Canon VS Nikon and the rest

What to choose, and what the camera for your needs 

Your needs
Its not all that simple, it really depends upon your needs, I once got my hands on a great little canon because its previous owner need to do 30 fps in 1080p and it only did 25 fps - I did not really need to record so what a bargain. 
So figure out what your needs are, if you don´t know where are great entry level cameras where you can play around and experiment until you find your thing. 

Advices
Most photographers are fan-boys and mainly sear to one thing, however, all brands have different strengths and weaknesses. Please keep in mind when asking for advice on buying a new camera what experiences does the "oracle" really have. My advice would be that usually you get what you pay for, meaning price vs features/quality seems to go hand in hand, with that said a relatively cheaper Pentax K-30 then its rivals in same class out price and out preform them. 

Brands
It is not just about mega pixels. Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax etc. all have their own characteristics, I found that I preferred canons software, it seems easier to figure out (less step) perhaps more logical then the Nikon, but I assure you, its all a matter of habit and getting used to. 

You might have found a price range you want to invest in, here again brands differ; some has smaller or larger houses, a small is easy to carry but a large is easier to stabilize, it just rest better in your hands. 

To be honest I don't think one brand is necessarily better then the other, but the cameras themselves are. 

The spectrum
If you are buying a camera in the lowest possible scale they seem to all look very much alike, and if you go very very high-end its the same story, its the mid to high range where the difference comes in, and its a case to case study. 

My advice
Forget the brands, choose a price, then choose a cheaper camera can get a great lens, the glass really makes a huge difference. Also forget pixels, today most cameras has plenty of pixels, the difference lies in low-light quality and noise. Save on the house (slightly) and spend more on a lens. Get comfortable with your camera and go out there. 

Should I buy:
An entry level I would look at the Nikon D610

A mid-high range I would go for perhaps a Canon 70D
If I where into filming the Sony Alpha A99 sacks the field
Pixel-mongering, Nikon D800 has 36 megapixels is a game changer

If money is not an issue, the EOS 5D Mark III from Canon 
If I want the best, Nikon D4 or Canon 1D X.

Thanks for reading