You can see my price comparison for the Canon 5D mark III here.

Nikon D800 SLR

Nikon have just announced the 36 megapixel D800 Full Frame digital SLR. Read the full details here.
Featuring a 36 megapixel full frame sensor, it also has full HD movie support and a 51 point autofocus system.
With its broadcast quality video support and enormous resolution, it appears to be aimed squarely at the professional end of the market – and with a price to match of £2399. Due late March.
You can find the price comparison for the Nikon D800 here.

The D800 also comes in a variant called the D800E, which is the same as the D800 but without the anti-aliasing filter, to maximise image sharpness:

“Incorporating an optical filter with anti-aliasing properties removed in order to facilitate the sharpest images possible, this is an ideal tool for photographers who can control light, distance and their subject to the degree where they can mitigate the increased risk of moiré and false colour.”

You can find the price comparison for the Nikon D800E here.

Nikon D4

Replacing the D3, the Nikon D4 features a 16 megapixel full frame sensor. Offering up to 11 frames per second, this top end professional body costs £4799.
With what now seems a relatively modest 16 megapixels, it should deliver excellent image qualtiy. The ISO range is 100–12800, expandable to 50 to 204,800. A 51 point autofocus system and of course HD video support. Details over at the Nikon site here.
You can find the price comparison for the Nikon D4 here.

If you want to read more about the impact, just search for something like “nikon flooding” in your favourite search engine.  You can read the BJP article about the factory closure here, and details of the resulting impact on Nikon’s business here.

Offering an unparalleled combination of speed, resolution and image quality, the EOS-1D X is the ultimate camera for capturing stunning images and Full HD movies. Whether shooting in the studio, the sports field, or anywhere in between, this model is ideal for virtually any professional photographer. The new model launches as the flagship in Canon’s DSLR line up – marking the 10th generation of Canon’s professional system with the most advanced EOS model ever produced.

Headline specs are as follows:

• 18.1MP full-frame sensor
• 12fps or 14fps (14 frames per second using a super high speed mode – not sure what this compromises)
• Dual “DIGIC 5+” processors, giving a 2-stop improvement in noise performance
• ISO range 100 to an expanded 204800
• New 61-point wide-area autofocus system
• Newly-designed RGB metering system

For details see the press release on the Canon UK website.

 It certainly seems that the last few weeks of the year see a large number of products hitting their lowest price.  In some ways this is not surprising, given the long term trend for each product to get cheaper as it gets older.  And of course, the spike at the start of January is presumably the new year sales. 

One thing to bear in mind is that fluctuations in currency markets have an effect.  If the pounds buys you less in the currency of countries where the goods come from (notably japan) then imports become more expensive, and at some point the UK arms of the manufacturers adjust the UK price to reflect this.

I’ll see if I can get time to produce another graph, showing how many products were at their lowest price per week (as opposed to how many first reached their lowest price)…..

Are you having trouble viewing the main CPB site too?  Please let me know if you are.  I’d like to work out what is going on….

Speedlite 270ex II Flash
Speedlite 320ex Flash

EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM
EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II (new kit lens)

They also have a picture of another new lens, the EF 200-400mm f4L IS USM, but it does not have a release date yet.  It will have a built-in 1.4x extender which turns it into a 280-560mm.  Sounds interesting!   See here for the picture.

Details for the Canon EF 200-400mm lens are as follows:

Designed for Canon’s leading range of EOS Digital SLR cameras, the new lens will be an ideal addition for sports and wildlife photographers, offering exceptional flexibility with a built-in 1.4× extender that creates an increased focal range of 280 – 560mm. Perfect for photographers who require high performance, fast aperture and a flexible telephoto range, the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXTENDER 1.4× will enable photographers to shoot a greater breadth of subjects using a single lens, delivering the best possible image quality at all focal lengths.

Developed as a new addition to Canon’s acclaimed L-series of professional lenses, the new lens will offer an unsurpassed combination of versatility, first-class optical performance and an enhanced weather-proof construction. The model will be released as part of Canon’s continued development of its EF lens line-up, offering enhanced performance and improved functions that cater for the needs of photographers from beginners through to professionals.

And prices for the Canon EOS 1100D are here:

EOS 1100D Body Prices
EOS 1100D Lens Kit (EF-S 18-55mm III lens) Prices
EOS 1100D Lens Kit (EF-S 18-55mm IS lens) Prices

Canon have announced two new “entry level” SLRS today, the Canon EOS 600D and the EOS 1100D.

Canon EOS 600D SLR

Due to be on sale early April 2011, the headline 600D features are:

• 18 Megapixel APS-C Sensor
• Full HD video capture
• Vari-Angle Clear View LCD screen
• EOS Scene Detection Technology
• ISO range 100-6400, expandable to 12800
• 95% coverage viewfinder
• Max frames per second: 3.7fps

Recommended price for the EOS 600D body only is £679.

Two lens kits will be available:
The EOS 600D EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens Kit, priced at £769.
The EOS 600D EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens Kit priced at £949.

Canon EOS 1100D SLR

Also due to be on sale early April 2011, the headline features are:

• 12.2 Megapixel APS-C Sensor
• 720p HD video capture
• ISO range 100-6400
• 95% coverage viewfinder
• Max frames per second: 3fps

Recommended price for the EOS 1100 body only is £419.

Two lens kits will be available:
The EOS 1100D EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens Kit, priced at £499.
The EOS 1100D EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 III Lens Kit priced at £459.

You can find details on the Canon site, eg here.

Many new products are being added that don’t have a home on the main navigation on the left.   Until I finish and sort out the nav, you can find a list of everything on the site here.  You can also easily search on this page for whatever you are looking for.  Note that more products will be appearing over the next week or two.

Thanks for all the product suggestions, I’m hoping to add most of them in this round.  Keep suggestions coming.

Matt

For full details see the Nikon site. Three lens kits are announced:

D7000 18-105VR Kit
D7000 16-85VR Kit
D7000 18-200VR II kit

I’ve not seen any firm news on the RRP, and release is expected to be in October.