First DSLR suggestions?

I'm a high school senior heading off to college next year to potentially study photojournalism. I'm looking to ask for a DSLR and lens for graduation. I have a lot of experience shooting with a 1968 Nikon SLR on film but I haven't yet branched into the digital world. I was hoping I could get some suggestions on what to look for in a camera or specific cameras I should look into and the same with lenses. I don't want to completely break the bank here so moderate prices would be appreciated.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to a "first" DSLR. Some people say you should get a cheap camera because beginners are too stupid to read the manual, so a simpler camera is best because we're meant to "grow" into it, that way when we finally know what we're doing, we have to upgrade because it can no longer perform on the same curve. Other people say you should get the most expensive camera you can afford because in photography, especially "digital" photography, you get what you pay for. Truthfully, the single most delimiting factor in determining which camera you should get is how much money you are willing to part with. Because otherwise, they all do the same thing. If you have the money for an expensive camera and decide to get the cheaper one instead because it costs less (and you must be a cheapskate), you figure it probably couldn't hurt because you've never used a digital SLR before and after however long it takes you to gain the experience to know the difference between a camera that has a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 vs. 1/4000 and why this is important, you end up feeling stupid because you decided to go with the cheaper camera because you've been programmed to go with the "beginner" camera instead.

Some people (photographers) are fond of wondering what a beginner is doing with a semi-pro camera like a nikon D600 instead of one of those dinky D3200's. Because buying a camera that can't use some of nikon's best and least costly lenses makes more sense because you're not smart enough to know better. Lies!

There's no such thing as a "beginner" camera. There are $600 cameras for people who couldn't fathom spending $2, 000 or more on a camera, and there are $2, 000+ cameras for people who aren't used to making distinctions based on what things cost. Consumers, people who buy things and don't really pay attention to why or how these things actually work -only that they work, don't care. They see a sale and they're suddenly interested. A camera is a tool. If you don't see it that way, don't buy a DSLR because the camera in your phone will do the same thing. Good tools generally cost more than inferior tools. But more than that, good tools are an investment.

People who see that they can get a camera for $600 when they know that some cameras cost $5, 000 think they're getting a really good deal on that $600 camera because they don't have a lot of money. The problem with those people is they overlook all the other things they will need like lenses, memory cards, flash, stands, etc. The problem isn't that they don't have a lot of money and that's why they shouldn't spend more. The problem is, they don't understand what they need and why- they just know they need a camera.

So here's my advice. Don't buy a "kit". Kits are an excuse for the camera manufacturers to sell you cheap, inferior lenses for what they actually cost by making you think you're saving money. Brand is irrelevant. I shoot nikon (now), but I've also shot canon, sony, and olympus. I could recommend either. But I shoot nikon now. So that's saying something. However, this may not necessarily apply to you. So you'll have to make that determination. If you choose nikon, buy a camera that has an AF drive. DO NOT buy a D5100. I don't care that it's $600 with a lens. A) The lens is sh! T. B) It can't use AF lenses. It can, only as manual focus. Why buy AF lenses to use them manually? You could just as well continue using film. Nikon's AF lenses are awesome. Many of the current AF-S lenses have the same optical formulas as the older AF lenses only they focus a touch faster and cost a lot more. There's absolutely no sense in buying a consumer camera if you're interested in photography beyond taking pictures for singular purposes.

My suggestion, buy a good camera body. Figure paying at least $800 for it, but more like $1, 000. Buy one good lens. I recommend a 50mm f/1.8. All brands make cheap 50mm f/1.8s that are way better optically than a 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6, and still cheaper. You have a good camera, and a decent lens. Use them, love them, learn them. Then you'll know what's next on your own.