The Japanese Canon site has information about the new EOS 1D Mk III To be released in April. In a nutshell it’s 10MP, 1.3 crop sensor, 10 frames a second with 110 shot buffer.

how odd - most pundits expected the 1 series to be rationalised down to just one 'super' model with upgraded cameras below that. unless that is - thats what they are doing and the next 1DS will change to the new medium format model.

more info here and some sample images here.

This year is the 20th anniversary for the EOS line so a groundbreaking milestone release from them wouldn’t surprise me. Like a new model that does something that hasn’t been done before. Your idea of a medium format 1D would seem to be appropriate.

the medium format is thought to be very close to launch although most people expected it to be an offshot from the EOS SLR's - Canon had been making plenty of noise that the next big thing in the 1 Series would be Foveon style triple layer filter systems so maybe that was all just a trail of red herrings.

A Foveon type cmos would be interesting. I don’t know how likely that would be from a technical stance. But I have always liked the look that Fuji get from the S3. It seems to look more like a film result than a digital one.

I am anticipating a few second hand 1DMIIs coming onto the market. That might bring a new class of camera within my budget.

now if only those nice people at Sigma would bring out their lovely SD14 SLR body with the option of either a Canon or Nikon mount as well as the existing Sigma one - that would make your choices much easier :-)

That would be a dream come true. It should be possible too. Kodak did it with the 14 series and Sigma supplied the bodies for the Canon mount model.

Some more goodies from Canon along with the worlds fastest camera.

Hmmm, it’s all weatherproof gear. I wonder if they know something about the weather that we don’t.

Weatherproof and for the most part dust proof too.

I suppose I'll just have to start a black market organ smuggling ring to buy this bad boy.

Or you could settle for one of the many used mark 2s that are about to flood the market.

Very true. That's how I got my 10D. I am seriously considering an upgrade though. I want something a little faster.

I would imagine that there will be a fare amount of new stock that dealers will want to shift too before the new model arrives. back in the UK most canon dealers have have been reducing the prices of the 5D & 1DMkIIN over the past few months in anticipation of new models by as much as 20-30%.

More often than not, I'd say I let my 20D down more than it lets me down;-) We are all Guinea pigs lol.

** presses temples firmly and thinks happy thoughts...Buy the 5D you know you want to, Buy the 5D you know you want to...'**

etc etc

LOL that’s the one that temps me most Phil.

I'm looking at the 5D on the internet right now. It does not have environmental seals. Isn't that important?

If you want to use it during periods of extended rain or in sandstorms it becomes vital. Most cameras don’t have it and most people don’t miss it.

the 5D is a bit of a set piece number - not very fast as such but excellent at what it does - if you want bomb (and weather) proof housing you're going to be looking at a 1 series or top end Nikon for that. failing that, you can get aftermarket weatherproofing solutions for most popular cameras and lenses.

If weatherproofing is important to you I suggest you have a good look at the Pentax K10D. It received an impressive report from f2photo. You have to register for free before you can view the article. Their reviews seem a cut above the normal lets be nice to the manufacturer ones we normally see.

I don't know if weatherproofing is important to me or not, I am far to ignorant on the subject to make any kind of informed decision. Thank to the input that you guys have lent to me, that is less true today than yesterday. I am grateful to you for that.
I am leaning towards the D30 though. It has the built in flash and is quite a bit cheaper. Shame I won't be able to use the batteries from by 10D though.