Should I purchase a Nikon or a Canon?

So my dads going to buy me a new camera if my grades are good and i've narrowed down my choices to these cameras…

Nikon D3000
http://www.nikonusa.com/...D3000.html

Nikon D5000
http://www.nikonusa.com/...D5000.html

Canon EOS Rebel T3 18-55mm IS II Kit
http://www.usa.canon.com/..._is_ii_kit

Which one is better?

The first one is my favorite. I hope to get it sometime this year or early next year!

But my second choice would be the other Nikon, the D5000. Don't like Canons that much;sorry.

Both the D3000 and D5000 take amazing pictures with great quality, so either one is fine.

The "best" camera is the one that feels natural in your hands and that you can operate almost instinctively.

The best thing to do is visit your local camera shop and see which ones have everything you are wanting and feels good in your hands. I prefer my Canon for its ergonomics and the menu layout, a fellow photog prefers Nikon for the same reason.

Don't forget to budget in an extra battery, memory cards, and a camera case. Then start saving up so that once you have learned to properly use your camera with its kit lens, you will have an idea of which additional lenses you want to get.

Canon you can program it

Refer to the guide below

I have a Nikon D300 & I absolutely LOVE it! It takes great pictures. Is this your first SLR camera? If so, the Nikon D300 & Nikon D500 are very user friendly. Easy use. I'm a Nikon girl. I just don't like Cannon. My aunt has a Canon EOS Rebel T3 and I compare my camera and hers all the time. I feel my camera has a better sound of the flash and better quality and better hold of the camera and I feel that the Nikon is more organized and everything isn't all over the place.

anyway, I'd say a Nikon D300 or a Nikon D500 are great. The only big difference between those two is that the Nikon D500 takes videos & the Nikon D300 does not.

So my final opinion, the Nikon D500:) good luck!