New camera rumours

With leading brands due to announce new products at September’s Photokina 2010 show in Cologne, there is a distinct lack of new cameras to report on. So we thought we’d bring you our predictions of what hot new kit we expect to see revealed late next month. Please note that none of the cameras below have been confirmed (all the manufacturers are remaining tight-lipped), but are simply models we think could appear to replace current models that are starting to look dated!

Canon
Canon’s EOS range is mighty impressive but there are a couple of oldies that are due for retirement. The EOS 50D is our favourite to be replaced and we’d put even money on the EOS 60D being an updated version, most likely using the 18-megapixel sensor found in the EOS 7D. The flagship Canon EOS-1Ds MkIII appeared in spring 2008, 
so we think that a MkIV, sporting HD video, is imminent, although whether it will come this September or in Spring 2011 remains to be seen. There is also an outside chance of the EOS 1000D being replaced.

Nikon
Nikon’s DSLRs have come a long way in the last couple of years and it is now in a constant battle with Canon for the top spot in the DSLR market. With this in mind, we think that at least two models will see an update shortly. The first is the highly capable D90, which has been around since 2008. We might see it being updated with an s or x designation, or it could follow other models in the range and be called the D9000. May we’ll see the brilliant D700 get an update to a D700s or D700x? Who knows, we may even see a new flagship D4!

Olympus
It’s difficult to work out what Olympus may do, especially as it’s investing much into its Pen Micro Four-Thirds system. We expect one or two new DSLRs, perhaps with the enthusiast-level E-30 being updated, along with a new entry-level model.

Pentax
The K-7, launched in 2009, revealed that Pentax have plenty to offer the enthusiast, so we think that a new model aimed at the advanced amateur is a possibility. Who knows, it could be the K-9, which should prove a strong draw for Doctor Who fans!

Sony
Sony recently announced two new entry-level DSLRs (Alpha 290 & Alpha 390) but we think that they could well announce a new enthusiast model to fill the hole that the A700 once filled, as well as a new full-frame model to replace the flagship A900.

New hybrids too?
Hybrids are becoming increasingly popular and so it can’t be long before Canon and Nikon jump into the arena. Will they release a hybrid or perhaps reveal mock-ups of what is to come in 2011. We wouldn’t put it past either of these two photo giants.