It seems that a Canon prototype was recently spied in the wild.

APERTURE ACADEMY - Fine Art Photography Gallery, Digital Photography Workshops: Canon 200-400mm and 600mm prototype lenses first sightings...and the new 5D Mark III? (http://blog.apertureacademy.com/2012/01/canon-200-400mm-and-600mm-prototype.html)

I know that Chris doesn't like rumors, but these photos are a bit more concrete. They don't look like Photoshop jobs to me.

Is this a 5D3? Who knows? It might be a 7D2 (though it has no popup flash.) It might be the new 4K DSLR (note the widescreen display.) Maybe it's a completely new camera - or maybe it's a decoy body that will never be produced at all. Anybody who knows for sure isn't telling.

In any case, it looks good. It has some more switches. There are additional controls on the battery grip. The power switch looks to be improved. A larger 16x9 display would be VERY welcome.

Time will tell. I can't imagine that the 5D2 replacement won't be here before the end of 2012. Three and (nearly) a half years is already a long, successful run.

Press invites have been sent out for Friday events around the world and there are photos floating around of a pretty elaborate display being built to unveil some new Canon stuff in China, hopefully the loooooooooong rumored and slightly overdue IMHO 5d3 will be a part of it. Too much speculation as to the specs and price, it makes your head hurt. It needs to be a real upgrade and not just a refresh to get me to dump the 5d2 in favor of a new body.