Which is the better camera. Cannon or Nikon? - 1

I'm trying to save for my first SLR camera but have no idea which one to buy. When I do buy one it will be either a Cannon or Nikon. However I'm not sure which camera would fit my needs better.

I need a camera that will shoot excellent macro shots (true macro if possible) with a shallow depth of field and great / amazing clarity. These things are a must as I shoot mostly close-up or macro flower shots.

If possible I would also love the camera to be able to take beautiful landscape shots. Right now I'm working on a Fuji FinePix S4500 and the clarity and shallow depth of field on this camera is lacking something terrible. Not sure if it's just cause it's new and I'm not acquainted with everything it can do.

Anyway if someone could give some advice as to which camera… Cannon or Nikon would be better suited for my needs I would greatly appreciate it.

Look at reviews of the models of both manufacturers. Both make excellent cameras for your needs. A lot of the pros have both.

The body of the camera, be it Canon or Nikon or Sony or Pentax, makes very little difference. If you stick to similar priced models, you will find that you can do anything you want with any of them. You can't tell a Canon print from a Nikon print, or any of the others for that matter. The only real difference between them is how they feel in your hand.

The things you want to do require the proper lenses and accessories, not any specific camera. A good macro lens on any of the brands will give you what you want, as will a good wide angle lens for landscapes. Of course you have to learn the proper way to get the shots you want, or you are just wasting your time and money.

It is all personal preference.

I used to own Canon, but I dumped them after they instantly obsoleted all of my lenses in the '80s by changing the lens mount - which meant I would have to buy all new lenses. At that point I went to Nikon and have never regretted my decision.

I have some advice, but you probably won't like it…
The Fujifilm Finepix S4500 is a lower end bridge camera. It can only do so much. It can take nice photos, but you have to take the time to learn how to use it. It's not the camera, it's the person behind it…
Depth of field has to do with the lens, not the camera.
It's Canon, not Cannon…
Nikon & Canon both make excellent cameras. Two good entry level cameras are the Nikon D3100, and the Canon Rebel T3.
Now for my advice… Go to the nearest library and see what kind of books they have for a beginner photographer. You may also want to read the owners manual for the S4500. This camera is capable of very good photos.

Nikon, a cannon is a weapon.

If you only know two manufacturers and can't spell one of them, you aren't ready for a DSLR.

It's Canon, not Cannon. There's no better brand. And it's a three horse race, Sony Alpha cameras should be on your list as well. Each brand or camera systems brings with it pros and cons. Not only is all that too lengthy to list here, but it's been answered here every single day in one form or the other for the past few years, sometimes several times a day.

It's up to you to do the research. It could take a few weeks honestly of reading a few articles every day, just various reviews about all the Nikon, Sony and Canon dSLRs, learning the terms, and picking up some photography knowledge along the way.

There are no dSLR/dSLT cameras that take great macro shots or shallow depth of field. That's a lens thing, not a camera thing. You are still stuck in a compact camera mindset. That's OK, it's going to take time to stop thinking that way, to stop thinking in terms of "zoom" numbers and megapixels.

To take great macro shots, you'll need a true macro lens, for landscapes, you'll need a wide-ish angle lens, and it needs to be sharp. Don't get caught up in people telling you that one brand is the best, they are being dishonest, and they aren't doing anything to help you. You'll need to examine the different systems and models and decide for yourself.

If your budget is enough for an entry level dSLR, you will be looking at Nikon's D3100, D3200, Canon's T3, T2i, T3i, and Sony's A37, and probably their best overall entry level model the A57. Read all the reviews you can find, and check You tube they have lots of great reviews too.