Spot on! tis a lovely camera the d300s was just slightly out of my price range at the time.

I was very tempted to get a used d300 on ebay as they almost go for around the same price as a new d90....worth thinking about if you dont mind buying second hand gear.

They are both great cameras. I use a D90 and I love it, especially in low light. I've got friends that shoot Canon and they love them. My first serious DSLR was a Fuji S2Pro, which uses the Nikon F mount. With 2 very expensive peices of 2.8 glass already, Nikon was the smart choice for me. If you still have any Canon glass on hand you could use with a 50D, that might be the way to go. I did a lot of research before I went with the D90 and I beleive it offers the best "bang for the buck". Excellent sensor, same as the $5,000 D3, and it works with my 40 year old 50mm 1.4.