A good DSLR camera? Nikon or canon?

So… I need a new camera, like a really good one for photography.
any suggestions?
i'm thinking about a dslr, but Nikon or Canon? Which type?

can you recommend me good cameras for architectural, live show, nature, aviation and portrait shots?

i would really appreciate your help guys, just tell me your opinion and what kind of camera you use. What would you buy or suggest?

Any of the entry level DSLR's would be fine. Canon or Nikon are both good - it depends on your preferences, or perhaps if someone you know owns the same brand.

The lenses are much more important, because they will stay with you even when you upgrade to a new camera body, so make sure to buy the best you possibly can when it comes to lens shopping - you WILL regret buying slow lenses.

Canon tends to be a little cheaper and have a bit more choice, including on the second hand market.

Pick a favorite few cameras, compare them on www.dpreview.com, then play with them in a store… Handling them might help you decide which one to get.

The very best thing you can do for your photography, is to attend a class and read a few books and tutorials. Having some knowledge will make a huge difference to your images.

The different types of photography don't really need different camera bodies, but different lenses.

I would suggest you start with a cheap kit lens, then do a LOT of learning first.

Learn about your camera!

Read your manual! Read it several times, and practice in between. If you don't have a book, download a new one from the manufacturer's website.

Attend a class, read some books, read/watch online tutorials.

The major camera manufacturers (like Canon, Nikon, Olympus etc) all have very useful sections on their website for learning about photography.

http://www.nikonusa.com/...index.page

http://www.olympusamerica.com/...center.asp

http://www.usa.canon.com/...omePageAct

http://photographycourse.net/

Understanding at least the basic principles of photography (as well as being familiar with your camera) will enable you to make the most of your gear, and will make a HUGE difference to your images.

Once you truly understand the principles of photography and you really know your camera, you'll be very ready to know what other lenses you need and why.

I always recommend what I own and know. In your case it's the Canon Rebel XS. I've had mine for well over a year and it's an excellent camera. Samples:

Portrait:

Wildlife:

I think you can see why I enjoy mine so much and recommend it.
Don't forget to think about optics. This camera will come with an 18-55 lens. It's not a bad lens but there are much better Canon lenses available.

I have seen some of the answers here, and although I agree with the Canon & Nikon recommendations, let me add one more and give reasons for it. I liked and purchased the Pentax Kx camera recently. First when I went to look at the camera at a local camera store I found an uncluttered viewfinder. I also found that you could move the focus square all over the field of view. I love this feature and demand it in all my cameras. I like to photograph scenes that have a natural frame and sometimes that frame interferes with the focusing square, so if I can move the focusing square to the exact point I want in sharp focus, I'm thrilled. Other features that I like was the fact that you can use any Pentax SLR lens on the camera from the past film days right up to the most recent digital model. The fourth and last feature that attracted me was that the stabilization was built-in to the camera body, which means you don't have to pay extra for stabilization in each lens you purchase.