Thanks for the tip, compuwar 😉
I guess for my needs (if I'm going to play a lot with a beginner DSLR) a 1000D/Rebel XS is the safest bet?
Honestly, there are no "bad" DSLR choices. There are good and great ones, but don't assume "beginner" is a necessary term (you could take great shots with any DLSR without much of a learning curve.)
The big thing for macro is how to do it-
Macro lenses and "almost macro" lenses: Expensive, but great quality- though you'll typically be stuck at a single reproduction rate (true macros go 1:1, but many "macro" lenses are almost macro and work well enough.) Lenses with longer focal distances give more "working distance" but cost more (personally, I'd want to be at around 90mm or better for most of what I shoot.)
Reversing rings: you need two lenses with similar diameters at the front, and it's easier to make a mistake that costs you a messed up lens element.
Diopters: Not as good quality as a lens, but significantly cheaper (though the good ones aren't cheap- I like the B+W ones, but they cost real money) and you have to match it to a lens diameter for good results- but not a bad place to start.
Extension tubes: Not as cheap as they should be, but a set will give you excellent results and flexibility.
Good macro also requires a good tripod and a good tripod head- also not inexpensive.
If you want to really get into it, a ring flash is a very expensive, but very helpful item- photography is all about light, so the better you can light the subject, the better your results. Built in flash for fill is a good start, off-camera flash is better- and for most macro subjects ring flash is really good- not that you have to start with everything, but that should give you an idea of what you'll end up with if you persue it seriously.
