The "new type of single-lens reflex camera" could come as early as this fiscal year, which ends in March 2011.

The revelations were made by Nikon's president Makoto Kimura in an interview with Bloomberg. He stated: “It could be [released] any time this fiscal year or the following year, as new models are starting to sell." However, he declined to comment further.

A mirrorless camera would compete directly with Panasonic's and Olympus' Micro FourThird cameras, as well as similar concepts by Sony, Ricoh and Samsung. Canon and Pentax have yet to enter the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera segment.

A spokeswoman for Nikon UK has yet to comment.

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