Nikon vs canon? Can't de sided which would be best?

Should I pick a Nikon or a Canon? I keep getting mixed reviews. Which is better over all including customer service and repairs?

At entry and mid level DSLR cameras neither, other manufacturers offer much better cameras at a cheaper price.

Canon is old technology, they make their own sensors which are a few generations behind the likes of Sony and it's shows in more noise and poor low light/ high ISO performance. Even their top end full frame models are now being out performed by APS sized sensors these days for low noise and low light performance.

Nikon 'cripple' their entry level cameras with a lack of functions, if you want to try HDR and need auto bracketing for instance, you have to buy a Nikon camera further up the chain as their entry level cameras can't do it. Even to the point of having no remote shutter release socket which is a pretty basic requirement. This strikes me as a cynical policy as auto bracketing is a firmware function and could easily be incorporated, and a remote socket would add a few pence to production costs.

With either brand you have to pay extra for any lens you buy if you want image stabilisation, with other makes it's built into the camera and any lens you fit is image stabilised.

Pentax offers a much better and fairer deal than either as does Olympus (expensive, but you can see where the extra money is used).

Nikon is territorial when it comes to service. A store will cater only to units they sold. A service center will prioritize units sold by its distributors. Canon will accept all units but service isn't friendly nor satisfying. When it comes to aftersales service, Sony is the best.

If you want a compact camera, get a Canon or Lumix.
If you want a dSLR get a Nikon or Canon.

It's simple. If Nikon/Canon would be better than the competition, you'd already go with that one cause you'd see everywhere one is bad. But you don't, because they're the same thing.

Listen, you can't compare brands - you need to compare specific models. Nikon D3100, Canon EOS T3 and T2i are your best options. Image quality is the same.

Here's a DSLR Buying Guide - http://www.the-dslr-photographer.com/2009/11/which-dslr-to-buy/