DMonteseri has some excelent info for you. Are you hoping to do concert photos? If so, look for low light performance. What lenses/system are you currently using? If you already have a ton of gear, choosing a system that can reuse your lenses can make a big difference if you have a significant investment in glass. I have a D70 and really like it, but I do think Canon's sensors tend to perform better in low light, although the new D50 sensor does a better job than the D70. As I remember the Canons will also go to ASA100 for bright daylight if you want to shoot larger apertures. I'll also second the advice that the Nikon kit lens is very good while the Canon is not so great. So if you go the Canon route you might just get a body and buy a good lens seperately. Both the Canon and Nikon have very good menus and you will be happy either way there. I love digital and can't imagine going back to film. The ease of shooting, low cost, and flexibility are unbeatable. Just be ready to buy lots of DVDs for archiving.