Canon has released details of it’s high megapixel camera today (EOS 50D with DIGIC 4 processing). It’s 15.1 megapixels and is priced at USD 1,500. The product is targeted for advanced amateurs and is ready to handle tough conditions outside. I think the camera is best suited for outdoor and travel photography freaks.
Here are the technical specifications.

Type
Digital, single-lens reflex, AF/AE camera with built-in flash

Recording Media
CF Card Type I and II, UDMA-compliant CF cards, via external media (USB v.2.0 hard drive, via optional Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3A)

Image Sensor Size
22.3mm x 14.9mm

Compatible Lenses
Canon EF lenses (including EF-S lenses) (35mm-equivalent focal length is approx. 1.6x the lens focal length)

Lens Mount
Canon EF mount

Image Sensor
Type
High-sensitivity, high-resolution, large single-plate CMOS sensor

Pixels
Effective pixels: Approx. 15.10 megapixels

Total Pixels
Total pixels: Approx. 15.50 megapixels

Aspect Ratio
3:2 (Horizontal: Vertical)

Color Filter System
RGB primary color filters

Low-pass Filter
Fixed position in front of the CMOS sensor

Dust Deletion feature
(1) Automatic sensor cleaning
(2) Manual cleaning of sensor
(3) Dust Delete Data appended to the captured image

Recording System
Recording Format
Design rule for Camera File System 2.0

Image Type
JPEG, RAW (14-bit, Canon original), sRAW, RAW+JPEG

File Size
(1) Large/Fine: Approx. 5.0MB (4752 x 3168 pixels)
(2) Large/Nomal: Approx. 2.5MB (4752 x 3168 pixels)
(3) Medium/Fine: Approx. 3.0MB (3456 x 2304 pixels)
(4) Medium/Normal: Approx. 1.6MB (3456 x 2304 pixels)
(5) Small/Fine: Approx. 1.7MB (2352 x 1568 pixels)
(6) Small/Normal: Approx. 0.9MB (2352 x 1568 pixels)
(7) RAW: Approx. 20.2MB (4752 x 3168 pixels)
(8) RAW+Large/Fine: Approx. 20.2+5.0MB (4752 x 3168 pixels)
(9) sRAW 1: Approx. 12.6MB (3267 x 2178 pixels)
(10) sRAW 1+Large/Fine: Approx. 12.6+5.0MB (3267 x 2178 pixels)
(11) sRAW 2: Approx. 9.2MB (2376 x 1584 pixels)
(12) sRAW 2+Large/Fine: Approx. 9.2+5.0MB (2376 x 1584 pixels)
Exact file sizes depend on the subject, ISO speed, Picture Style, etc.

Recording Functions
With the WFT-E3A attached, image recording to the CF card and to the USB external media connected to the WFT-E3A will be possible as follows:
(1) Standard
(2) Automatic switching of recording media
(3) Separate recordings according to image-recording quality
(4) Recording images having the same size

Backup Recording
Enabled with WFT-E3A attached

File Numbering
Consecutive numbering, auto reset, manual reset. Possible to create new folders and select folders in the CF card

RAW + JPEG Simultaneous Recording
Provided (sRAW+JPEG also possible)

Color Space
sRGB, Adobe RGB

Picture Style
Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Def. 1-3

Image Processing
Type
Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten Light, White Fluorescent Light, Flash, Custom, Color Temperature setting

Auto White Balance
Auto white balance with the image sensor

Color Temperature Compensation
White balance correction: ±9 stops in full-stop increments
White balance bracketing: ±3 stops in full-stop increments
Blue/amber direction or magenta/green direction possible

Color Temperature Information Transmission
Provided

Viewfinder
Type
Eye-level pentaprism

Coverage
Vertical/Horizontal approx. 95%

Magnification
Approx. 0.95x (-1m-1 with 50mm lens at infinity)

Eyepoint
Approx. 22mm (from eyepiece lens center)

Built-in Dioptric Adjustment
-3.0 to +1.0m-1 (diopter)

Focusing Screen
Interchangeable (Ef-D: Grid lines, Ef-S {point of Focus), Ef-A standard focusing screen provided

Mirror
Quick-return half mirror (transmission: reflection ratio of 40:60, no mirror cut-off with EF600mm f/4L IS USM or shorter lenses)

Viewfinder Information
AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), Exposure information (shutter speed, aperture, ISO speed, AE lock, exposure level, spot metering circle), Flash information (flash ready, flash exposure compensation, High-speed sync, FE lock, Red-eye reduction light), Image information (Highlight tone priority, monochrome shooting, maximum burst, white balance correction, CF card information)

Depth-of-Field Preview
Enabled with depth-of-field preview button

Autofocus
Type
TTL-CT-SIR AF-dedicated CMOS sensor

AF Points
9 (Cross-type)

Metering Range
EV 0.5-18 (at 73°F/23°C, ISO 100)

Focusing Modes
Auto, One-Shot AF, Predictive AI Servo AF, AI Focus AF, Manual focusing (MF)

AF Point Selection
Automatic selection, manual selection

Selected AF Point Display
Superimposed in viewfinder and indicated on LCD panel

AF-assist Beam
Small series of flashes fired by built-in flash
Effective range: Approx. 13.1 ft./4.0m at center, approx. 11.5 ft./3.5m at periphery

Exposure Control
Metering Modes
35-zone TTL full-aperture metering
Evaluative metering (linkable to any AF point)
Partial metering (approx. 9% of viewfinder at center)
Spot metering (approx. 3.8% of viewfinder at center)
Center-weighted average metering

Metering Range
EV 1-20 (at 73°F/23°C with EF50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100)

