Nikon just announced the new full frame 12mp D3 and the new 12 mp D300. I know some people don't quite like Ken Rockwell's website but here is a link with more info :
www.kenrockwell.com/tech/00-new-today.htm

they didn't use the 18MP sensor in the D3? now that's very odd indeed.

some Nikon PR spin...

the D3 & the D300

I like the 'fastest camera in its class' spiel which sounds fine until you read the little disclaimers and find out more or less, it's the only camera in its class :-)

Haha, yes as of august, but what happens when Canons specs are released?

The Canon specs are already public Darryl but they are different size/resolution sensors which is how nikon are spinning the fastest malarkey. as far as I know the Canon 1D MkIII is still the ruler of the roost in the speed stakes but has a lower MP count than the Nikon.

Don't forget the new lenses they have announced.

AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR
AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR
AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR

I've got to run now, but im really looking forward to looking at this in the near future with some more detail.

edit*

Wow from what i've read im impressed. It will be interesting to see what it tests out to be like. Full frame on the d3 sounds interesting. Hope to see an improvement in dynamic range and noise. Was very interested to see that it still will accept dx format lenses (With the ussual crop ratio of course). 9 frames a second would be very nice. I guess still a little slower than canon, but moving up. 51 focus points on both cameras is very interesting. Correct me if im wrong but thats a few more than the mark III? Pretty cool. Might have to buy a d300 some day.

I agree with you Milo, I thought the Mark II and III had 45 focus points. On the other hand, since the D300 it's coming out, that means that the D200s are going to come down in price a bit.

comparing the specs the D3 is around 10% slower than the rival Canon 1D MkIII and, in the UK at least, the Canon is about 15% cheaper. I still cant get my head around why Nikon went full frame but didnt use the 18MP sensor they were licensed to use by Sony earlier this year. does that mean another model launch later on to add to their already mind boggling and overlapping range already?

The Canon can just shoot 1 image more per second, next the image processor seems to be extraordinary! much better than canon but I think it is the brand you choose, not the camera.

It seems a little premature to be saying words like extraordinary when no one will get to appraise the final production Nikon until almost the end of the year and to date, Nikon have been profoundly unable to bring anything to market that matches Canon’s high end gear and Digic 3 Processors – even Nikon stalwarts such as Monsieur Rockwell have had to wither in defeat on that one. Yes the prosumer stuff is very similar between the two but the pro models have always seen Nikon lagging severely both in market share and quality, perhaps the new model will go someway to addressing that quality deficit but they would have stood a better chance if they had adopted the 18MP sensor – even if they wound it down to 14-16MP to maintain speed.

All of the offerings look good both from Nikon & Canon – even the new Sony Alpha and Olympus E-1 replacements look interesting too so people in the market for a high-end camera really are spoilt for choice.

The primary annoyance though is, as usual, the pricing. You’re loathed to buy one, as you just know that in a few months it will be a LOT cheaper. I’m going to have get some new gear soon as most of my camera stuff was stolen recently so it will be a long hard think what to drop for. Personally, I’m still holding out for the Canon 7D (or whatever it will be called) but lord knows when that will show its face. Ken Rockwell’s confident insider sourced announcement of its imminent launch date & specs came and went with not a sign of it so I’m guessing it won’t be for a while now. Pants.