My camera is a Nikon D80, the previous generation to the D90. While I will not be upgrading my camera to a D90 any time soon (though maybe a higher model in a year or two), I will not be swayed to Canon any time soon. Between these two, it is really personal choice of what features you want and which feels better to you for holding and operating. Both handle exceptionally easily, though the D90 has a dedicated live view button (something Canon has not integrated on any current DSLR; perhaps on the 50D or the 5D Mark II). The only thing of what you listed that would tell me to recommend the D90 over the Rebel XSi would be the bad lighting. This is because Nikon's D90 is capable of using up to ISO 3200 (ISO 6400 with the boost). Not only that, but as it incorporates a lot of the technology from the D300, it does a great job of removing a lot of the noise (severely off-colour pixels) from the photographs shot at ISO 800 - 3200. The other things you ask for are dependent on the lenses you plan to purchase (though the bad lighting can also be helped along by certain lens specifications). That would be the reason why I will not be switching over to a Canon DSLR any time soon. While the lenses are of stellar quality, you do find some lenses that really just don't quite match up (such as the 18-55mm kit lens, I must say) to the quality of higher lenses. With Nikon, not only are the lenses generally of equal (or sometimes better) quality with Canon (again, noting that 18-55 kit lens), but many will also be significantly less expensive. Take for example the 70-200mm F2.8 IS/VR (IS from Canon, VR from Nikon... it's the anti-shake system). The price of that lens is $300 less from Nikon than it is from Canon, and on a crop-sensor camera such as the D90 or the XSi, the Nikon will actually outperform the Canon. The reverse of that last part would be true on a professional camera (Canon 5D or 1D Mark III, Nikon D700 or D3). I would recommend going in to the local camera store and actually handling both these cameras. If you like the feel, weight, and such of the Nikon, go for it. If you prefer the feel, weight, and such of the Canon, then go for that. Both will only perform as well as you ask them to in any given situation. As a side note, they are both at the 12 megapixel point. I fully realize there is that .x number of megapixels difference, but that is practically neglegible to be frank with you. Unless you absolutely need a faster frame-rate, the two will perform almost the same as far as a speed range.