Canon vs Nikon disputes will take longer to resolve than the Isreal vs Palestine one.
I see it this way:
- At any given price-point Canon and Nikon have models so similar that you won't be able to tell any difference, unless you print something poster-size (and even then probably not).
- I prefer Canon Menus, always have, so simple and intuitive. You may think a menu system isn't important....until you try and use a Sony menu system.
- Canon have the biggest selection of lenses available, new or used, Canon or 3rd Party. This is the biggest reason to choose Canon in my opinion. It nearly always comes down to the glass and the choice is simply huge.
I think Canon are very much the Honda of the Camera body World, never that exciting but do the job and do it reliably. They do have some stunning glass though.
I actually decided on a Canon based on holding a few cameras and preferring how it felt. I knew that the tech specs would be similar for my given budget.