right now I don't have a camera of my own...I borrow a camera that is some model of 8 mpx Nikon digital, not an SLR though.
I am hoping to get one by around early May, though, because I am too broke to buy one for myself I am hoping to get it as a birthday gift from the fam. Oh man, it would be so sweet to have my own SLR.
So plz keep us updated on your purchase, felix, as you are looking to spend in the range that I think I will be too, and I am curious to see how your purchase works out for you.
Also, if anyone else can offer some advice to someone looking to purchase their first SLR, please share. I am moderately knowledgeable about the mechanics of photography, and have been experimenting a good bit with the borrowed camera, so I pretty much have the basic to beginning-intermediate knowledge about the technical side of digital photography. As such, I don't want a camera that is absurdly simple or limited, as I want it to be able to keep pace with me as my technical knowledge expands and progresses. Similarly, I don't want anything so advanced so that it assumes the user has no use for point-and-click photography with the auto function, and accordingly is within the price range of some automobiles. The price needs to stay down below the $1000 mark, preferably considerably lower. I know that I can probably UTFSE and find some of this stuff out, but if you happen to read all of this post and the specifications I give, and something jumps to the front of your mind as an excellent suggestion or recommendation, please feel free to share.
Some of you have some pretty nice gear yourselves, I must say! :D
edit: I am sure that all DSLR cameras have manual modes with adjustable aperture, shutter-speed, and ISO, and aperture and shutter priority modes as well. The camera I am using now has these features, so I would want whatever camera I buy to have them as well. Also the ability to shoot in RAW. Isn't a feature of all DSLR the ability to change lenses? If it isn't I would want that feature too.