Things Engineers Like: Cameras

Who doesn't love cameras? Most people have a camera on them majority of the time (though some may be a terrible VGA camera). After using Marv's Canon 60D, I've been craving to own a digital SLR of my own. It seems that this desire comes up about once a year especially when I plan on taking a trip somewhere. (Florida here I come!)

While I do like my camera on my Galaxy SIII, there's no substitute for the experience of taking a picture with a rugged feeling of a large DSLR. One hand holding the lense, the other one on the shutter release. The most significant aspect of the DSLR that isn't on camera phones: The shutter sound; this noise just can't be replicated by a digital sound. I guess the quality of the images of DSLRs are better too... The speed is good too (thought phone cameras are continuing to have this feature).

Now, I need to get opinons on which camera to get. First off, I don't plan on spending more than $1,000 on this camera. I'm open to any brand but I prefer a proven/reliable camera. On my list so far: the Canon T3i, Canon 60D, Nikon D5100, and Pentax K-30 (weather-sealed).

I'm also looking at the Nikon 1 (though it isn't a digital SLR).

Any recommendations?!?!

One downside about owning a camera, I'll be taking pictures everywhere! But the worst part about it is that I most likely won't be in the majority of the pictures...