I am starting to fall in love with photography and I would really like to get started in it.

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A used D80 or Canon 40D falls into your price range but you need to budget at least another $400-$500 for the Macro lens. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_D80 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_40d http://photo.net/equipment/canon/60-macro http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/60mm-afd.htm If you want to use film, it is hard to beat a RB67 with the 140mm Macro lens. That set-up can be found, well used, in your price range. Glorious images.

Mine was a canon 1000D, a great camera to start off with. £520 but comes with multiple lenses and assesories :)

Some lenses focus as close as 1 foot, without being expensive, true macro lenses, the good ones, which, as above, will cost between $400-500 ( your budget). I would do what has been already suggested: buy an older model camera, then save your pennies towards the lens you want. You'll save $$ on not having the latest and the greatest, and any camera made in the last 2 to 3 years is well worth it, without having the showroom sticker attached to it. Cheers, I hope this helps!