Nikon wants you to believe that their camera’s are better and Canon wants you to believe that their camera’s are better then Nikon. The secret is: They both make great cameras. I of course prefer Nikon, “WHY?” you ask, I beleive that Nikon makes a wonderfully useful product, I love the way their cameras feel in my hand. I like the pictures I capture from them, and I love the quality of their product. I like the controls and features of the Nikon Digital Cameras. Does that make the Nikon Better then the Canon? No, but for me, yes.
My brother likes Canon cameras, he bought a Canon Elan II Film camera as his first camera and has been shooting Canon ever since. For him, Canon Digital Cameras is his choice. I’ll admit that there are a couple of thing that my brothers Canon 5D has over my Nikon D70, but I can take just as good as pictures as he can, why?, well cause I am better of course 
;) Because the Camera is not what matters the most, what matters is your eye as a photographer. A good camera does help in taking good crisp, sharp, high resolution photos. Both Nikon and Canon can do all of the above, in the right photographers hands.
For me Nikon is better, for my brother Canon is better. Both of us win. I say buy the digital camera you like best. I would suggest the Nikon D80 Digital SLR or the Nikon D200 Digital SLR with a few lenses like the Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G Lens and Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G Lens or for something not in the pro range of lens I’d look at the Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G Lens (still a little pricey for the beginner but a huge focal range). If you ask my brother, he’ll say go with a Canon.
What is your verdict on the Nikon vs Canon Debate? I am sure there is strong opinion out there on this issue, but I think there are a lot of people out there who think that the camera doesn’t matter, it is the photographer.
That’s the secret behind the Nikon vs Canon Debate: it’s the photographer, not the Camera that takes good photos!
Here is a list of current DSLR cameras for both Nikon and Canon (prices as of November 29, 2006)
Nikon D40 Digital SLR Camera
Cost: $599.99 w/18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens (Buy it here)
Digital Rebel XT
Cost: $699.99 Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT SLR 8-MP Camera w/Canon 18-55mm AF Lens, Black (Buy it here)
Nikon D50 Digital SLR Camera Review
Cost: $699.99 w/18-55mm AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens (Buy it here)
Canon Rebel XTi Digital SLR Camera
Cost: $899.99 w/EF-S 18-55mm II Lens, Black (Buy it here)
Nikon D80 Digital SLR Camera Review
Cost: $1,049.99 w/Nikkor 28-80mm F/3.3-5.6G AF Zoom Lens (Buy it here)
Canon 30D Digital SLR Camera
Cost: $1,499.99 w/ Canon 18-55mm Lens Outfit (Buy it here)
Nikon D70s Digital SLR Camera
Cost: $699.99 Nikon D70s Digital SLR Body Only (Buy it here)
Canon 20D Digital SLR Camera
Cost: $1,399.99 w/Canon 18-55mm Lens (Buy it here)
Nikon D200 Digital SLR Camera
Cost: 2,399.99 w/18-200mm F/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF DX VR Lens (Buy it here)
Canon 5D Digital SLR Camera
Cost: $3,299.99 Price After Rebate: $2,999.99 Camera Body Only (Buy it here)
Nikon D2Hs Digital SLR Camera Review
Cost: 3299.99 Body Only
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II Digital SLR Camera
Cost: $7,999.99 Body Only (Buy it here)
Nikon D2Xs Digital SLR Camera
Cost: $4699.99 body only (Buy it here)
Canon EOS 1D Mark II N Digital SLR Camera
Cost: $3,999.99 body only (Buy it here)
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Interesting article! I use Canon myself, but have always loved Nikon. In short you can say that I agree with you. If you lean to either one or the other, go for it.
I did find your side-by-side comparisons amusing. Nikon seems to be the least expensive. Admittedly, I have seen this myself on average
Nice site!
Agree with you. Just share with you my 2 cents.
Talking about DSLR, I see Canon is far better off than Nikon, in terms technology R&D and product delivery. Canon started earlier in focusing on digital, and it was until after a couple of years did Nikon realized that digital will soon replace film. It was too late for Nikon. Nikon tried to catch up, however he always lags behind Canon.
Just compare Nikon’s first generation full-frame D3 that is announced August 2007 (which is expected to hit market in November 2007), and Canon’s not-the-latest full-frame model EOS-1DS Mark II which was announced early in September 2004.
Nikon’s D3 is touted with 36 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor and 12 million pixels, whereas Canon’s EOS-1DS Mark II has a 36 x 24 mm CMOS (full 35 mm frame) and 16.7 million pixels. Surely D3 is equipped with 14-bit AD module vs 12-bit AD on Canon’s EOS-1DS Mark II, however D3 is announced total 3 years later than EOS-1DS Mark II, Nikon has nothing to be proud of in this aspect. Nikon’s top model in 2007 still can not beat Canon’s 2004 model with sensor size (Nikon D3 still is not really full-frame, you might notice) and pixel count, not to say well-known Nikon’s problem of high-ISO noise.
Nikon is lagging behind Canon in technology partly because Nikon is still mainly relying on third-party (Sony) image sensor, a fact that seriously affects Nikon’s ability to timely deliver products with latest technology. Nikon has a bumpy way to go to catch up. We are talking about digital technology which is so fast-paced that 2 year’s lagging almost means death.
Surely Nikon is famous for ergonomics design of their SLRs / DSLRs, however for professional / serious photo shooters, image quality is of highest priority. Also Nikon is limited in terms choices of quality lenses, where Canon’s users are spoiled with a whole line of lenses from entry level to professional ones. That probably is a reason why nowadays most professional photographers will go with Canon (just see the white-colored Canon super-zoom lenses used at any sports events). And for first-time DSLR users, a huge amount of if not most, are likely to consider Canon. Yet, in my opinion, Nikon DSLR lenses are fairly price-competitive and still delivering fair results.
Again, both Nikon and Canon produce fabulous DSLRs and the choice between which is up to personal tastes and needs.
I’m fortunate enough to own both systems Sigma SD-14
I love my Nikon D2x the most ergonomical camera ever and that’s what Nikon does it makes cameras with you in mind.
My Canon 1ds and 5d I only use when top quality matters or is a must.
And the Sigma SD-14 is my back pack all around beater that never leaves my car.
All 4 cameras are capable of awesome picture quality the rest is up to me.
We get tangeled up too often in this or that or wahat not but at the end of the day it boils down to a person behind the prism finder.
Good luck