Camera Purchasing Advice that Aspiring Photographer can "grow into"

[jennyvive]

Although photography has been both a hobby & for many of my family members, I have taken it up only recently and have been borrowing my grandfather's d70s to learn on while I was enrolled in a "101" type course. I have been keeping it on the back burner, but I believe the time has come for me to purchase my own DSLR, my first to be exact. I'm partial to Nikon and have been eyeing both the d5100 and d7000, but I haven't been able to decide (and I would like to make the decision soon because I have a 10% off student coupon that is only valid through the end of June).

Another thing to note is that I am a hobbyist now, I am looking for a career change/apprenticeship in the very near future which is why I would like a professional quality camera that I can grow into, even if I won't be able to appreciate all of it's functions initially. I am also not sure how quickly these models become outdated, so I wanted to poll an experienced community. The things I am looking for out of a camera:

1) Very good low light capability (I shoot a lot of natural light still-life's, but I will also be taking it traveling so still-life's won't be the only thing I shoot)

2) Large Format for High Res Printing (In preparation for the transition I have been tyring to build my portfolio by freelancing for a magazine, so I want a camera with professional print quality)

3) both have the video feature, which is nice & I might potentially use while travelling - but this feature is not important to me

4) this might just silly, but after using an old nikon & comparing it with my friend's newer d3100, I love the little auto focus "red dots" that appear in the viewfinder - I think they are SO much easier to see.

Other than those 4 things, a lot of the other features like "full frame vs. cropped sensor" are lost on me at the moment... but I work a pretty demanding job right now in the finance industry, and once I leave it I am fully willing to devote myself to learning the rest of the features of my new camera. In short, I know many people have "beginner" reccommendations for SLR's but I just don't know what kind of photography I'll be doing in a year (and might be a great deal poorer for following my dreams, so I don't want to make a second purchase later).

That was a little long-winded, I apologize but all advice is welcome and appreciated.

[OsmosisStudios]

Get a D7000.

The D5100 and D7000 share the same sensor and processor, so the images you get out will be the exact same. The D7000 though gives you more features that you might want to use, and is designed more like the pro-series bodies you'll eventually work into.

[Shokinen]

+1

Once you'll pass the theory and you'll get use to the concepts, there is a couple options you will want with the D5100.

i.e. The ability to trigger an external flash wirelessly is by itself worth the difference in my opinion and there is more.