What brand/model is better, nikon or canon?

I'm looking for a very nice camera for taking high quality pictures of my family, as well as possibly maybe doing some senior pictures or birthday parties. I'm looking to spend $400-$1000 on the camera body, and whatever suggested lens's i might need.

Nikon.

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Digital Camera - 35x Zoom Lens price $389.95

Canon Rebel T2i Digital SLR Camera +4 Lens 16GB USA Kit price: $981.95

i personally prefer the canon powershot. It has much value for its small price

My suggestion is sony w series ( good performance ) with carl zies lens.buy it u ll be proud for buying it. By comparing with others.

I think it is a HUGE matter of preference. If you're going with a dSLR, I would recommend Nikon. If you want a point and shoot then you need to get out there and try them in different situations. If you're looking at doing children then having an adjustable shutter speed and higher ISO would be very nice. If you're looking at doing this semi-pro then also compare sensor size and types. The bigger then sensor, the more expensive the camera usually. Both Canon and Nikon have base level dSLRs starting around $500 which will require more time and effort to learn but would be worth it for the better looking picture (because dSLRs have much much larger lenses than point and shoots), they are bulky and would be worth an investment of a good camera bag.

Since you said body and lenses separately, I will assume you mean DSLR.

As for that, both Nikon and Canon are at the forefront of dslr technology. It does not matter which way you go.

With your budget, the best camera would probably be the D90, which is a last gen camera, but one of the best cameras for that price on the market. If you can spend an extra $200, you can get the Nikon D7000 body which is a phenomenal camera that will meet your needs.
As for lenses, family portraits and whatnot calls for the Nikkor 50mm fixed f1.4 (if you can afford it), the f1.8 if you need a cheaper, but still very good option. Another lens to look at would be the Nikkor 18-200mm which will cover your wide angle to telephoto very well.

now if I misunderstood your question, meaning $1000 is the MAX you want to spend on everything, then the best would be the Nikon D3100 which is the best beginner DSLR on the market as it features the most up-to-date sensor. That will cost $700 and it comes with an 18-55mm lens which is perfect for wide angle family stuff. The 50mm lens still stands as one that you should get for portraits.

Canon!

Check out http://www.kenrockwell.com/...ameras.htm

I just bought the D5000 a few days ago… His guide is quite helpful. Be sure to click the link through his web site so that he can get an affiliate credit for referring you!

Both, neither.

Both companies are well known for the professional camera systems they have been providing for decades, Nikon since 1959 and Canon since 1988.

Some provide more bang for the buck in any given price and feature range.

At present, the Nikon D3100 has the most features at $700 than the Canon 550D at $900 (both are entry level dSLR's) In addition, the Nikon is the only entry level dSLR that can shoot in the Full HD video mode and provide auto-focus

Both are great companies. Each model they have differs in features with each other, but one is not inherently better than the other. Anyone who gives a clear cut answer as to which company is better simply does not know photography whatsoever.