I can't be much help on the Canons bc I don't use that line, so I hesitate to say much there in terms of
details - but I do know it's a *great* camera line and people love it just like they love the Nikons. I really don't think you can go wrong w/ either line, just depends on which feels right to you.
As for the
Nikon D3000 vs. D5000 - the *real* differences as far as I can tell are Movie Mode, Live View, and a Tilt Screen -- all of which to me really means..."movie mode" at the end of the day (again, to me). So, how important is having video to you? Or Live View?
They are both wonderful cameras -- one thing to be aware of on both the 3000 & the 5000 is that you will have lens limitations due to the fact that neither of these camera bodies has a lens focus motor --> therefore, you have to buy more expensive lenses that have their *own* focus motors IN the lens itself. This can be more limiting, and sometimes a little frustrating.
Other Nikon cameras, like the D70, D80, D90, D200, D300 etc etc are more pricey...but they do not have the lens limitations - and they also will have almost all (and more) of the camera features of the D3000/5000.
Argh...hope that helped and didn't just confuse
...