed). I guess all of this is to say "pick a point" that you believe is your level of interest and simply enjoy the images you make. There will always be limitations, always that next step.

Happy clicks.