Canon have range of lenses for cheaper and Nikon has the motor in the lenses for the cheaper models so once you get to D90 and up, the motor is in the body which allows you to get older lenses that have not motor for auto focusing.
If you want, you should look at the Rebel XSi, good starter camera or the Nikon D5000...another brand to look at is Sony, probably the BEST lenses out there IMO.
I have yet to buy one, but I currently have 3 Nikor lenses so I am leaning on the D300 or D90. But just for the body, and they are about $900.
Remember that Canon and Nikon are up there competition wise. They don't really have much of a EQUAL camera, they one up each other. So if you look at a canon and nikon, it is likely that their will be a canon/nikon that is just above or just below it.
Another thing to throw out there, make sure you check how heavy they are ( i would not get any plastic bodys, can break, light can get let into them if the plastic warps. So get the full metal bodys for BEST long lasting camera.
Steve
