Nikon SLR or Cannon EOS?

Which one should I get. Granted I'm a beginner. But I've wanted one for a really really long time. So which one do you prefer? Nikon or Cannon.

Get a cannon, they are made for people like you

Nikon D5000 or D5100

Go with Nikon SLR.

Go Nikon SLR, see review here http://digital-camera.lapak24.com/

You really can't go wrong in either case. I've shot both and recommend both. Unless you are looking at the professional models, the entry and mid-level models from these two are more similar than they are different. I'd strongly recommend visiting your nearest camera shop and trying both for yourself. You'll discover your own preferences.

Beyond this, sooner or later, someone will post a link to the DXO benchmark website to illustrate their belief that Nikon is better than all other models in the same price range. While I'll freely admit that since 2007, Nikon seems to have found the secret sauce to making great cameras, Canon is still a great option. You really have to get above $1000 to start seeing major differences in features/performance between these brands and even then, there's no clear winner across the board. It's all a matter of personal preference.

The key thing to remember is that you need to choose carefully because with any DSLR or interchangeable lens camera, you are buying into a system of lenses and camera bodies. Canon and Nikon are the most dominant in this field by a very wide margin. The two of them enjoy a combined market share of over 80% of all DSLR sales. In either case, once you've made a choice, you'll likely stick with that system for several years or more. It can be an expensive proposition for a mature photographer to switch from Canon to Nikon or vice versa if he's spent years buulding up a set of a half-dozen or so high quality lenses to cover all his needs. In the long term, it is not unusual for a photographer to have significantly more money invested in his lenses and other accessories than the cameras themselves.