I suggest that if you are going to get a first handgun then you should go to a shop that has a bunch of different models, and handle them. There are a ton of companies making quality handguns.
Sig, glock, hk, smith and wesson, fn, and cz make great reliable guns.
Make sure to stay away from low end brands like taurus springfield armory xd series and sccy.
That being said, i have fallen in love with my caniks.