With the discontinuation of the D40, the D3000 will be Nikon’s cheapest dSLR.

Features

• 10.2megapixel CCD sensor. Even in low light the image resolution makes easy work of big prints and sharp enlargements.
• 11-point autofocus system. Keeps even the fastest moving subjects in focus, often the biggest challenge for compact cameras
• Fast response. The start up time and shutter lag means you can capture the shot almost instantly, without the delayed response time common of compact cameras
• Guide mode. Simply the easiest way to get great pictures, without having to read the manual
• 3-inch TFT. With pictures this good, you will need a great screen to share them with friends and family
• EXPEED image processing. Exclusive system to deliver rich, bright results close to what you saw with your own eyes
• Picture Controls. Lets you set the look and mood of your images before you shoot
• 3 fps continuous shooting allows you to capture fast-moving action at 3 frames per second
• Intuitive ergonomics. We challenge anyone to pick up a D3000 and it not to feel part of your hand
• Stylish discrete appearance. The D3000 does not become a barrier between you and your subject, resulting in natural looking expressions
• Compact, light and durable. It won’t fit in your pocket, but with pictures this good you will find a shoulder to hang it on

You can find a hands-on here:

Nikon D3000 brief hands-on

And full details of the camera here:

Nikon unveils D3000 entry-level DSLR

Looking forwards to some reviews soon, it would be a great travel companion with something like the Sigma 10-20mm HSM UWA lens.

Features

• 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor
• 8 frames per second continuous shooting
• 1080p HD video recording with manual controls
• 3.0 inch Clear View II LCD screen with 920,000 dots
• 19-point AF system (all cross-type)
• 1.0x magnification and 100% coverage viewfinder
• Wireless flash control
• Environmental sealing

It’s quite a beast, especially with 18megapixels, I think Canon finally released their 40/50D couldn’t compete with the Nikon D300 and now the D300s, so they had to step up their game.

Now they have with a high end APS-C (crop sensor) model in their line-up with dual Digic IV processors.

The full hands on preview is here:

Canon EOS 7D Preview

You can find sample images here:

Canon EOS 7D Preview Samples

It’s been a while since the Nikon D60 came out so the market is perhaps ripe for a newer slightly higher spec model.

Nikon D5000 Key Features

• 12.9 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor (effective pixels: 12.3 million)
• 2.7″ tilt and swivel LCD monitor (230,000 dots)
• Movie capture at up to 1280 x 720 (720p) 24 fps with mono sound
• Live View with contrast-detect AF, face detection and subject tracking
• Image sensor cleaning (sensor shake)
• 11 AF points (with 3D tracking)
• IS0 200-3200 range (100-6400 expanded)
• 4 frames per second continuous shooting (buffer: 7 RAW, 25 JPEG fine, 100 JPEG Normal)
• Expeed image processing engine
• Extensive in-camera retouching including raw development and straightening
• Connector for optional GPS unit (fits on hot shoe)
• New battery with increased capacity
• 72 thumbnail and calendar view in playback

There are some interesting design choices, personally I’m not sure if I’d prefer a bigger higher spec screen – or this tilting kind the D5000 has and is generally seen on consumer cameras.

Quite a lot of the D90 features have been put into this camera though making it a formidable piece of kit.

Nikon D5000 vs D60: Key Differences

• 12.3 MP CMOS sensor (D60: 10.2 MP CCD)
• Tilt/swivel screen
• Live View with contrast detect AF
• Wider ISO range
• 11 point AF system with 3D tracking (D60: 3 point AF)
• Control of Active D-Lighting intensity
• Automatic correction of lateral chromatic aberration
• Choice of JPEG quality in RAW+JPEG shooting
• Faster continuous shooting
• Bracketing

I’m glad to see the inclusion of bracketing too for all the HDR freaks.

Preview is available here:

Nikon D5000 Hands-on Preview

Features

• 15.1 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
• Full HD movie recording with HDMI connection for viewing and playback on an HDTV
• ISO 100-3200 (expandable to 12800)
• 3.4 frames per second continuous shooting
• Max. 170 large JPEG images in a single burst
• 3.0” ClearView LCD with Live View mode
• 9-point wide area AF with cross type centre point
• High speed DIGIC 4 performance and superb image quality
• EOS Integrated Cleaning System

I’ve seen some sample images and it looks incredibly clean up to ISO3200, plus the full HD capability (even if it’s only 20fps) – 720p will be fine for most people at 30fps.

I think this is going to be a popular model and Nikon needs to do something about the D60/D40x segment to strengthen their hold if they are really serious about the lower end models.

