I want to buy a professional camera, not sure what type?

It would be my first professional one, i've only had a little song digital one before.
I was looking at the Nikon ones but there's so much choice i'm not sure which to go for.
Since it's my first i don't want it to be astronomically expensive.
Also, do they just plug into computers like other cameras?

I'm a Canon fan myself although all the other major manufacturers, like Nikon, know what they are doing.

As an introduction to DSLR photography and at a reasonable price too, you might like to have a look at the Canon 550D. DSLR cameras are often sold either as just the camera body alone, without a lens or with a pretty standard lens in the box, that is called a kit lens. I'd imagine you would be looking for kit to get you started.

http://www.canon.co.uk/.../EOS_550D/

Yes, you can just plug them into a computer but I think most people remove the memory card and slot that into the computer to view and work on their photographs. You've got to remember that DSLR cameras are fair bit more chunky than little compact ones and less convenient to be connecting up to computers to view photos.

Use nikon or sony new series for dslr (dtej)

Professional cameras start at about $4, 000.

I think by professional camera, you mean a DSLR?

Nikon's cheapest DSLR is the D3100 which is £411.60 on Jessops but Canon's cheapest DSLR is the 1100D which is slightly cheaper at £384.95.

And yes you should be able to plug them into a computer using a USB cable which I think will actually be included in the box.

"Professional" (note inverted commas) cameras refer really to the high end DSLRs on the market, cameras like the Canon 1, 5 and 7 series, and the Nikon single digit and triple digit (e.g. D300S) series. All of these cameras start from £1, 000 and go up to £6, 000. Of course second hand D200's, 5D's and 1D mkII's are now dropping below £500 which is professional camera for entry level money. Oh and those are body-only prices. Expect to pay £500+ for professional grade lenses.

Somehow I don't think professional cameras are what you're looking for?

I'd guess you'll be more suited to a second hand Canon 40D or Nikon D80/D90, which should set you back between £200 and £400, with either Canon 17-85, or Nikon 18-135/18-105mm kit lenses.

And with regards to uploading to computer, get a card reader. RAW files are large, and you tend to shoot a lot more (because DSLRs are faster) so USB transfer becomes rather tiresome.