I also just went clipless (on friday) - On the recomendation of the shop, I got the speedplay light action pedals and I love them as my first set. They're double sided (I've put about 100 miles on them so far and I can get in and out first try every time without looking at this point) and they release fairly easily- I've had a couple near crashes and have been able to unclip by sheer wrenching force to avoid falling on my ass. The tension on them seems just about right to me.

That being said, I am 6', 145lbs. I'm sure if you were a heavier rider, these pedals would probably not stand up to the forces you put on them as well as they do for someone like me.

Once I get serious I'll probably upgrade to a more hardcore pedal system, but as of right now these are perfect for longer rides where comfort and ease of entry/exit are more important than weight and adjustability.