You can find a hands on preview here:

Canon EOS 500D (Digital Rebel T1i / Kiss X3 Digital) Preview

The new Super CCD EXR provides superior picture quality, enabling a “3-in-1” sensor combination of “Fine Capture Technology” (High Resolution), “Pixel Fusion Technology” (High Sensitivity & Low Noise), and “Dual Capture Technology” (Wide Dynamic Range). With an innovative color filter array and image processing technology, the EXR ensures an advanced reproduction in imaging with exceptionally balanced quality.

It basically drops to 6 megapixels for low light or expanded dynamic range, which is plenty enough resolution for the majority of people and the same resolution as the excellent F31fd.

More about the new EXR technology here.

Features

• Super CCD EXR 12 megapixel switchable sensor (6MP in low-light and dynamic range modes)
• 5x (28-140mm equiv.) wide-angle optical zoom lens
• Dual Image Stabilisation
• 3” clear view LCD screen
• High sensitivity modes (ISO 6400 at 6MP resolution & 12800 at 3MP resolution)
• Manual controls (including aperture and shutter priority)
• EXR Auto mode selects sensor and scene mode (Portrait, Night, Macro, Landscape. Night portrait & Backlit portrait)
• Film Simulation mode (Provia/Standard, Velvia/Vivid, ASTIA/Soft, Black & White, Sepia)

I’ll be looking forwards to testing this out as I really love the output and colours of the Fuji SuperCCD and with this new EXR technology (apparently the auto mode works very well) it could be a joy to use even in dim conditions.

I just hope the flash is more powerful and it’d a little more responsive than the F31fd. There should be some comprehensive reviews hitting the net soon so I’ll keep you updated.

More here: Fujifilm Finepix F200EXR

It seems unlikely though as the normal Nikon lifecycle is 2 years for each product, I’d be guessing a D300s (with video) or D300x (more megapixels) would be more likely.

The specs look pretty feasible with 1080p 24fps video recording, aiming at the Canon 5D Mark II market where the video capability has been a great success.

The rest is pretty normal like the 14.8MP DX sensor and the standard features, not a far reach from the D300.

• New 14.8 megapixel DX format CMOS sensor effective 14.3 megapixel
• Self-cleaning sensor unit (low-pass filter vibration)
• ISO 100 – 6400 (with boost up to ISO 25600 and down to ISO 50)
• 14-bit A/D conversion
• Movie capture at up to 1080p 24 fps with stereo sound
• Nikon EXPEED Plus image processor 30% faster than previous EXPEED image processor
• Super fast operation (power-up 13 ms, shutter lag 40 ms, black-out 90 ms)
• Kevlar / carbon fibre composite shutter with 200,000 exposure durability
• Multi-CAM3500DX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage)
• Auto-focus tracking by color (using information from 1005-pixel AE sensor)
• Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning) now available (fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings)
• Vignetting control in-camera
• Automatic chromatic aberration correction
• Custom image parameters now support brightness as well as contrast
• Seven frames per second continuous shooting (nine frames per second with battery pack)
• 3.0? 922,000 pixel LCD monitor
• Live View with either phase detect (mirror up/down) or contrast-detect AF, face detection
• ‘Active D-Lighting’ (adjusts metering as well as applying D-Lighting curve)
• HDMI HD video output
• Magnesium alloy body with connections and buttons sealed against moisture

If it turns out to be true, it might be quite a beast. I was wondering about upgrading my trusty D200 for a D300 but it just wasn’t attractive enough.

This D400 might be enough to tip the balance, there’s just something about HD video that’s really cool (think fast primes, shallow DoF in low light – sweet!).

I’m guessing the next release from Nikon will be a low end model, perhaps something like the Canon 1000D.

It seems to be about a 90% certainty that Nikon will be coming out with their latest camera on December 1st 2008 – just a few days from now. The body should look about the same as the Nikon D3.

It’s a good time to come out with it after the very competitively priced Sony Alpha A900 was announced with 24.6 megapixels.

The first slip started in April when a D3 firmware update revealed a new 6048×4032 24.4 MP option, this points soundly at the Nikon D3x.

What I am wondering is will it be an inhouse sensor or something from Kodak or Fuji? The initial rumours were that it was from Sony but with them having their own 24.6 megapixel full frame offering that seems unlikely.

There is a lot of hope on the Nikon D3x, if it can produce such stunning dynamic range and high ISO sensitivity without noise like the D3 and D700 with the additional detail of 24 megapixels it will be a stunning piece of equipment and will definitely rule the high end of the market.

The price of the D3 has been dropping too which indicates something on the horizon.

