Canon seems to have leapfrogged over Nikon. The new Canon 20D body is 8 megapixels, has 9 autofocus zones that work with less ambient light, and can support a 5fps frame rate (23 frame buffer with JPEG, only 6 with RAW). Perhaps more important, Canon has announced two new EF-S lenses (17-85mm with image stabilization and 10-22mm) that only work on the 20D and the D-Rebel / 300D. Up to this announcement, Nikon has had a significant lead in wide-angle lenses for D-SLRs (the DX series of lenses), but this announcement significantly helps Canon close the gap. In particular, the Nikon D70 kit includes an 18-70mm lens, and Canon now offers a lens with a wider range and image stabilization. If somebody were newly getting into digital photography and wanted to go the SLR route, a Canon 20D plus the 17-85mm lens would be a fantastic way to get started.

Now we just have to see how / when Nikon responds with a successor to the D100.

All the information is over at DPReview.com or Luminous Landscape.