Canon or Nikon... I think they are complete equals. The brand in this case will make no difference in photography. About photoshopping, just a hint to you guys... I don't even own photoshop or know how to use it. I use an ancient program called Microsoft Photodraw 2000 for all my graphics & editing work.
All my pics are as you see it, with some batch sharpening, and batch watermarking. Just go here:
http://www.ftvgirls.com/super.html
for examples of non-edited work. And that is before I started shooting 'raw'.
Because I am forced to use natural light so often, I am shooting anywhere between 100-500 ISO. I do not go over 500.. it gets too grainy then.