Nikon are sliding into the summer with a strong start, announcing three new lenses which will make any Nikonian happy (and any Nikonian significant other angry). Nikon’s lens collection is expanding with a full frame 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR Lens, a 24mm f/1.8G ED Lens and an AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Lens, all should hit the stores by September but can already be pre-ordered.
Two of those lenses I am not surprised to see at all. The 24mm f/1.8 was almost needed to complete Nikon’s range of 1.8 lenses and the 24-70 is a long needed upgrade after almost all other Nikon lenses already have VR and the high end ones have Fluorine coating. Let,s have a closer look:
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR Lens
This is probably one of Nikon’s best flagship lenses so it is no wonder it gets a VR and Fluorine coating update, both are needed features by wedding photographers (though I would say that Fluorine is a must for anyone shooting toddlers and babies too, haha) .
Nikon states that
Adoption of the combination of one aspherical ED glass element, a first for NIKKOR lenses, aspherical lens elements, ED glass elements, a HRI(High Refractive Index) lens element, and Nano Crystal Coat makes this lens one that boasts superior optical performance with suppression of ghost and chromatic aberration, as well as sharp, clear rendering all the way to the edges of the frame
But we will wait for some tests to confirm that.
Pricewise, the 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR is there at $2,396.95, almost 40% pricier than the ‘old’ 24-70 which is $1,746.95, so I think Nikon are going to keep both variations and allow their customers to choose.
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.8G ED Lens
Nikon already has a wide range of f/1.8 lenses: 85mm, 50mm, 35mm, 28mm, 20mm. Can you sport the missing focal length? yup 24mm. This is why I am not really surprised at this announcement, basically it expands Nikon’s f/1.8 lens collection to fit all the common focal lengths.
I think that it would not be uncommon to see this lens used by street photographers, but maybe Nikon is aligning up for covering more cinematic options at f/1.8. Who knows. Price is set at $746.95 which is a bit over Nikon’s usual price for 1.8’s (lower only from the 20mm).
Again, Nikon claims to have taken extra steps for superior image quality:
The AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.8G ED is a fast, wide-angle 24 mm*1 fixed focal length lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8. Its compact size and light weight make it extremely portable, and it enables wide-angle photography of a variety of scenes with which users can enjoy pleasing and natural blur characteristics. The latest optical design technologies achieve superior resolution with sharp and clear rendering to the edges of the frame. In addition, the use of Nano Crystal Coat, and adoption of aspherical lens elements and ED glass elements enable superior optical performance with which ghost and chromatic aberration are suppressed
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Lens
Full frame, nature photographers rejoice!
From Nikon:
The AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR is a 2.5x super-telephoto zoom lens that supports the 200-500 mmrange of focal lengths with a maximum aperture of f/5.6. Adoption of ED glass elements achieves superior optical performance with which chromatic aberration is suppressed.
In addition, the AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR is equipped with a vibration reduction (VR) function that exhibits the highest level of camera shake compensation available with a NIKKOR lens—equivalent to a 4.5-stop increase in shutter speed. It is also equipped with a SPORT VR mode, which enables effective photography of athletes and other subjects that move quickly and unpredictably. What’s more, the AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR is equipped with an electromagnetic diaphragm mechanism that enables stable exposure control with high-speed continuous shooting for comfortable hand-held shooting that captures the decisive moment as a wild bird flaps its wings, or of an airplane in flight
