What's a great starter DSLR camera?

I'm looking to make the jump from P&S to DSLR. I mostly take pictures of animals, nature, that sort of thing. Zoom is important to me, so I don't want a pixelated picture when I go back to look at them. Also, I'd like one with a rechargeable battery. I was looking at the Nikon D3100.Is that a good choice?

I'd want to go no higher than $550

Any of the Canon Rebels are good choices.

The D3100 or the equivalent Canons aren't bad at all, but if price is a consideration, see if you can track down the older Nikon D3000 - it's discontinued, so dealers who still have stocks are offloading new examples at silly prices.

Start off with an 18-55mm standard zoom, adding lenses as you gain experience.

DSLR cameras do not have a "zoom" per se. It depends on the lenses that you buy to go with the camera body.

Both Canon and Nikon make nice cameras. The best thing to do is visit an actual camera shop (not BestBuy/Walmart) and try the different models within your budget to see which feels the best to you AND they can answer your questions about the cameras. I bought a Canon for its ergonomics/feel/menu and control layout and a fellow photog chose Nikon for the same reason… It is about personal preference.

The one thing to remember though is to budget in extra money to cover an extra battery, memory cards, camera case, a USB memory card reader, and taxes (these can add another $200-$250 to the entry level camera price).

A lot of people get "sticker shock" when they go to buy their first DSLR. They go to the store to buy the $500 camera they see on sale, BUT by the time they get everything they need and pay tax on it, the $500 camera is now $700-$1, 000+.