It was the worst-kept secrets of the summer. Last Thursday, in an private briefing with BJP, under a Non-Disclosure Agreement, Canon was showing off its new EOS 50D digital SLR. And on Monday, Nikon was doing the same with its D90 camera featuring video capabilities.

However, these meetings just confirmed what many photographers knew for days if not weeks. The 50D had been the subject of numerous rumours and speculations, and even an official confirmation when Canon's Chinese website published the camera's full specifications ahead of its launch. The page was quickly pulled offline, but it was already too late: copies of the page reached forums and specialised websites, thanks in main part to Google's habit to host a cache of each page it indexes.

The same happened with Nikon, which saw the full specifications of its new DSLR published days before on websites such as Nikonrumors. In fact even Nikon UK's group marketing manager Jeremy Gilbert acknowledged the leak. 'I'm sure you've all gone to Nikonrumors, but this is the official announcement,' he told the many journalists attending the press briefing and hoping for some surprise announcement.

For full coverage of the new mid-range additions, check BJP's article on Canon EOS 50D and our preview of Nikon's D90. Our 03 September print issue will also feature extended coverage of the two new cameras.