2012 Nikon and Canon Professional Camera Rumors | DC Video Production

2012 is promising to be a huge year for photography-related announcements. At our DC video production studio, we use digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras to shoot some of our video and still images. We like DSLR cameras for their portability and large image sensors, but one of the main draws is the ability to use exotic and specialty lenses. We have been using and thoroughly enjoying Nikon's D7000, as it provides excellent video quality and top notch image quality for normal photography.

As with most things electronic, there's always something new on the horizon. Consumer quality DSLR cameras are usually on a 1 to 2 year replacement cycle. The pro quality cameras typically get replaced every 4 years with a minor refresh at mid-cycle. Rumors have been buzzing about which pro quality cameras are to be released in 2012. Here is the latest so far:

• Nikon D4 - The successor to Nikon's wildly popular D3 is likely to be released on January 6, 2012 at Nikon's Thailand headquarters. Nikon has created a special press event, which sometimes means a big announcement. It makes sense for Nikon to release the D4 the winter before the Summer Olympics, as the D3/D4 is Nikon's flagship sports camera. Expect the price to hover around $6000 at introduction.

• Nikon D800 - We are expecting the D800 to get a mid-January release, possibly at the PMA show in Las Vegas. The D800 is rumored to have a 36-megapixel, full-frame sensor, which is a fairly tall order considering Nikon's last full-frame camera to have more than 12 megapixels (D3X) cost nearly $8000. The D800 is likely targeting studio, landscape, and portrait shooters, while the D4 is for sports, action, and extreme low light shooting. Don't worry about the price though... it should be only around $4000!

• Canon 5D Mark III - We aren't even sure of the correct name, but the successor to the 5D Mark II is rumored for a March or April 2012 release. The Mark II was such a success because it brought professional image quality and 21 megapixels at an affordable price. (It currently sells for between $2000 and $3000.) The new Mark III may go in one of two different directions - it will either compete with the D800 with a 30+ megapixel sensor, or it will inherit the 18-megapixel low light sensor of Canon's flagship 1DX camera. Canon is apparently watching the market and deciding how to proceed. We say, why not offer both?

• Canon 7D Mark II - The 7D is Canon's flagship cropped sensor camera. Details are virtually nonexistent at this point, but we anticipate a release at Photokina in September 2012. If we had to bet, we would anticipate a Swiss army knife of a sensor (24 megapixels) that caters to both sports and landscape shooters.

At the Fairfax Video Studio, we are always keeping up with technology so we can provide the utmost in video and image quality for our clients. While it may be fun to get excited about the gear, our greatest asset at the video studio is our team of expert photographers and web video marketing experts.

If you are ready to get started with your web video campaign, give us a call at 1.877.477.STUDIO.