Which DSLR is better in performance, the Nikon or Canon?

Which DSLR is better in performance, the Nikon or Canon? - 1

Nikon

Depends on what you want to do. Just find a camera from Nikon you like and one from canon you like and try to find a video on YouTube or somewhere comparing the two. There are also cameras from Sony that are really good too.

Nikon is best

Swings and Roundabouts. Nikon, Pentax & Sony currently use the best sensors for extreme low light use. Canon is almost as good in that regard but, to me, is marginally better when it comes to actual handling and system accessories.
There are no bad DSLRs in 2015. Really you could choose based on local brand support and what family and friends use.

Pentax are better on paper, but only intelligent people have heard of the oldest SLR manufacturer in Japan.

Sony's SLTs shoot better video, and their sensors are used by both Nikon and Pentax.

This question is proof, not only that you lack knowledge of photography (pardonable, we all had to start somewhere), but you've heard only two names, and think they're the entire industry (unforgivable).

You can't compare DSLRs when you're comparing companies. Two specific models would help. It's like saying "Which computer is faster, the television or the pocket watch?"

Generally speaking, Nikon is better in still photos, while Canon is better in shooting videos.
If you are more to photography I suggest a Nikon, and the best Nikon DSLR which is not so expensive is the D7100.
For videography, a reasonable price DSLR I suggest: the Canon 70D.

Neither. They are the same along with the other dSLR brands. A camera can only be as good as its user.

A camera can only perform as well as the person using it.

Depends. What are your needs? What do you mean by "performance?" What is your style of shooting?

What you do and how you like to do it will dictate which brand or specific model you should choose. For this reason, you will see a group of professional photographers at sporting or news events all shooting with various models. All are using their cameras to put food on the table and to pay the mortgage. Do you really think that if there was one specific camera that was superior to the rest that these guys and gals wouldn't all be using it? Of course they would. But they aren't because that camera doesn't exist. There's no one best camera. There's only the best one for you.