So, Ken Rockwell and Chuck Norris were at a bar. Ken said to Chuck, hey I bet you can't break my D3!

Chuck Norris roundhouse kicked the D3 and it turned into a D700.

(Contrary to the slanderous claims that a D3 and D300 slept together ~9 months ago...)

=Matt=

There has been a lull in "real" leaks and rumors from Canon / Nikon lately, so people are going wild with all sorts of weird rumors.

Some nonsense about Nikon's D700 only being a "distraction" and the main event is yet to come, some even crazier nonsense about Nikon making a digital rangefinder, or a "replace-able sensor" DSLR, hahahaha!!!

The rumors have died down that Canon will make TWO new full-frame DSLR's in the mid price range... Personally I still think it's highly likely, just because I can't imagine that the giant, Canon, could be THIS asleep at the wheel...

So, I do expect great things from Canon in the remainder of this year. The amazing 40D's price has plummeted to less than what I originally paid for my 1st Nikon D70 a mere ~4 years ago. Some can argue that that's not a good sign for Canon, that it's a sign the 40D is selling terribly, but I'm sure they're selling more than enough, and are just putting downward pressure on the market while trying to diversify from the D300. The D300 is so much camera that it CAN'T go much lower than $1600-1700 new, EVER, so Canon has the advantage here.

The only downfall of Canon is that there is still no chance they'll release a fully professional, 1-series quality 1.6x crop camera. With 1.3x and 1.0x sensors remaining as expensive as they are, I still see a lot of market potential for a Canon pro 1.6x camera body at $1900 or so. A 1.6x, 1Dmk3 lite, so to speak. A 40D with pro-series AF and weather sealing, etc... But like I said, there's still no sign of that ever happening, as Canon pushes more in the direction of pro / advanced amateur full-frame DSLR's and bottom-of-the-barrel beginner DSLR's...

So, before I head out to a lunch meeting, let's review the HARD FACTS:

Sony will have a 24 megapixel full-frame camera within three months. Price estimate $3500.

Nikon will have a 24 megapixel full-frame camera befoe 2009. Price estimate $5000-$6000.

Canon will have AT LEAST ONE 5D mk2 within three months. Price estimate $2500-$3500.

Nikon will have a P&S equivalent of the Canon G9, with RAW capture & manual control, etc. etc. (The P6000 I think?) within three months. No price estimate.

Take care,
=Matt=