For the next few weeks, I'll be providing tech support for Apple in the main press center at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. They have a huge setup with fifty Mac Pros and 30-inch Cinema Displays.

Since I am providing Mac-based photographers with tech support, I've had the opportunity to walk around the main aisles of the MPC's photo room and take a look at the gear. When I started as PDN's Technology Editor around six years ago, a walk around this center would have shown nearly every shooter sporting a Canon. However, at the 2008 games, I'm seeing a comeback of sorts with more and more Nikon shooters. By an unofficial tally I'm up to about a 60/40 split of Canon to Nikon gear, although at some points that swings highly in either direction depending on what wave of shooters is coming into the center. Of course, the major media outlets, AP, AFP, EPA, etc. all have their own private rooms, so I can't tell what gear they have in there. But even as I watch the live-streaming coverage from the various TVs scattered around the room, I'm seeing a change in the overall balance.

Part of this might have to do with Nikon's generous loaner program. In fact, while I am writing this, a shooter with a Nikon D700 just sat down next to me. When I asked him how he liked the body he said, "I don't know yet, I just borrowed it from them, I'll let you know when I look at the images."

This competition is great for a number of reasons, but mostly it's great because it means that the two big companies are going to be increasingly fighting again for market share, and that means more innovation on a faster schedule than ever before. In fact, with the introduction of the D700 Canon shooters have been waiting for a response from Canon—hoping it's going to be soon.

From a digital point of view, these games will mark the most sophisticated imaging ever, with millions of digital frames—most from the highest-end cameras on the market. The progress at the pro end will trickle down to consumers too, and so the battle for the gold will help photographers of all levels.