Just a day after Canon announces their newest DSLR prosumer camera (the Canon 50D), Nikon announces their newest DSLR - the Nikon D90. The D90 puts out some impressive specs as well, including quality low light handling, and being the first DSLR to also shoot Hi-Def Video.

The video option has a lot of people talking, both for and against the feature. Some feel that the body shape is not designed for shooting video for long periods of time, and that should be left to a video camera, others can’t wait to try all of their lenses, especially for wide angle and special telephoto work.

In comparing the specs quickly:

• the Canon 50D appears to be able to shoot at a twice the ISO film speed (12800 compared to 6400) , and
• the Canon 50D has more pixels (15.1 mega pixels compared to 12.3)
• the Nikon is said to shoot better in low light conditions (where you generally need the faster film speed), and
• the Nikon D90 looks to be a little cheaper ($1299 vs $1399).

Popularity: 28% [?]

Image via Wikipedia OK it’s not a rumor anymore, the Canon 50D is coming.  We listed the rumor not long ago, and now you can find the official press release on Canon’s site.

Just a couple of highlights:

• …”reduce noise and expand sensitivity up to ISO 12800. The faster processing speed of the camera’s DIGIC 4 image processor contributes to the fast 6.3 frame-per-second (fps) continuous shooting capability (for bursts of up to 90 Large/Fine JPEGs or 16 RAW images on a UDMA CF card) “…
• “The EOS 50D Digital SLR camera offers multiple levels of noise reduction during high-speed shooting. Users can choose from one of four settings- Standard/Weak/Strong/None - to help reduce digital noise that can result from poor lighting conditions. “
• …”Canon’s enhanced Auto Lighting Optimizer analyzes the brightness of subjects and automatically adjusts dark images so that they appear brighter, perfect for subjects in shade or in backlit situations”
• “A significant upgrade to the Canon EOS 50D camera is its large, clear 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen which features 920,000 dot/VGA resolution, four times the pixel count of the EOS 40D camera’s screen”…

All that and more for an estimated selling price of $1,399.00.

Popularity: 17% [?]

It has been rumored that a new 50D is on the way.  Note 50D, not 5D.  The 50D would continue with the prosumer level set first by the 10D on up through the current 40D.

Note that not all Canon rumors have come true, but it is always nice to think about them.  Here are some of the eledged specs:

* 15.1 megapixel CMOS sensor
* DIGIC 4
* 1.6x crop
* Dust Reduction
* Auto Brightness Processing
* 95% viewfinder .97 magnification
* 9 point af (All Cross Type)
* 35 meter area equipped with high-precision sensors
* AF Fine Tuning
* ISO 100-12800
* 6.3 fps (high speed) 3fps (low speed)
* Buffer: 16 RAW - 60 JPG - 10 RAW+JPG
* 920,000 points VGA 3.0-inch LCD monitor
* 100,000 cycle shutter

More information can be found at Photography Bay

Popularity: 15% [?]

Image via WikipediaSome of Canon’s products have a discount starting today.  Below I’ve provided a list.  While Canon discounting in the spring is not unusual, it is usually not this high, which leads some to believe that it might be a precursor to a Canon 5D Mark II, as some rumors have suggested.

EOS-5D $300
EOS-40D $200
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM $125
EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM $125
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM $100
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM $100
EF 50mm f/1.2L USM $100
EF 35mm f/1.4L USM $100
EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM $75
EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM $70
EF 17-40mm f/4L USM $50
EF 70-200mm f/4L USM $40
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM $35
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM $30
EF 28-90mm f/4-5.6 III $15
Speedlite 580 EX II $30
Speedlite 430 EX $15

Popularity: 18% [?]