Is there an advantage to the Canon system?

Lens system. The Nikon lens system is confusing. Some lenses at a given length only manual focus, some autofocus in the lens, others via camera body. Some have 3D metering capabilities, others don't, etc. Horribly confusing.

Nikon's advantage, however, is their flash system. But to me that doesn't overcome the screwed up lens system which makes shooting a Nikon more of a pain in the a$$ than it needs to be. With my Canon I just attach a lens, whether it be a Canon or Sigma, and I know it's going to work just like the others in the bag. I don't have to compensate for the different metering or focusing that each lens might require like Nikons do.

I have always liked Canon over Nikon due to price considerations. I very carefully considered both back in the film days and noticed that virtually everything bearing the Nikon name had a higher price. It wasn't a huge difference but noticeable and would have added up over time.

I might also add that when I moved to a 60D I was able to use a great deal of my old equipment from film days including a Speedlight, a 28-105 EF lens, a 75-300 EF lens, etc. Although old these components still deliver and something like the old Speedlight still integrates well with the camera, even though it miht only be my backup flash. I would imagine that Nikon also has compatibity moving forward from film days.

If there is a shortcoming to the Canon line, it is lack of quality retailers where I live in Southeast Pennsylvania. There are multiple local Nikon dealers but I have to drive about 30 miles to find a dedicated Canon dealer (I'm excluding Best Buy, etc.).

No one has mentioned the Canon color. As a "people" photographer, getting great skintones right out of the camera is a big plus for me. Sure there are LR profiles and such that get Nikon cameras to approximate the look of Canon, but to the Canon system it comes naturally. Another big one for me is DPP. I shot Canon jpegs for years, and DPP gives me the ability to quickly and easily reproduce the look of the Canon jpegs while getting all of the extra latitude by shooting RAW. The software that Nikon created is TERRIBLE (I installed it to process some Nikon RAWs from a 2nd shooter). Another big one is the sRAW options. I very rarely need the full resolution of the 5DII, and would rather have the card/HD space. I love being able to shoot 10mp RAWS. Nikon users that buy the D800 are stuck at 36MP - with NO option to shoot a smaller RAW file and still maintain the full frame perspective.

User Interface was what got me going down the Canon road. Nikon didn't make sense to me. Canon did.

ergonomics. The " wheel" to be more specific.

jamiewexler wrote in post #14096529
No one has mentioned the Canon color. As a "people" photographer, getting great skintones right out of the camera is a big plus for me. Sure there are LR profiles and such that get Nikon cameras to approximate the look of Canon, but to the Canon system it comes naturally. Another big one for me is DPP. I shot Canon jpegs for years, and DPP gives me the ability to quickly and easily reproduce the look of the Canon jpegs while getting all of the extra latitude by shooting RAW. The software that Nikon created is TERRIBLE (I installed it to process some Nikon RAWs from a 2nd shooter). Another big one is the sRAW options. I very rarely need the full resolution of the 5DII, and would rather have the card/HD space. I love being able to shoot 10mp RAWS. Nikon users that buy the D800 are stuck at 36MP - with NO option to shoot a smaller RAW file and still maintain the full frame perspective.

Do you shoot jpg professionally?

Yeah. Having some bodies with the AF in the body while AF is in some of the lenses seems just too much a pain in the rear to me. I always felt the AF is the most likely piece to fail so I would never buy into a system that increases the odds that my camera body would fail when I needed it.

I always wanted a Nikon DSLR, but when i went to a local dealer ( Canon shop with huge logos outside) to buy one, he thought Iwas making fun of him... Then I asked him to tell me which company makes the big white lenses that all sports photographers have....! ( I thought they must be good ones!) He was laughing to death. But he gave me good discount at the end... Yes, I was that ignorant on photography!

jthomps123 wrote in post #14080086
Canon is far superior in video.

Would agree but Nikon blew me away at CES this year with their new cameras. I would much rather own a D4 which doesn't care about locking customers out of features to sell their dedicated video camera system...

I know the OP specifically asked not to nitpick about the hardware, but I think it is important to note that Nikon has the ability to include every feature it can invent in their DLSR line...Canon can't for a good long while, as they have different competing product lines.

Because when I flipped a quarter it landed on tails

Canon USED to have less expensive big Telephotos which WAS a consideration in purchasing Canon over Nikon.
However, with the new models coming out from Canon that has flipped and Nikon is much less expensive now.
These new Canon IS 2 lenses must be made of gold and unobtainium to be priced that high.

I still stick with Canon as I will pick up a used IS 1 lens in the future for a "reasonable" price.

Nikon doesn't appear to be concerned about one product stealing sales from another. Canon is very protective of it's segmented product offering.

I didn't actually 'pick' Canon. My wife gave me a Rebel XS as a Christmas present, and you know how GREAT Christmas presents are! I came from an old Oly OM2n and a Toshiba P&S and I was in hog heaven with the Rebel! The next week I upgraded to the XSi for $35 and that suited my purposes for the past 3 years. I upgraded again to the 7D last November, and I could not be happier. I like the Canon system!

I actually prefer the way Canon's flash system works. The exposure is spot on a huge majority of the time, though the metering isn't as complex. The one clincher for me is that you can change your camera's exposure with exposure compensation, and that is separate from exposure compensation on the flash. If you dial down your EC in-camera on a Nikon, it affects flash output as well. AFAIK, from the last time I used a Nikon D7000 w/SB-600.

I also really like the lens system, no worries over compatibility. Also the used market is much better for Canon. There is tons of Canon stuff on craigslist all the time... not the case for Nikon.

The Canon primes line-up is just awesome. The cheap lenses are cheap (and just perform well), and the expensive ones are amazing.

The Canon super-telephoto line-up is better.

I really like the interface/controls of the Canon system, moreso with the lower tier cameras. Canon's just seems like it was made for more 'serious' shooting.

All that being said, Nikon has its advantages too...

Difficult question, but my decision did come down to the camera. It felt more intuitive in the canon.
Also when I purchased my first canon EOS film camera about 20 years ago, the AF was unmatched.
Not as much now.
I really think both canon and Nikon have a vast and comprehensive system.