After much speculation over the last six months, and a couple of well-timed leaks in the last few days, Canon finally announced the latest in its range of 'prosumer' DSLRs, the 40d. There are many improvements here over the 30d, such as Canon's dust reduction system, the new DIGIC III image processor and a larger LCD screen. More interesting perhaps is that several upgrades seem to indicate that Canon is trying to differentiate this model line from the 'Rebel' line. For example, the 40d gets a 14-bit A/D converter for a finer tonal range, the menu system is modelled after the professional D-series, there are now interchangeable focussing screens, and, using the new 'Live View' feature it's possible to shoot in 'silent mode' where the first curtain is locked up to reduce shutter noise and you use the LCD to compose (since the viewfinder will be blocked by the mirror).

Notable features include:

• 10.1 Megapixel CMOS Sensor, noise reduction technology, and 14-bit conversion for outstanding color tones and gradations.
• a faster 6.5 fps, burst rate with a larger buffer and DIGIC III Image Processor.
• a new AF system with 9 more accurate cross-type sensors (previously only the centre sensor was cross-type) and world's first diagonal high-precision cross-type AF at center point with f/2.8 and faster lenses.
• taking advantage of the 14 bit channel conversion Highlight Tone Priority mode improves highlight detail retention without effecting shutter speed or aperture.
  
• new 3" LCD with Live View.

The 40d will be released in Japan at the end of the month and through September in the rest of the world. The body will be priced at approximately $1300 in the US.

Keeping themselves very busy Canon announced several other new models including a new professional flagship model, the $8000 1ds mkIII. The 1ds features a mouth-watering 21mp full frame sensor, reportedly pushing the camera's abilities beyond even the best of Canon's lenses. Canon also announced four new digital compacts, include the PowerShot G9 (now with RAW capability), and two new lenses, an 18-55 kit lens with IS and a 55-250mm IS lens.

It must be the holiday season because two new digital offerings have just been announced: the Nikon D40 -- for the low-end market -- and the Leica M8 digital rangefinder for all you high rollers out there.

The D40 sports a 6.1 megapixel sensor, weighs in at a tad over 16 oz. and can shoot up to 2.5 frames per second. It even comes with an animation for beginners who are unsure what an f-stop is. it includes an 18-55 f3.5/5.6 DX Zoom Nikkor lens. The price for the kit is $599.

The M8 is Leica's first digital rangefinder offering. It offers a 10.3 megapixel sensor with a magnification factor of 1.33. It takes most M-series lenses and boasts a sharp 2.5 inch display. The camera can be set for ISO equivalents ranging from 160 to 2500. It has all of the quality that you can expect from a Leica, including the high end price tag. The price tag is... gulp... $4750USD for the body only.

Canon will today release details of the much rumoured replacement for the Canon 350d (or Rebel XT), to be called the 400d, or in some markets the Rebel XTi.

Improvements to the camera include a 2.5" LCD, 10.2mp all new sensor, a sonic anti-dust system for the sensor and an improved AF, thought to be the same as the Canon 30d's. The street price will be around US$800, about $100 less than the recently released Nikon D80, and about the same price as the new Sony A1 DSLR.

All three of these entry level cameras now sport similar features with enough to differentiate each of them, so it's a great time to be looking for a camera in this range.

Canon also announced two new L-series lenses. The 70-200 f4 IS L and the 50mm f1.2 L.

So the new Nikon being teased on Nikon sites around the world is, according to popular reports, the new D80. The important factor will be price, with 10.2mp it will be strong competition for the Canon 30d (approx US$1250) and Nikon will be looking to keep the price low to compete with the Sony A100 ($900). At the same time Nikon can't undercut their own D200 model (approx US$1700) by too much. One of the possible restrictions on the D80 could be that it only uses SD memory cards, like the D50.

Nikon are announcing a new DLSR in 19 days. The only details in the public domain are that it's not a professional model and it's 10.2mp (the same as the new Sony Alpha). Speculation is that it's a replacement for the D70s, or perhaps at more of a stretch an all-new competitor for Canon's 5D.

There's a teaser clock on Nikon's major websites, for example on Nikon UK.

According to an article on PDNOnline more and more of the images you see in your newspaper could be grabs from high quality video rather than stills cameras.

The Dallas Morning News won a Pulitzer prize for its photographic coverage of hurricane Katrina and several of its staff photographers now use HD video cameras as their primary equipment. One of them, David Leeson, says, "I look at it like I have the fastest motor drive in the country right now. I shoot 30 frames per second." He used two HD camcorders in his coverage of Katrina.

There's still a need for improvements in the technology before many others are convinced, video cameras' relatively slow shutter speeds mean they don't capture action well and storage of the mass of data generated is a problem, but technology is improving fast and there is an ongoing debate amongst professional photographers about the implications. Some feel that HD video could be the format of choice for events like weddings, where capturing that one vital moment or expression can make all the difference to your coverage.

At the moment the quality produced is good enough for newspapers but not magazines and other professional applications. What interests me is the idea that, in time, video might become the street photographer's format of choice. If street photography is all about capturing the moment then 30 frames a second is a lot of frames from which to choose that perfect, decisive, moment...

It's a scary thought and makes me understand how film purists feel about digital cameras.

The Camera Truck is the world's largest mobile camera, a giant pinhole camera housed in a truck that is currently touring Spain, using the giant images to take "nature's portrait".

The website is a little hard to navigate and there doesn't seem to be a single place where you can view a gallery of images but the images I did find look amazing, this one for example.

Thanks to Faisal for the link.

A new photography forum aimed at people for whom photography is also a business is open at ProPhoto Forums. Ask a question, contribute an answer, post a resource and check it out.

Canon have today announced the 30d, an update of the 20d.

You can read a detailed preview at dpreview.

It's not as big a jump over the 20d as many people seemed to be expecting, the imaging technology, is unchanged for example. The price looks good, about $1300, and street prices should be lower. It looks like Canon have held off on major improvements over the 20d so the 30d can compete with the Nikon d70s, which make me wonder if there's not a new cropped DSLR coming in below the $2000 mark to compete with the d200. Canon have always been really smart with marketing.

New features of the 30d include:

• Large 2.5" LCD (this seems to be the standard size now)
• More frames in burst mode
• ISO setting in the viewfinder
• 3.5% spot metering

There are also new lenses announced, an 85L mkII (perhaps with improved AF) and a non-L 17-55 EF-S f2.8 USM IS.

Another great build your own tutorial from Jyoseph. This time build your own ring light. I'll be giving this a try.