Compare and contrast NIKON VS CANON?

I need some in depth information about the differences between Nikon and Canon in the following categories:
COMPATIBILITY- need to know which brand has more choices when it comes to lens compatibility etc
WEIGHT- which camera tends to weigh more (advantages/disadvantages)
DURABILITY- when it comes to durability, what are the pros and cons of either brand
PRICE- more bang for your buck?

I would rather have comments from people that are going to state the facts. I want to know the good and bad about both cameras. I'm not looking for answers that are mainly one sided but all input is greatly appreciated!

Both are comparable in most areas. When comparing apples to apples, the weight, durability, and price are comparable.

Nikon has more lens compatibility, because many of their lenses are backward-compatible with the camera bodies. This will give you a greater choice of lenses that will work. Nikon has not changed their lens mount over the years, but Canon has. I have Nikon lenses made in the 1970's that I can mount and use with my D80. However, the older lenses that lack CPU's will not work with the camera's light meter and auto exposure capabilities (or autofocus). Canon lenses from the 1970's won't mount on their modern DSLR cameras.

Is this an essay question? Do I need to buy a "bluebook"?

Compatibility.
Canon:

* No legacy lenses made before 1988 can be used.
* EF-S lenses can't be used with any of the 1D or 5D Canon bodies

Nikon:

Full compatibility lens/body list

http://www.kenrockwell.com/...y-lens.htm

Weight is not brand specific:

You can add weight for better stability by adding battery grips to select camera bodies. The professional bodies have enough mass in situ. Most cameras with lenses 300 mm and longer need at least a monopod to assure crisp images at appropriate shutter speeds

If you need light weight cameras, both Nikon and Canon have entry level cameras that will fit that criteria. You can find the actual weights of them on the Canon and Nikon websites.

Durability:

ALL Nikon and Canon cameras will last longer than the technology in them.

A colleague of mine has a Nikon D3 with over one million shutter cycles on it and it is still working fine

There's no reason to think that Canon professional level 1D cameras can't perform under the pressures a professional tends to exert on their camera bodies.

All Nikon and Canon lenses can be depended upon to last for decades but for the few under $300 kit lenses with plastic lens mounts

Price

Most bang for the buck

Nikon D3100 provides more features than the equally priced Canon 500D/T1i

Nikon D7000 sensor out performs the Canon 60D in some important areas

* Colour depth
* Dynamic range
* Low-light, high ISO performance

The D7000 can also auto-focus in the video mode.

The full frame Nikon D3s costs about $1, 800 less than the full frame Canon 1Ds, Mark III.

Only Nikon has a studio camera, the Nikon D3X

You can compare the sensor performance of all the Nikon and Canon cameras here

http://dxomark.com/...r-rankings

http://dxomark.com/...nd2)/Canon

Something you did not ask, is the availability of lenses for the two camera brands.

You will need to visit Nikon and Canon websites to see what lenses are available in each brand.

To a good photographer they are just tools like to a builder a hammer is a hammer is a hammer