More Specs on Nikon’s 500mm and 600mm VR Upgrades and a Pimped DX Standard Zoom Lens

Following up on our previous post with initial information about the expected upgrade of Nikon’s 500mm and 600mm f/4 VR lenses, another source reveals more information on these rumored lenses.

Making sure there’s something for those on tighter budgets as well, there are also specs for a 16-80mm f/2.8-4 DX lens. It is said to be replacing the 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6, but with all its fancy new features I doubt the price will be anywhere near its predecessor.

We’ve seen reports that the new super telephoto lenses will include a fluorite element and fluorine coating.

The new crystal element will lead to lighter lenses (the new 400mm dropped 2 lbs when it got one), and the Vibration Reduction system was said to be improved as well.

Digicame-Info posted the following specs earlier today:

Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4E FL ED VR (assumed, unofficial name)

• Fluorite element (FL)
• Three ED elements
• Electromagnetic diaphragm
• Lightweight (relatively, thanks mainly to the fluorite element)
• Improved AF performance during motion tracking
• Fluorine coating
• VR up to four stops (vs three stops on the current model)
• Sports VR mode

Nikkor AF-S 600mm f/4E FL ED VR (assumed, unofficial name)

• Fluorite element (FL)
• Three ED elements
• Electromagnetic diaphragm
• Lightweight (relatively, thanks mainly to the fluorite element)
• Improved AF performance during motion tracking
• Fluorine coating
• VR up to four stops (vs 2.5 stops on the current model)
• Sport VR mode

Another lens that is rumored to be preparing for its public appearance is a 16-85mm replacement with the following specs:

Nikkor 16-80mm f/2.8-4G DX N lens (assumed, unofficial name)

• DX format
• Electromagnetic diaphragm
• Nano Crystal coating
• ED glass
• Fluorine coating
• VR up to four stops

As you can see this lens is said to share many of the same upgrades as Nikon’s high-end big boys, so it’s safe to say that while the 16-85mm and its successor will share a similar focal range they probably won’t be as similar when it comes to price.

Since the current lens costs just under $700, I’d expect to see the new one come with a four digit price tag.

The lens won’t include a fluorite element, which is part of the reason the price of the new 400mm lens jumped by 30%, but it’s not every day that an APS-C lens gets all these bells and whistles. In fact, if the info is correct, this will be the first DX lens with an electromagnetic diaphragam.

It’s a no brainer that the telephoto lenses will be released before the 2016 Rio Olympics, but while Nikon Rumors previously reported that the lenses should be announced within 30-60 days, DI say they will be announced “soon” and in the “near future”.

Usually I’d say that 30-60 days is pretty soon (by now it’s more like 15-45 days), but last time DI used this terminology was when it shared leaked specs of Sigma’s 24-35mm f/2 lens. In that case the official specs were announced just one day later, so we might not have to wait much longer for more info on Nikon’s new releases.

[via Digicame-info]