What type of DSLR is best for beginners?

creative purposes? the camera is only limited by the photographer in all cases and entry level DSLR can be used. Why? Because if you're going for maximum creativity turn the camera to MANUAL and if you don't know it, learn how to use light creatively (use of reflectors etc)

You should check out the workshops by the manufacturers. I went to a Nikon workshop and the photographer was great in explaining the Nikon camera lines and the features of some of the popular cameras. He set up some scenes taken with a Nikon camera and also with a disposable camera. No one could tell the difference. The people who thought they could were either wrong or lucky. His point was you could have the best camera with the latest features or the most expensive camera in the whole world but if you don't bring in your own creativity into shooting then what use is having the camera so and so has or recommended? He said that it is possible to take good photos with a disposable; the photographer has to work (think about the limitations and challenge himself to set up the scene he wants). Or! Or you can rent a DSLR for a day and see how you like it. You need a credit card and a photo id. Some camera stores offer camera rentals.

Canon EOS Rebel T1i (aka 500D) might be one of your best choice. it is very easy to use, just like the XSI, but this one has faster Autofocus and it works 99% of the time. Also, the LCD is very bright, and you can actually view it in direct sunlight! Canon lenses are affordable than Nikon's, and there are so wide selection of canon lenses. The EOS Rebel T1i is a bit on the light end, yet the construction still feels solid. For the camera's price point, you'd be hard pressed to find any digital SLR out there which gives you all the capabilities and growth range of the Canon T1i. The camera is intuitive enough for those new to photography to pick and learn easily, yet configurable enough for advanced amateurs. In using the camera, the first thing you'll notice over the previous Rebels in the marvelous LCD screen. The image quality were very impressive. I tried using the camera in a variety of situtations (biased to how I would use it), and got very good results throughout. Focusing was typical for a better Rebel, and images looked good throughout the ISO range, based on reasonable expectations. I thought the Auto White Balance is a very good job compared to previous results I'd had with Canons in general. They weren't perfect, but the tungsten areas seemed to look better than average.

Jeez, there's a lot of spouting going on in answers to your simple question. What exactly do you mean by "beginner"? Have you any experience with cameras? If not, you should not be considering a dSLR. Get a point and shoot. Learn everything you can about taking pictures with it. Be self-critical. Ask other photographers for opinions and tips about your work. You will eventually learn enough to realize that your progress requires a dSLR. Magically, at that point you will also know what brand you prefer and what you will be looking for in the camera. So you won't have to ask the question. In the meantime, visit http://dpreview.com often to see what cameras are out there. If you absolutely insist on getting a dSLR right away, consider the entry-level model for any of the major brands: Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, Sony, Kodak. These come to mind, but I'm sure I missed a few. They're all excellent cameras. Go to a photo store and hold each one in your hands. Get the one that feels right.

Well beginning stage is the first stage when someone enter in to this field, and if someone planning to take it as a career he has to take care of things. 1) An individual should accept this that it's an expensive profession and for the first time they have to spend more then 50 to 60 thousand so they can tell someone that they are photographer. 2) If individual is clear about this thing that what particular kind of photography he want to do he should be very much specific about the lens For e.g.- * Basic commercial photography:-18mm to 200 mm is good option (wide angle and basic zoom lens) * Fashion photography:- 18 mm to 200mm is the good option * Architecture photography:- minimum 10 mm ( specially wide angle, shift lens, and fish eye lens ) * Wild life :- one wide angle around 18mm take wide angle animals shot on landscapes :- one basic zoom around up to 300 mm for rapidly taking quick shots And also easy to carry :- and one telephoto zoom around 500 to 1000 mm to take steady and good Quality shots with complete safety so whenever someone go for DSLR always take care of this things and if you are not sure weather you want to take it as hobby or professionally then don’t spend more then 60 to 70 thousand and go for lens from 18 mm to 150 mm levels Every one knows canon and nikon are the best option but if it is only up to hoby sony is also good option And for hobby people with less budget in all three brands canon, nikon and sony Good DSLR under the range of 40 thousand are available. still if some one has toubts they are free to contact me Allways buy with bill dont go for gray market kamal jhamb http://kamaljhamb.blogspot.com

The Pentax K2000 Is a very good deal right now http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-K2000-Digital-18-55mm-50-200mm/dp/B001GAPHPG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258811121&sr=8-1 but really any DSLR will work fine. You can even use Point and shoots though they give you less options usually. Creativity comes from you not the cameras, find a system that works for you andlet you imagination go wild.