Canon/Nikon which is the top brand in the world of photography?

I know both the camera functions almost the same within the same price range, but I'm just curious to know which brand is considered to be the best in photography worls

Both are equal in performance. Which is better is down to personal preference on the ergonomics of each camera and small margins of performance in specific areas - eg low light performance, colour rendition etc.

They are neck and neck when it comes to sales.

The two new pro cameras are the Nikon D4 and Canon 1D X

What the pros are using now are the Nikon D3s and Canon 1D, Mark IV.

The best camera brand is Hasselblad. Mamiya is also great. Canon is the most popular. Nikon is more technical. Sony is stylish. Pentax can't be beaten in terms of compatibility with older lenses. Leica is the holy grail of photography.

The top brands are Hasselblad and Leica.

Canon and Nikon are way down the list but spend a lot on advertising.

That's a hard question to answer it… If YOU ask 100 photographers, it will be about 50/50 in favor of each.

When you come right down to it, YOU have to decide which of the two best cameras is for you.

I've used canon every day since 1974; film and digital. They haven't given me a reason to switch brands. AND Canon has a 'Loyalty Program'. You can turn in you Canon camera for a more recent brand, and take 'deep' discounts. Use the plan up to 3 times a year, regardless of the condition/age of the Canon camera you trade it.

There's no clear winner. It depends on what you shoot and how you shoot. For sports and low light I'd give Nikon the edge. For motion I'd give the Canon a slight edge. I use Nikon because they suit my style and I like their performance. I just got the D4 and it is an amazing camera. I could shoot Canon just as easily and I have in the past but like I said, for how I shoot, Nikon is better for me.