re: Help With Buying First DSLR Camera

I used Nikon SLRs before they added the d and I was an early adopter to DSLR technology. Unless you are a professional sports photographer there really isn't much compelling reason with modern technology to have the added bulk of putting a mirror in front of the sensor. Modern EVF's are fantastic and most people benefit from the "WYSIWYG" (what you see if what you get) aspect of having a mirrorless camera over the optical view finder. Sony, Fuji, or Olympus mirrorless. I've own both Sony and Olympus systems as well as Nikon DSLR's and you are not sacrificing anything to go with one of those systems over the cheap low end Canon or Nikon SLRs you've mentioned.

I would take a look at the Olympus E-M10/E-M5 or Sony a6000. Between the two I prefer the Olympus E-M10/E-M5 because of the size and price/availability/quality of extra lenses. You should be able to get either Olympus with a couple of lenses for less than $500-600.