A romp through the camera rumor mill

While none of these seem verifiable, there are simply too many rumors about new dSLRs and interchangeable-lens cameras floating around on the Web to ignore. So here, for your delectation, is a summary of all the bits that are fit to post.

The most frequent topic playing Ring Around the Web is for a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV. A host of sites have repeated a set of specs first posted at Northlight Images by a supposed tester of the aforementioned model. He specifies the following:

• Same 1.3x multiplier (APS-H) as previous models.
• 16-megapixel sensor with 8-megapixel sRAW
• ISO 50 to ISO 26,500
• Same video and display as the 5D Mark II
• Slight redesign of button layout and grips

Said tester reports good high ISO photo quality (as you'd expect), faster continuous shooting than the 1D Mark III, "Nikon fast AF", usable Live View AF, and an overall better feel.

Supposedly there'll be a late summer announcement and end-of-year ship. Start saving those pennies now. Use a really big jar.

More recently, the Samsung NX interchangeable-lens concept camera has begun to coalesce out of vapor on the forums at OLED.at. I don't have a clue how reliable this one is, but it sounds nice. Supposedly named the NX3, the poster prognosticates that it will be announced on July 7 and will theoretically have the following:

• 1620x1080 EVF with 250Hz refresh
• 3-inch AMOLED at 960x720 (691,200 pixels) resolution
• 14.6-megapixel CMOS. APS-C (3:2) size given previous public announcements.
• ISO 100- ISO 6400
• 4 frames-per-second continuous shooting
• Video 30fps 720p
• Stereo

Crunchgear had speculated that the July 7 announce might be a GX-30 dSLR, but does anyone care?

As for other interchangeable-lens news, an interview with Akira Watanabe (Manager, Digital SLR Product Strategy Department, Olympus) in Amateur Photographer revealed that Olympus is planning a Micro Four Thirds model with an EVF. Whew. And though it's fact, not a rumor, Panasonic announced some serious firmware upgrades for its two Micro Four Thirds cameras and lenses, which I'll quote from 4/3rumors.com in its entirety since I can't find the original:

Firmware version 1.1 for the Panasonic GH1 camera allows faster burst shooting and improves control of shutter speed and the stability of AF in movie recording. Version 1.3 for the Panasonic G1 improves its compatibility with Micro Four Thirds lenses, whereas firmware version 1.1 for the Lumix G Vario HD 14-140mm / F4.0-5.8 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. lens improves optical image stabilisation in movie recording mode.and compatibility with Micro Four Thirds cameras.

Nikon Rumors has been mongering a couple of stories. The most likely, IMHO, is that there will be press announcements on July 30 and/or August 4. I'm pretty sure one of them will be for the Fall Coolpixes--'tis the season, after all--but the Nikon D60 and D300 are pretty old for their respective markets. Given the timing (these models ship for the holiday shopping season) I think a D60 replacement is most likely. The site has speculated that the D300 replacement will be dubbed the D300s, and alluded to a low-end D4000.

Finally, Photo Rumors had picked up a Dyxum forum post from a reader who'd seen a reference to a Sony A500 series of dSLRs in a registration drop-down. The company could certainly use something between the A300 series and the A900 with video support.

But where are the rumors for a Canon EOS Rebel XS replacement? updated 6/25/09: Ask and ye shall receive. Canon Rumors posted an unsubstantiated rumor that it'll be announced next Tuesday, though a comment says the announcement will be Friday.

So there you go.

[bleech]

I´d like to see which mount will Samsung use for that NX concept.
If they continue with the K mount [depending on which flange distance it is implied], then, new live to the most populated mount ever.

Currently Samsung Dslr´s [which by the way, are very good cameras] sport rebadged Pentax lenses as Schneider-Kreuznach DXenon or Xenogon. They are very good as they offer the Pentax quality for a much lower price tag [specially, the GX 20, and the Schneider-Kreuznach DXenon 35 F2].

I wish they will have done the same with some Limited lenses from Pentax [namely, the 31 AF 1.8 Limited].

Not a dSLR, but the excellent wide-angle Canon PowerShot SD880 IS suddenly seems Discontinued or Out of Stock at nearly all outlets.

I can't find any related news or rumors: is this a temporary shortage, is the 880 now considered replaced by the SD960 IS, or is something similar/better about to come out?

[make_or_break]

More dSLRs?

To be honest, I have to wonder at just how large the dSLR market really is. Given how people use point-and-shoot cameras, do camera makers really expect the casual shooter to migrate BACK to looking through a viewfinder? Back in the days of film, this wasn't a stretch since all cameras, SLRs or otherwise, used viewfinders. But now in this age of LCDs and zoom lenses and ever improving sensors, do the camera manufacturers still think there's going to be the same sort of upgrading path to dSLRs that took place during the age of film SLRs?

I've used SLRs--film and digital--for ages. Still very much do (so long Kodachrome, I'll miss you). But for general, casual use these days there's NOTHING that beats the convenience and simplicity of a great point-and-shoot digital camera.

[gjl229]

Viewfinders, optical and electronic, will not go away. They work. I've struggled just to find my subject on a sunny day, with even a good LCD, zooming in and out trying to find a bird or aircraft against the sky, a boat/ship against the water, etc.

I've struggled to see what my subjects are doing, shielding the LCD with one hand as I try to determine which way the pet/child/aged aunt is looking. Trying to get the exposure at exactly the right millisecond to capture the special look, the spontaneous laughter.

Using a viewfinder also allows me to hold the camera with arms braced against my chest and abdomen. Holding the P&S out in front of me costs me at least one stop, a stop I cannot necessarily afford. OK, maybe it's two stops at long focal lengths. And yes, I do depend on image stabilization - an improvement rather than a cure.

My son tells me that I just have to get used to LCDs instead of viewfinders; everyone else is getting used to it. But then he puts up with really, really poor voice quality as long as his mobile is really, really cool.

[gary85739]

I won't be buying any new digital cameras! Recently bought an upgrade to my trusty Canon S45, which originally cost about $400+ on eBay for [Canon S50]for ...$50!

Both cameras work flawlessly!

When I get a DSL, it'll be from eBay!