Exposure Control
Program AE (Shiftable), Shutter-priority AE, Aperture-priority AE, Depth-of-field AE, Creative Auto, Full auto, Programmed image control modes (portrait, landscape, close-up, sports, night portrait, flash off), Manual exposure, E-TTL II autoflash program AE

ISO Speed (Recommended Exposure Index)
Automatically set, ISO 100-6400 (in 1/3-stop or 1-stop increments)
Basic Zone modes: ISO 100-3200 set automatically
Extension settable (with C.Fn.I-3-1): ISO 12800
High Tone Priority settable: ISO 200-1600

Exposure Compensation
Manual: ±3 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments (can be combined with AEB)

AE Lock
Auto: Applied in One-Shot AF mode with evaluative metering when focus is achieved
Manual: By AE lock button

Shutter
Type
Vertical-travel, mechanical, Electronically-controlled, focal-plane shutter

Shutter Speeds
1/8000 to 1/60 sec., X-sync at 1/250 sec.
1/8000 to 30 sec., bulb (Total shutter speed range.
Available range varies by shooting mode)

Shutter Release
Soft-touch electromagnetic release

Self-timer
10-sec. or 2-sec. delay

Remote Control
Remote control with N3-type terminal

Built-in Flash
Type
Retractable, auto pop-up flash

Flash Metering
E-TTL II autoflash

Guide Number
13/43 (ISO 100, in meters/feet)

Recycling Time
Approx. 3 sec.

Flash-ready Indicator
Flash-ready icon lights in viewfinder

Flash Coverage
17mm lens angle of view

FE Lock
Provided

Flash Exposure Compensation
Up to ±2 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments

External Speedlite
Zooming to Match Focal Length
Provided

Compatible Flash
EX-series Speedlites

Flash Metering
E-TTL II autoflash

Flash Exposure Compensation
±2 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments

FE Lock
Provided

External Flash Settings
Flash function settings, Flash C.Fn settings

Drive System
Drive Modes
Single, High-speed continuous, Low-speed continuous, and Self-timer (10 sec. or 2 sec. delay)

Continuous Shooting Speed
High-speed: Max. 6.3 shots/sec.
Low-speed: Max. 3 shots/sec.

Maximum Burst
JPEG (Large/Fine): approx. 60 (CF)/approx. 90 (UDMA CF)
RAW: approx. 16
RAW+JPEG (Large/Fine): approx. 11
Based on Canon’s testing standards with a 2GB CF card, high-speed continuous shooting, ISO 100 and Standard Picture Style
Varies depending on the subject, CF card brand, image-recording quality, ISO speed, drive mode, Picture Style, etc.

Live View Functions
Shooting Modes
(1) Live View shooting
(2) Remote Live View shooting (with a personal computer installed with EOS Utility)

Focusing
Manual focus
Autofocus (Live View image interrupted for AF): Quick mode, Live mode, Live Face Detection mode

Metering Modes
Evaluative metering with the image sensor

Metering Range
EV 0-20 (at 73°F/23°C with EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100)

Magnified View
By 5x or 10x at AF point

Grid Display
Provided

Exposure Simulation
Provided

Silent Shooting
Provided (Mode 1 and 2)

LCD Monitor
Type
TFT color, liquid-crystal monitor

Monitor Size
3.0 in.

Dots
Approx. 920,000 (VGA)

Coverage
Approx. 100% (viewing angle: approx. 160°)

Brightness Adjustment
7 levels provided

Interface Languages
25

Image Playback
Display Format
Single image, Single image + Image-recording quality/shooting information, histogram, 4- or 9-image index, magnified view (approx. 1.5x-10x), rotated image (auto/manual), image jump (by 10/100 images, index screen, by shooting date, by folder), slide show (all images/selected by date/folder)

Highlight Warning
Provided (Overexposed highlights blink)

Image Protection and Erase
Protect
Single images can be erase-protected or not

Erase
Single image, check-marked images or all images in the CF card can be erased (except protected images)

Direct Printing
Compatible Printers
PictBridge-compatible printers

Printable Images
JPEG images compliant to Design rule for Camera File System (DPOF printing possible) and RAW/sRAW images captured with the EOS 50D

Easy Print feature
Provided

DPOF: Digital Print Order Format
DPOF
Version 1.1 compatible

Direct Image Transfer
Compatible Images
JPEG and RAW images
Only JPEG images can be transferred as wallpaper on the personal computer screen

Customization
Custom Functions
Total 25

Camera User Settings
Register under Mode Dial’s C1 and C2 positions

My Menu Registration
Provided

Interface
USB Terminal
For personal computer communication and direct printing (USB 2.0 Hi-Speed)

Video Out Terminal
(1) Video OUT terminal: NTSC/PAL selectable
(2) HDMI mini OUT terminal

Extension System Terminal
For connection to WFT-E3A

Power Source
Battery
One Battery Pack BP-511A
AC power can be supplied via optional AC Adapter Kit ACK-E2 (with optional Battery Grip BG-E2N or BG-E2 attached, AA-size batteries can be used)

Number of Shots
Number of shots (approx.)
Temperature Shooting Conditions
No Flash 50% Flash Use
Normal Shooting 73°F/23°C 800 640
32°F/0°C 640 540
Live View Shooting 73°F/23°C 180 170
32°F/0°C 140 130

Battery Check
Auto

Power Saving
Provided. Power turns off after 1, 2, 4, 8, 15 or 30 min.

Date/Time Battery
One CR2016 lithium-ion battery

Start-up Time
Approx. 0.1 sec. (Based on CIPA testing standards)

Dimensions and Weight
Dimensions (WxHxD)
Approx. 5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 in./145.5 x 107.8 x 73.5mm

Weight
Approx. 25.7 oz./730g (body only)

Operating Environment
Working Temperature Range
32-104°F/0-40°C

Working Humidity Range
85% or less

Details here.