Best SLR Camera for a Budget?

I'm looking to buy the best digital SLR camera for my budget. I would like to spend under $600, preferably lower, unless it is truly worth the extra. The shots I want to be getting would mostly be action and sport shots. So I would need a camera with a high number of FPS, but what else would I need to look for in that area?

I enjoy doing macro shots as well, but I suppose that would have more to do with lenses than the camera. I would really prefer a Nikon or a Canon, putting the "Canon v. Nikon" debate aside, they seem to be the most widely accepted and professional cameras within my range. I don't need a beginner's camera; I have a bit of experience and can navigate most technology well.

A friend of mine recommend the Canon XS Rebel, which I'm seriously considering. The only concern I have with it would be the "Error 99" which many people have experienced. This camera will probably not be upgraded for a few years, so I need it to last. Plus I'm pretty clumsy, so I need something well built and sturdy.

Are there any other great cameras which would fit the bill?

There are LOTS of other cameras worth considering. You need to figure out how far you want to go with photography… If you envision becoming really serious, then it's worth buying into the Canon or Nikon system, since either of those companies will be able to take you as far as you want to go.

However, if you are just looking for a camera to take great pictures, then you might seriously consider some of the "off brand" cameras: Pentax, Sony, Olympus… You are going to get more bang for your buck since everybody else is looking at Nikon and Canon.

Good photography is more about technique than gear, anyway. For sports photography, it does help to have a camera with fast AF and good lenses… But people were taking great sports shots in the old manual focus film days, right?

Bottom line: Go play with a whole bunch of different cameras, and buy the one that "feels right". The camera will do what you tell it to do, and if you tell it the right things, then you'll get great photos. How do you know what the right things are? Experiment, and find out!

Both Canon and Nikon cameras, at the price range you are looking at, are made of cheap plastic… You won't get a rugged camera until you hist the 7D(Canon) / D90(Nikon) range and those 2 are way out of your budget.

The same thing with lenses. All the cheap consumer lenses aren't built really built rugged. You need the L series lenses from Canon (or equivalent from the other companies) before you get metal bodies and weatherproofing.

High number of FPS on low end consumer bodies would be 3 to 3.5 FPS in GOOD light. If you start slowing your shutter speed to compensate for light (let's say to 1/50th) then obviously, you won't be able to get 3.5 fps:
XS and XTi: 3fps
Xsi: 3.5fps
T1i: 3.4fps
T2i: 3.7fps

To get ridiculously fast FPS you need a 7D and up:
7D: 8fps
5DMk II: 3.9fps
1DsMk III: 3 - 5fps
1DMk IV: 10fps

At your budget, I would recommend an Xsi. I own one (along with a few others cameras) and it does a great job. More importantly than the bodies are the lenses. Here, I would recommend that you invest in GOOD, FAST lenses as lenses will outlive your bodies if you take care of them. Especially for sports photography, you need lenses with a good wide aperture to compensate for poor lighting and fast glass is expensive (ex.: 70-200 f2.8 L Series = 2500$Can).

Any new dSLR in the $600 range is a 'beginner' camera. It has nothing to do with your skill level. If you want a "pro-sumer" camera or professional camera you will need to spend a lot more (unless you buy used).

Entry level cameras such as the eos rebels will suit you just fine (all SLRs function the same way and do basically the same thing). Although not as sturdy as a professional model, they are probably more sturdy than the eos rebel film cameras (which is not saying much).

If you shoot sports, you will want to get a lens that has a focal length of 200mm or 300mm (which means you will need to spend extra).

Something like the Nikon D3000 would also work for you.