Nikon vs Canon cameras?

My birthday is in about four months, and I really want a good quality camera. I really enjoy photography and making youtube videos, but the quality is just horrible. I was looking into canon and nikon cameras, my friend suggested the Canon EOS Rebel T2i, but I'm not sure, I've also looked into a Nikon D3000 as well. But any camera suggestions are welcome.

I'd go for Pentax.

Try putting, 'Canon or Nikon,' into the search bar and read some of the answers to the thousand other times this question has been asked.

If you think there's a difference, you aren't ready for a DSLR.

The Nikon D3200 is much better than the D3000. And the D3100 is down to $500, and less.

This question was asked earlier today… And yesterday… And the day before that. In fact is has been asked ad nauseum, and is probably one of the most asked questions on this forum.

Searching the answers on this forum is a lot easier for you to do than for me to write the 300th answer to the same question.

Both of those cameras are excellent starter dSLRs.

Get your hands on both and try them out in a real shop (remember those!) for at least a few minutes each. Insist on them having working batteries and ask for a demonstation; you may have to arrange to return the foillowing day in order to do so. Don't get bogged down with figures, just go for the one which feels right in your hands and which has a menu system you feel more comfortable with.

If you can, try and buy from a camera shop; the prices may be a little higher than the cheapest online deals, but the support, guidance and back-up more than make up for the modest additional cost.

You may even find those cameras to be too heavy and bulky, if so consider the Micro Four Thirds models from Olympus and Panasonic. Unlike dSLRs they lack optical viewfinders, but the electronic viewfinder on the Panasonic models is excellent and has some distinct benefits to balance out the disadvatages with comparison to a "real" viewfinder. If you only ever use the main LCD panel to compose and review your images with, then you can get Micro Four Thirds models which lack a separate viewfinder to reduce the bulk even further. Micro Four Thirds is a particular lens mount system shared by Olympus and Panasonic so that you can share lenses between both brands.

Don't dismiss the Pentax dSLRs either. They're lighter and more compact than the comparable Nikon and Canon offerings, and there are huge numbers of cheap old Pentax lenses from earlier models which they can use (although for most you'll have to focus manually).