one thing i wonder about....

[Gothmoth]

..... how can canon, nikon and co. keep their secrets?

i mean... we see software on the internet before it is released.
some employees stealing retail copys or even master CD´s.
games, blu rays or software are one the web before they hit stores. 

don´t get me wrong i don´t support this.. i just say it as it is.

but there is no leaking from inside canon or nikon as it seems.
what we read here on CR is more often wrong then not.

ok many who could leak infos are under NDA. most will not risk violating the NDA, sure.

but you have to produce flyers, press material etc.
there must be people who have not signed a NDA who come in contact with these new products long before announcement... or not?
 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Canon is said to compartmentilize the information, with only a handful of trusted employees knowing the big picture.  They do not tell even vice presidents unless they need to know.  They certainly do not tell dealers or salesmen the details of what is coming. These are people who would be greatly embarassed or even transferred to menial jobs if the leaked information.

There are camera testers, but they are also sworn to secrecty and would lose all there Canon perks, which are valuable, if they told.

Most of the leaks have been from employees of printing companies who print sales broucheres two or three weeks before a announcement.  Thats why the accurate leaks usually come out of China.

Nikon is not so paranoid, and leaks often occur 3 months in advance.

There are so many who make up their own leaks that real leaks can be lost in the noise of fakers.

Real info on Canon DSLR's usually appears one or two weeks in advance, because a wider number of people suddenly have access to the information.