For reasons I've never fully understood (they violate what I learned in marketing), the last week or two of August is a busy time for camera makers. We have at least three of the major companies making announcements this week: Canon, Nikon, and Sony. Plus we'll have some small announcements from Fujifilm and Panasonic, as well, I believe.
We pretty much know what Sony is announcing, as Sony themselves have been leaking official information for quite some time. Indeed, it appears to be a concerted effort to create pre-hype for their announcements in an attempt to steal thunder from the other companies. It appears that we'll have two APS DSLRs from Sony announced (A65 and A77), two mirrorless (NEX 5n with an optional EVF and NEX 7 with a built-in EVF), plus lenses, converters, and more. The A77 and NEX 7 are 24mp cameras, though what lens you'd use on the NEX 7 to really deliver on those 24mp I have no idea. The video-oriented VG-20 appears to be a follow-up announcement next week. Sony has been open with dealers about what's coming,trying to get them to commit to product in the fall and Christmas seasons.
Canon won't be introducing any DSLRs, I think. Their announcement is likely to be all compact cameras and maybe a lens or two. I'm guessing that the overdue 1DsIV and the 5DIII won't pop up until later this year and/or early next.
Which brings us to Nikon. They're obviously talking about some new products on the 24th (same day as Sony). There are three possibilities, I think: (1) Coolpix only; (2) Coolpix plus the new mirrorless system; or (3) FX DSLRs. No one knows which it will be, but I wouldn't get upset if what they announce this month isn't what you wanted them to. Nikon is not done with announcements this year. As for me, I'm still betting that we'll get #3 in this week's announcements.
That Nikon has managed to stay fairly leak free during this round of product announcement is certainly interesting. We've had a few specifics leak that seem reliable (GPS coming back into the high end Coolpix, the mount photo of the mirrorless system and its small sensor, and so on). I believe that we've actually heard a few specifics about the FX bodies, too, but the information was so third- and fourth-hand that no one trusts it. But the numbers 18 and 24 keep coming up, as do two FX bodies, as does the name D400. I suspect in all the rumor noise there was some real information. We'll know for sure within the next 45 days or so.
Panasonic will be announcing that their m4/3 lenses have really gone video: a power zoom button appears. Fujifilm is announcing the X10 (or is it X50?), something of a cross between a compact camera and the X100. We also still have Samsung's NX200 and new lens announcements coming, too.
Should be an interesting week, no matter what.