Verified answer

It depends on whether you'd like to delve deeper into photography or maintain it as a hobby only and take photos every now and then. Obviously changeable lenses will become costly if you decide to have e.g. Canon EOS series, but then again, those usually do not compromise things as much as when using superzoom cameras like Powershot SX40HS. You need to think the situations where you'd like to take photos, how often you'd use your camera and so on, as there is no point in investing lots of money to things you use only every now and then or to device that is too complicated for you to use in terms of your skills.

Nikon D3100 camera, of course, is targeted to those entering the DSLR world. I am myself just beginning to take the baby steps and I got a really good camera to get me started! This camera is amazing. The pictures are crisp, and I definitely love the "Guide" mode. The camera is light weight and not so big like other DSLR cameras.

Your mind is made up. Get the SX40. You don't have enough appreciation for a dSLR if you compare it to a point-and-shoot camera.