why don't u ask yourself these question first...I did up a chart before I made my first move decade ago :
1. What system are u comfortable with...in terms of handling, seen shooting with, results as well as $$$ spend now and future.
2. What is your main area if say u out grow your general photography period.
3. What areas of friends etc. that influence u.
4. What is your personal opinion of individual brands.
I give u my answer back then :
1. I like the way canon places their buttons. Back then the Nikon film bodies are full of confusing buttons whereby the canon 1 series body buttons 2 hands can count. I also like the white bodies of canon and during my time canon lenses and bodies are far cheaper than Nikons. A canon L lense is about 1-2k where a Nikon lense is at least 2k up.
2. I'm into portriature at that time, outdoor type. So I don't need Minolta excellent flash system. And I go nature shooting alot, so canon USM lenses serve me better.
3. I don't have any friends that take photos, so its up to me to choose C, M or N.
4. At that time my own thinking is that Canon is more trendy and hi-tech and Nikon more for the ah pehs. But that is strictly my PERSONAL opinion back then because most Nikon users progress from manual and those that stick with Nikon belongs to the older generation.
When u choose a camera, u are more or less stuck with that system. A lot of good die hard photogs that stick to this hobby for decades like myself stupidly falls into the trap that the camera that we hold today determines our lifetime. U should never make yourself drop into this dilemma because if u stick to shooting years later, somehow u will upgrade your bodies.
Like myself, I know in time to come I will upgrade and I know I'm not a fickle minded person who would relentless pursue this hobby for life. Hence I bought a lousy canon model which Nikon has a better model within the same range.
But I know where I'm heading so I stick to it and start from the beginning. But during film photography time, models can sit for many years unlike now so u might have a tougher time to determine. Nevertheless, the lenses and bodies design as well as the trend is predictable so u go figure which system u have more faith in.
Getting a body now is not everything. In my time, a film body is really a body...the lenses and flashes are like limps. Now digital time the body is like limps, u upgrade your body much faster than your lenses. Say 80-200 f2.8, we waited like 6 years to go to 70-200 f2.8 and another 6 years to go IS mode. But now the body every year u get more powerful bodies at half the price. Like 2 years back, I beg my wife to let me get the 20D, beg for a couple of months then use for a couple more, 5D come out. Then she ask me want to get 5D or not...then I say that will be best.:sweatsm: Then she say beg for another 10 month plus and 6D will come out. :lovegrin: So u get the picture?
If u need something to shoot now before your subject goes off, ask yourself question 1, 3, 4. Getting one now to start shooting beats u keep waiting and waiting until D90 or 500D comes out. And not forgetting your other accessories. So sometimes budget is everything.
In case u still cannot decide, get the price of both, go to your mum or dad or GF, BF...they will decide for u.