You can see a whole bunch of clues here:

Nikon D3x – what do we have so far

As a first competitor to the Nikon D700, the Canon 5DMKII and the highest resolution FF cam before this the Canon 1Ds MKIII

The full frame market is certainly heating up!

Features

• 24.6 MP 35mm format full-frame CMOS sensor (highest res in class)
• SteadyShot INSIDE full frame image sensor shift stabilization (world first)
• High Speed Dual Bionz processors
• Eye-level glass Penta-prism OVF, 100% coverage, 0.74x magnification
• 9 point AF with 10 assist points, center dual-cross AF w/2.8 sensor
• 5 frames per second burst, newly developed mirror box
• Intelligent Preview Function
• 3 User programmable custom memory modes on mode dial
• Advanced Dynamic Range Optimizer (5 step selectable)
• 40 segment honeycomb metering
• 3.0″ 921K pixel Photo Quality (270 dpi) LCD display, 100% coverage
• Direct HDMI output
• ISO 200-3200 (ISO 100-6400 expanded range)
• Magnesium Alloy body and rubber seals for dust and moisture resistance
• AF micro adjustment
• $2999.99 body price; available late October 2008

The interesting things to note are 100% viewfinder coverage – impressive, lack of live view, AF micro adjustment (everyone is jumping on this now with it available on the 5DMKII and started by Nikon), a decent performance with 5FPS shooting and a good high res LCD.

The image quality is pretty good too, you can see a comparison side by side of the A900 vs the Canon 1Ds MKIII here.

It shows excellent resolution but falls down at higher ISO (quite bad above ISO400) but at the same RRP as the Nikon D700!

You can read the full review here:

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Review

One thing most people didn’t expect was full HD video (1080P)!

Features

• 21 megapixel CMOS sensor (very similar to the sensor in the EOS-1Ds Mark III)
• Sensor dust reduction by vibration of filter
• ISO 100 – 6400 calibrated range, ISO 50 – 25600 expansion (1Ds Mark III & 5D max ISO 3200)
• Auto ISO (100 – 3200) in all modes except manual
• 3.9 frames per second continuous shooting
• DIGIC 4 processor, new menus / interface as per the EOS 50D
• RAW and SRAW1 (10 MP) / SRAW2 (5 MP)
• RAW / JPEG selection made separately
• Permanent display of ISO on both top plate and viewfinder displays
• AF microadjustment (up to 20 lenses individually)
• 98% coverage viewfinder (0.71x magnification)
• 3.0″ 920,000 dot LCD monitor with ‘Clear View’ cover / coatings, 170° viewing angle
• Automatic LCD brightness adjustment (ambient light sensor)
• Movie recording in live view (1080p H.264 up to 12 minutes, VGA H.264 up to 24 mins per clip)

Most people find the frame rate a little slow, but then it can’t be faster or it’d be eating into the Canon EOS 1Ds MKIII section of the market! It’s already full frame and with the same resolution, it’s a dangerous move by Canon..

Much like what Nikon have done with the new Nikon D700 Full Frame dSLR.

There was an awesome video shot by Vincent Laforet here, but it’s been taken down as Canon can’t handle the bandwidth! How crazy is that.

There some more preview stuff here, some high ISO shots here and plenty of other info popping up all over the web.

I have to say even has a Nikon user, this is a fantastic camera!

Full preview here:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Hands-on Preview

From the leaked advert:

The new a900 has arrived. A new height in the “a” revolution is now within reach. Engineered with the exclusive 24.6 Mega Pixel Full Frame Exmor CMOS sensor, an industry breakthrough from Sony, this powerhouse integrates only the best imaging technologies from the world’s leading image sensor manufacturer. A work of art for the truly discerning individual.

• 24.6 Mega Pixel Full Frame Exmor CMOS Sensor
• Dual BIONZ Image Processing Engine
• Intelligent Preview
• 100% Viewfinder, 0.74x Magnification
• 3.0”, 921K-out Hybrid LCD
• 9-point Centre Dual-cross AF (with f2.8 sensor and wide-area 10-point assist)
• 5 fps Continuous Shooting
• SteadyShot INSIDE

It looks like its going to be a beast of a camera aiming at the lower medium format market, much cheapear than a digital back. Also squarely aimed at the market only the Canon 1Ds MKIII currently occupies, with the Nikon D3x not yet released there is only one full frame, high res camera available.

I’ve heard rumours it’s going to be priced around the same price as the Nikon D700 – is that even possible?

September 10th or 12th (depending who you listen to) will be an interesting day for Sony uses and the rest of the camera world.

More, higher spec, high megapixel, full frame cameras will make it cheaper for all of us.