Try to pick up a second hand 300d, you might be lucky with one around that price, or save your pennys and see what you can get. The pentax is around $1000.
Now without blowing my trumpet, the camera I have for sale will do exactly what you want, even comes with the digital bulb mechinism. complete with a 7 times optical zoom. Read up on it here
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ead.php?t=7436 and follow the link to DP review. ands its way cheaper