With the Nikon D300 being announced in August 2008, perhaps the new Nikon D400 will be coming in August 2009?

It seems unlikely though as the normal Nikon lifecycle is 2 years for each product, I’d be guessing a D300s (with video) or D300x (more megapixels) would be more likely.

The specs look pretty feasible with 1080p 24fps video recording, aiming at the Canon 5D Mark II market where the video capability has been a great success.

The rest is pretty normal like the 14.8MP DX sensor and the standard features, not a far reach from the D300.

• New 14.8 megapixel DX format CMOS sensor effective 14.3 megapixel
• Self-cleaning sensor unit (low-pass filter vibration)
• ISO 100 – 6400 (with boost up to ISO 25600 and down to ISO 50)
• 14-bit A/D conversion
• Movie capture at up to 1080p 24 fps with stereo sound
• Nikon EXPEED Plus image processor 30% faster than previous EXPEED image processor
• Super fast operation (power-up 13 ms, shutter lag 40 ms, black-out 90 ms)
• Kevlar / carbon fibre composite shutter with 200,000 exposure durability
• Multi-CAM3500DX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage)
• Auto-focus tracking by color (using information from 1005-pixel AE sensor)
• Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning) now available (fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings)
• Vignetting control in-camera
• Automatic chromatic aberration correction
• Custom image parameters now support brightness as well as contrast
• Seven frames per second continuous shooting (nine frames per second with battery pack)
• 3.0? 922,000 pixel LCD monitor
• Live View with either phase detect (mirror up/down) or contrast-detect AF, face detection
• ‘Active D-Lighting’ (adjusts metering as well as applying D-Lighting curve)
• HDMI HD video output
• Magnesium alloy body with connections and buttons sealed against moisture

If it turns out to be true, it might be quite a beast. I was wondering about upgrading my trusty D200 for a D300 but it just wasn’t attractive enough.

This D400 might be enough to tip the balance, there’s just something about HD video that’s really cool (think fast primes, shallow DoF in low light – sweet!).

I’m guessing the next release from Nikon will be a low end model, perhaps something like the Canon 1000D.

The Canon 5D MKII leaked specs weren’t quite accurate, but the more information got leaked towards the actual release date the more accurate it became.

One thing most people didn’t expect was full HD video (1080P)!

Features

• 21 megapixel CMOS sensor (very similar to the sensor in the EOS-1Ds Mark III)
• Sensor dust reduction by vibration of filter
• ISO 100 – 6400 calibrated range, ISO 50 – 25600 expansion (1Ds Mark III & 5D max ISO 3200)
• Auto ISO (100 – 3200) in all modes except manual
• 3.9 frames per second continuous shooting
• DIGIC 4 processor, new menus / interface as per the EOS 50D
• RAW and SRAW1 (10 MP) / SRAW2 (5 MP)
• RAW / JPEG selection made separately
• Permanent display of ISO on both top plate and viewfinder displays
• AF microadjustment (up to 20 lenses individually)
• 98% coverage viewfinder (0.71x magnification)
• 3.0″ 920,000 dot LCD monitor with ‘Clear View’ cover / coatings, 170° viewing angle
• Automatic LCD brightness adjustment (ambient light sensor)
• Movie recording in live view (1080p H.264 up to 12 minutes, VGA H.264 up to 24 mins per clip)

Most people find the frame rate a little slow, but then it can’t be faster or it’d be eating into the Canon EOS 1Ds MKIII section of the market! It’s already full frame and with the same resolution, it’s a dangerous move by Canon..

Much like what Nikon have done with the new Nikon D700 Full Frame dSLR.

There was an awesome video shot by Vincent Laforet here, but it’s been taken down as Canon can’t handle the bandwidth! How crazy is that.

There some more preview stuff here, some high ISO shots here and plenty of other info popping up all over the web.

I have to say even has a Nikon user, this is a fantastic camera!

Full preview here:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Hands-on Preview