24, 25 or 30 P???

I always thought the width had to match the year you were in - so now the width is 2010x whatever - but it seems all the options end at 2012. I just don't get that. :)

These cameras are capable of a whole lot more, canon is releasing firmware upgrades slowly on purpose. They want everyone to buy the NEW camera then when the new camera is bought up, they release firmware updates for older models so people dont forget about them.

They are playing the buyers to make more money.

Here's an interesting perspective on this topic, recently published in TVTechnology : http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newbay/tvt_20100303/#/18

Just so everyone understands what 29.97 means (29.97 x 2 = 59.94i).

The standard recommended a frame rate of 30 frames IMAGES per second, consisting of two interlaced fields per frame at 262.5 lines per field and 60 fields per second. Other standards in the final recommendation were an aspect ratio of 4:3, and frequency modulation (FM) for the sound signal.

Whereas 1080P stands for:

The number 1080 represents 1,080 lines of vertical resolution (1,080 horizontal scan lines) while the letter p stands for progressive scan (meaning the image is not interlaced). The term usually assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a horizontal resolution of 1920 pixels. This creates a frame resolution of 1920×1080.

While this is not my opinion of what is or isn't it is fact.

I hope that post is a joke Jason. 29.97 does NOT MEAN INTERLACED! WILL YOU GIVE UP ON IT PLEASE! If it meant interlaced then the Canon company would not come out with 29.97 as an option on the progressive camera.... it isn't fact. Just stop!
If it is fact, explain why Canon is coming out with a firmware update that will make it 29.97 fps

it is possible to shoot at 29.97 progressive, its possible to do anything progressive. lik 43.67p or 27p. Why would you? who knows, but the camera could do it. Its not like frame rates are set in stone.

I am being progressively interlaced with this topic. ;)

A very progressive discussion ;)

Scott the industry uses 29.97 for both interlace and progressive footage.
One is 29.97i and the other is 29.97p. Canon and other manufactures use the term 30p very loosely.

With the Canon 5D MKII it is 30p, with the upgraded firmware it will be 29.97p. P mean p, i means i and nether p or i have anything to do with fps. So the original question was who was going to use 24,25 or 30p with the new Canons, it had nothing to do with differences between i or p or if anyone was going to convert the native progressive to interlaced.

So back to my answer now it is 30p and after the firmware it will have to be 29.97p.