Which is the better option in digital SLRs Canon or Nikon?

I have an old manual Pentax SLR and a new-ish Canon Powershot digital point and shoot camera...but would like to upgrade to a new digital SLR. What would you recommend? Canon or Nikon...and what additional lens and accessories would you recommend? Thankyou for your advice.

Since you have a PENTAX, if you have any extra lenses for it you might want to look at the new PENTAX K-series DSLR cameras. The latest is the K10D which is 10mp, has image stabilization built into the body and accepts all previous K-mount lenses.

As to what lenses and accessories you'll need that's pretty much up to you. Its a good idea to list your photographic interests. If you want to do extreme close-ups of flowers, insects, etc. then you'll want a true macro lens*. If you enjoy sports then a good long zoom will be needed - at least 300mm at the long end. If you want to do portraits, then a portrait lens equivalent to 85mm to 105mm should be on your list**. If you like wide sweeping scenics then you'll want a wide angle lens.

As to accessories, again that depends on what your interests are. Will you need a camera that supports an off-camera flash? Will you be using a tripod or monopod?

The only items I believe should absolutely, positively be in every photographer's possession are: A Skylight 1A (uncoated) or 1B (coated) filter which should live on every lens you own. These filters are cheap protection for that front element. A good quality (B+W, HOYA, TIFFEN - brands I've owned for yrs.) circular*** polarizing filter. This filter can be used to produce dark blue skies, reduce reflections from water, glass or painted metal.

* A true macro lens is a fixed-focal length lens, such as the SIGMA 70mm f2.8 macro. This gives you a reproduction ratio of between 1:2 (1/2 life size) and 1:1 (life size). It is designed for close focusing and is a flat field lens. Zoom lenses with "macro" on them are usually capable of a 1:4 (1/4 life size) image.

** This range, 85mm, 100mm, 105mm is based on fixed-focal length 35mm film camera lenses. Depending on your camera choice, the conversion factor is either 1.6 or 1.5 so a 50mm @ 1.6 would be equivalent to an 80mm on a DSLR; a 70mm @ 1.6 = 112mm. Although many zoom lenses cover this range, a fixed-focal length portrait lens will be faster (perhaps f2 or f2.8) which allows you to blur the background. NOTE: Resist the temptation to use your macro for portraits unless your subject has perfect skin. The macro is simply too sharp - it will show any blemish in great detail.

*** There are two types of polarizing filters - circular and linear. The linear one will not work with AF and through lens metering.

Nikon
Sony
Canon

The Sony SLR has actually been rated for taking better images than Nikon up to the D80 which costs about $1399. The Sony SLR can be gotten for under $1000 including the lens. The Canon is a good product, but it's not better than the Sony or the Nikon products and overall output.

Hey another former Pentax shooter! I picked Nikon myself because back when I was shooting my Pentax it was always Nikon who had the better optics of the "Big 5". Canon picked up the digital stuff sooner, so they've been playing in that field longer than most anyone, probably a bunch more accessories available for Canons, and a ton of camera models to choose from and confuse the hell out of you. I saw a Sony P&S and noticed that they had Zeiss optics. Let's face it, those guys make some of the best glass in the world, but my problem is that Sony isn't a camera company, it's an electronics company that makes cameras. Unfortunately there are arguments all over the map, I picked the D50 and haven't looked back. A good high-powered flash is always a good accessory, the little pop ups don't really do much and let's face it, it's all about the lighting. I got the new SB-400 and it's really affordable (comparably speaking) and rated out to 66ft.

I have been taking pictures for a long time now ever since I was in High school and I swear by Nikon brand. I have two Nikon SLR 35mm cameras a N80 and a N65. I love them both. Just recently i upgraded to a digital Nikon D40x. So far I love it and it has been great for photographing weddings and senior pictures. As to what accessories to get it depends on what you like to take pictures of. If you enjoy taking pictures of landscapes or buildings then you may want to invest in a wide angle lense. If you enjoy taking pictures of aniamals I would recamend a zoom lense. It all depends on what you're into.

You will get similar selection and quality from either Canon or Nikon. I am a Canon owner, but the difference is mostly how the camera feels and operates to your liking. The quality of image and optics of these two brands are VERY close. Most of the image quality from DSLRs comes from the lens. The better lenses you invest in the sharper your pictures will be. Nikon and Canon have tons of lenses (both new and used) to choose from.

My suggestion is to go to your local electronics retailer and try both camera's in your hand. Work the controls and look through the viewfinder. Also instruction manuals for both brands are free online in downloadable PDF form. Flip through the instructions and see what seems easier to operate for you.

Everyone has a biased opinion about DSLRs but the right decision is really what you comfortable with.

my suggestion
go to yahoo shopping
digital cameras
digital camera GUIDE
be sure to check titles on the left side
the guide should answer your questions

Go to a bunch of photography websites which give technical details and look at a few dozen pictures.

If you can tell which camera made the better pictures, buy that one.

There's no way of recommending lenses or accessories without knowing what you are going to take pictures of.

this 1
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-Di...

My advice, when talking about SLRs, ask about specific models; best SLR models which does not cost much money are Pentax K10D, Olympus E510, Nikon D40x.

don't forget that lens provided with the cameras are usually not that good, and that with the pentax lens that u have can only be mounted on a pentax...!! so my advise take the Pentax K10D