WARNING - Yet another SimonTALM essay - Sorry
I always try to stay away from saying what is the best actual camera as I believe only you can decide that. What I try to do instead is give guidance of how to make that decision learning from things that I've done and have seen others do both good things and bad.
My first bit of advice for buying your first DSLR is this: Whatever your budget is the cameras that fit that budget will give you same results - any differences aren't noticeable. However, don't rush out and buy the camera that has all the gizmos and gadgets on it quite yet as it is a bit more complex.
My second bit of advice is that whether you realise it now or later when you buy your first DSLR you are making an investment into your photographic future as you are buying in to a system (Nikon/Fuji, Canon, Sony/Minolta, Pentax/Samsung, Olympus). One of the most expensive things you can do in Photography is switch systems, so to save money in the long terms think carefully now about the future. The best way of doing this is to ask yourself "If the photography bug bites you how far am I likely to go? Would I want to be a Pro, Enthusiast, Keen Amateur or would I be happy with keeping what I have now?". Once you have an answer work out what would need for that and then when looking at your available DSLRs now work out how you would get to where you want to be and what the costs might be for that.
E.g. Pentax may offer anti shake built in to the body of the camera for the same price as a Nikon and that may be great to start with. However if at some point in the future you decide you need a Pro quality 70-200 f2.8 lens you will pay nearly £1600 for a Pentax version whilst the Nikon with anti shake built in to the lens is available for only £1100
My last bit of advice expands on the idea that a camera system is an investment and relates to what is worth spending money on. Spend the biggest proportion of your budget on things that will last you for a long time or things that hold the most money so that should you decide to sell you recoup the most money. Basically I use this as a good guidance:
Good Investments
- Lenses
In 2001 Canon released their 70-200 f2.8 IS (anti shake technology) lens, that same lens is available today in 2007 (6 years) and it is showing no signs of being replaced. Not only that it is suitable for use on all Canon DSLRs released since the start of the EF lens mount in 1987 and and will no doubt fit all Canon DSLRs to come for many years. Used on ebay (1day 3hrs to go) for £760
- Filters (especially quality square ones - e.g. Lees)
- Decent Tripods (with separate heads)
Bad Investments
- Camera Bodies
In 2003 a Canon 10D body could be bought for £1000 that camera had a 6.3MP sensor, max shutter speed of 1/4000, 3FPS frame rate and a 1.8" LCD on the back. Now in 2007 - 4 years later you have a Nikon D40 entry level DSLR that matches the 10D specs that can be obtained for £300 with lens. If you were to spend a similar as the 10D would have cost you have the new Canon 40D with a 10.1MP sensor, max shutter speed of 1/8000, upto 6.3FPS frame rate and a 3" LCD on the back along with a big improvement in image quality. If you were to buy a used EOS 10D they can be found on ebay (with 2min to go) for £255 with lens and decent accessories pack
- Cheap Tripods
I am sure that if you follow my guidance you will decide on the right camera that both meets your needs now and that provides you with a good foundation on which to build your new hobby on regardless of if it is Canon, Nikon, Sony or whoever.
Just show us some pics when you have chosen