Update [1 July 08]: As predicted everywhere Nikon did announce the D700.

DP Review has the full details and hands on preview here.

Highlights:

• Full Frame Sensor (FX)
• Uses same chip used in Nikon’s flagship model Nikon D3 ($5,000)!
• 5fps speed with 52 point AF Sensor.
• MSRP $2,999 (I suspect $2,799 streetprice) (D300 is $1699)  [Adorama taking preorders already!]
• Available this month

And in typical Nikon fashion (the reason Nikon Rocks!) – it released firmware to update older D300 to include some of D700s new features! Which company does that? Not Apple, Not Canon – infact they delibrately LOCK features to protect their productline (Microsoft surpisingly released firmware to update Zune1 to some features of Zune2).

Now that I know what Nikon has up its FX sleeve, I am gonna update my trust old Nikon D70 at last. It has given me 4 good years, and served really well. I am moving not to D700, but to D300 – at $1600ish its a bargain. I can put the $1000 saved into some good wideangle glass.

June 18: After many many busted rumors of D90, D10… this one seems legit. Leaked pictures from a print factory was out in the wild today – Nikon forums are buzzing with anticipation. 

Whats not to like? A dream combo – D300 internals in a full frame (FX) format…. I have one hand in my wallet already – this is what we have been waiting for!   Please be under $2k!! 2k 2k 2k! (chinese websites have it pegged at $2995, ken rockwell has it at $3299)