Need some help choosing a good digital SLR?

I'm fifteen. I plan on making a career in photography. Already have it all planned out. I'll live in a place packed full of great scenery (right now I want to live in Wyoming!) and wildlife. That'll be most of my pictures. I'm not too good at people photography. And I think wildlife just makes better photos to begin with. ANYWAYS. This year--in a month, actually-- my family and I will be going to Yellowstone. After a year and a half of begging, my mom finally agreed to getting me a DSLR. She agrees Yellowstone would be a great learning experience and that I really am sticking to photography. I have $400 saved up. I plan on getting a job soon. She said she'll pay for whatever I can't and I will pay her back as soon as I get a job. I would prefer not to go over the price range of $1, 300.

I've handled SLR's before and one or two digital SLR's. It was for a digital photo journalism class I took last semester. Well, I found I really enjoyed the Pentax. But. Canon and Nikon seem to be the best. So I'll mainly look into those as I want this camera to last a long time. I want a good zoom lens for sure (unfortunately I haven't researched photography or cameras at all in the last yearish, so I've forgotten all of the camera lingo.XD So, sorry if I sound like a mjor beginner.). I'd love a macro lens, but that's for a later time. Christmas maybe. Any lenses you suggest for scenic pictures? Or even some portraits? I might look into taking pictures of friends and family at events and such, as well.

Also any camera gear you suggest? I have a.somewhat decent tripod.It'll work, at the least. Other than that, I basically have nata.

Keep in mind I'm a beginner. But I plan on hopefully going pro. So a camera with an excellent manual mode would be great. But I'd like it to have some of the beginner modes (i.e.night, children, portrait, etc.) so I can get used to the feel of the camera.

Thank you So MUCH!

PS: A video mode would be nice, as well. I enjoy being able to take videos and photos on one device.

The Nikon D3100 has some good reviews, and it also has full HD 1080p video.

Canon and Nikon are definitely the most expensive systems to buy into, best? Debatable point. I would go with a Pentax Kx or if you can afford it the K5, the best APS sensor sized DSLR - not my words the words of DP Review, the only APS digital camera to ever get a Gold Star from them and as a K5 owner I can see their point.

The K5 is weather resistant too might come in handy out in the wilds. The two lens kit with the 17 - 55mm and the 50 - 200mm is a very good start package.

Here are some images taken with my K5

By the time you go pro, you will already have outgrown whatever camera you buy. So don't go crazy over getting the most expensive camera. Just get a basic dSLR.

Pentax, Nikon, and Canon are all good brands. I don't really think there's a "best". Canon and Nikon are the most popular, though.

I think people photography make better photos than wildlife photography, but that's just me (to each their own).

For wildlife photography you will want a good telephoto lens (either zoom or fixed focal length).

Not sure what you mean by "scenic" pictures, but if you want to take wide angle landscape pictures then you will want a wide angle lens. However you don't want to take portraits with a wide angle lens.

A basic zoom lens will work for many situations (people, events, etc.). They are usually around 18-55mm.

Besides a tripod, a shutter release cable is a good investment. So is one or two spare batteries and one or two spare memory cards. But the most important thing to buy will be a book on photography (that teaches you about composition, exposure, etc.).

by the way, it's "Nada", with a 'd'. (not 'nata'). Unless you are speaking some weird alien language.

There's no such thing as "excellent manual mode". Manual mode is just manual mode. You have to make your pictures excellent when using this mode, since the camera won't do it for you (if you want your camera to do the thinking for you, then put it on automatic mode).

There's no such thing as "children" mode. The camera can't tell if you are taking a picture of a child or animal or adult or racecar. This is where a good book on photography comes in handy.