Say I'm an entry level photographer, should I go with Nikon or Canon?

Remember, I would have to stick with one brand because I would be investing in lenses in near future for that one brand. You can't use a Nikon lens on a Canon or vice versa.

Added (1). Can you please mention why the Nikon or Canon is better in your opinion?

I'd go for a Pentax, and Sony run rings around any of them for video.

Why not find a dealer and handle a couple of cameras within your price range? The right camera for you will show itself almost immediately.

Both are equally fine, it's a matter of personal preference entirely. Which one you prefer (in terms of the user interface and how it feels in your hands) only you can decide, by holding a camera of each brand in your hands in a camera store.

If you are buying used, there are a lot more Canons out there to choose from. That includes lenses too.

Historically Nikon has kept their value longer than Canon though.

Neither is better - it's like Coke or Pepsi - folks have their favourites.

Rather than take the advice from strangers on the Internet, go into a camera store & try out models within your price range from BOTH manufacturers. Check out menu choices, button position & general weight & 'feel' in your hands. Buy whichever one feels right for YOU.

As you said, you will be sticking with it for a long time.

They are both the same really.
Both Japanese
Both offer entry DSLRs
Both make cameras!

Personally I prefer Canon. Simply because of the operating system and the easy of use. No clumsy buttons on the outside which your face will press against when taking photos. Just my general preference. Nikon is probably better than Canon in some ways too!

Canon

No.

For goodness sake. You are a beginner photographer, a student even if you want to be called that way. Entry-level is another term for cheap dSLR's.

All dSLR's are good. They are all basically the same. DSLR's start at around $500. I suggest you set a budget higher than that to avoid entry-level models. They are the most difficult to use. Here is my favorite recommendation at the moment.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/..._with.html

At Entry level (affordable) go with Canon because there will not be as many metering and autofocus problems as there can be with Nikon if you want to use older and third party lenses. (This is how a lot of people learn by buying cheaper lenses on EBay. Pentax is back compatible further than any other. Sony will accept Autofocus lenses going back to the late 1980's in Minolta mount and can also meter manual lenses in the Maxxum mount.)
I think Nikon has the better sensors and noise processing - so if you definitely will only use the modern lenses it will be OK.