What DSLR camera should I purchase? - 1

I'm looking to buy a DSLR and where I live, there are few who know anything about cameras. Currently, I'm looking at the Canon 500D, just because it's more in my price range and I like the quality of the images.

I'm fairly loyal to Canon, but if you can make a good argument for Nikon I would definitely consider it. I'm looking for an DSLR for taking family photos, as well as some nature and head shots for my acting clients.

Any suggestions?

I was in the same boat as you trying to decide on a Canon or Nikon. I chose Nikon because that was a brand I already had, and had lenses from another camera. But I did test both, and what I decided was that the Canon produced a better photo, just by hairs if you will. The difference to my between Nikon and Canon is a little bit like the difference in art between fine art and illustration. Both images are exquisite, one is just a bit crisper, sharper and precise - the camera that was that was the Canon.

The ONLY reason to go with Nikon is if you pick the right body you can meter couple with ANY older, manual lens, that has been what is called AI'ed (Automatic Indexing). This opens the door to gazillion lenses now that can be used and they don't have to be made BY Nikon. Even older yet lenses can be AI'ed.
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There's also another very in-expensive fix for older manual lenses that will allow them to work on other digital bodies NOT AI'ed. This is called the Dandelion Chip. It is a $35 small electronic chip that epoxies on the rear of a older manual Nikon mount lens allowing the camera to now know what lens is on it and to act accordingly when metering. You still only have manual focus tho.
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Canon will never accept any of it's older lenses. Because of this, don't expect Canon to have a chip for such either.
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Tit for tat, both are in the same price range as you go up the scale in models and keep them side by side and both have lenses hardly affordable to almost never affordable.IQ, Image Quality, is not an issue as long as you compare proper price range between models. Don't use a $500 camera against a $2000 as a comparison.
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Go with what YOUR research tells YOU… List YOUR needs and find the camera that fills it. Also buy a camera MORE than you need because you can grow into it. Why buy it twice in just a couple years. My 05 D-SLR is still hanging in there VERY well and it still has the same feature as most new cameras today. Same size sensor for the majority as well and IQ is fantastic. If needed, I would buy it again today if I lost it somehow. It's a modifyed Nikon D-200.It is a Fuji S-5 Pro.
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Nikon D3000 Digital SLR Camera with Nikon AF-S DX 18-55mm lens from Nikon in Camcorders & Digital Cameras its not a canon but it is definitely better.