Canon Rebel vs Nikon?

I'm looking for a new DSLR camera. I've been considering the Canon Rebel EOS T3i, and the Nikon D5100. I'm not a professional photographer (yet. ), but am looking for a very high quality camera. These cameras are clearly quite an investment, so I'm looking for opinions/reviews on each camera, to hopefully decide which to purchase. I'm looking for high-quality photos, amateur-friendly features, proper color balance, and just the general better camera. And also, if there's any other camera that you find better than the two I'm debating, please mention!

They are both fine. Go to a camera shop and see which one fits better in your hands. Also, see if any of your friends shoot with either Canon or Nikon. If you get the same family of camera, you can share lenses.

Here are some side by side comparisons:
http://techcrunch.com/2011/07/29/head-to-head-review-canon-t3i-vs-nikon-d5100/
http://www.digitalphotographywriter.com/2011/04/nikon-d5100-vs-canon-rebel-t3i-600d.html
http://www.digitalreview.ca/content/Canon-Rebel-T3i-EOS-600D-Compared-to-Nikon-D5100.shtml

These 3 sites go 2-1 with the Canon over the Nikon, but both have strengths. You need to decide which features are most important.

The Nikon outperforms the Canon in all aspects.

Here is how the sensors rate: http://www.dxomark.com/...3%29/Canon

The T3i and T2i have the same sensor in them. It is old technology that gets recycled into different bodies.

I'd go for the new D3200 if I were you. It outperforms all of the cameras you listed and is less expensive at $699 with lens. Not bad for a 24mp camera!

I have the Canon T3i. My first camera was a Nikon D3000. When I wanted to upgrade I decided to go Canon because at the time the cost for an upgrade was better to go Canon. I went with the 135mm lens version. I also liked that the front of the lenses for the 50, 85, and the 18-135mm versions were 67mm so you got a lot of glass. The lenses also at the time were less expensive than the Nikon ones. Some people are Nikon fans some are Canon. I've been happy with the Canon equipment.

It doesn't make any difference.

Both cameras, in the right hands, can take excellent images. DSLRs are not beginner friendly - well they are if you put them on Auto I guess. All cameras have white balance controls.

"High quality" photos are taken by photographers. The camera is just a tool.

Cameras are not an "investment". Lenses are the investement, camera bodies get outdated in a few years. You can use the lenses for years and years, if you look after them.

If you are looking for camera reviews, the best website is http://www.dpreview.com/...review.com

They are practically the same. It will go down to brand loyalty or salesman's persistence. By the way, the world isn't divided into C's and N's. There are P's and S's too.

In case you didn't know it yet, picture quality depends mostly on the photographer's skill. The camera is only a tool. DSLR's are best used in manual mode. The more expensive the dSLR is, the lesser features it comes with.