As far as the Malaysian market, Canon has been a long choice of the public which have that extra cash for your typical digicam, unless you're those that wanna own one for maybe Rm599 or Rm699 among others. Canon's IXUS is more expensive that Nikon's Coolpix range at some point, so is the Powershot range. Sony digicams are mostly for enthusiastes or those that need a more fashionable or pocketable digicam to own. Others like Pentax or Olympus serve their own market.

I always tell those people who finds it hard to decide between Canon or Nikon when coming to budget on lenses : You dun chose a car based on the cost of upgrading. If you ask me about pricing, the price of Canon and Nikon lenses has stood the test of time and AFTER YOU BARGAIN, their price is more or less the same, this can't be said about Olympus and Sony's range of lenses though (for the Alpha). 3rd party products are abundant for Canon and Nikon and should you prefer a certain brand, go ahead with it. In the end, both brand is a good brand, it's your interest that counts.

so it's thing im telling with ah heng
For the system, Nikon and Canon is almost the same. Canon maybe have a bit more choice of their own lens ( compare to Nikkor but 3rd party lens is the same ) but some of them is suck ( like kit lens ) and some good but too expensive ( L lens ). Nikkor trinity 12-24, 24-70, 70-200 f/2.8 are very hard to beat, can not say Canon lens is better
For the system, Pentax is the cheapest ( lens + body ), but i personally don't like colour of Pentax although can shoot raw then edit afterward. Olympus, Panasonic & Sony body maybe cheap but lens are expensive and less choices.

sure u'll having problem to make the decision~~
hahahah~~i'm already going with nikon since i like nikon for no reason~~the thing that i can compare between nikon n canon was just the sound of the shutter when u pull the trigger~~hehehe~~canon sounds fun but nikon sounds more serious~click!

I had this dilemma previously before I bought the 400D due to $$$ consideration. But if you count it properly and you look at the bigger grip on the D80 (which you have to buy BG-E3 grip ~Rm400++) and then you have to get a another lens besides the kit lens to be equilvalent to Nikon's, ++Rm2000?? then end up same-same.. Just different.

But some people say and what I've read is that for Canon, they tend to focus more on the prosumer range, fine tune, fine tune then only come out for the Pro version.

In any case, I've already gotten the 400D + Battery Grip + 50mm f1.8 and loving it. Small grip no more issue. (and so is battery running out..)

As a newbie to photography, and its equipment, my personal thinking is to go for a better performance brand, then learn to adapt to it.

So, between 2 models, my consideration will be based on the followings:
1. better spec on the paper? (ok, this can research ownself)
2. lower noise over full range of iso (dpreview may have it)
3. faster (and accurate) auto-focus, even at low light condition
4. more accurate auto mode (bcos need camera to teach under what condition, use what setting . . ., no sifu beside me to guide me)
5. convenient customer service (since i m NOT in KL)
6. equipment depreciate slower

if using the above to decide between 400D and D80, which should I pick?

Thank you.

May i know what is the market price at sungei wang,bb plaza,lowyat for D80 body only?