While the eyes of the photographic community are all pointed at the new Nikon Z mirrorless system, the company has released another impressive piece of gear. After announcing the development of a super-lightweight and compact 500mm f/5.6 lens, the glass now out and ready for preorders. Let’s take a look at the specs and more photos of the new telephoto lens from Nikon.
Nikon announces development of lightweight and compact 500mm f/5.6 lens
Earlier this year, Nikon filed a patent for a new AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens. Now the company has officially announced the development of this FX-format lens, promising splendid optical performance in a compact and lightweight package.
Nikon launches 180-400mm f/4 lens with a built-in 1.4x teleconverter, and it will cost you $12,400
A new, huge lens has joined the Nikon family. NIKKOR 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR is a super-telephoto lens with a built-in 1.4x teleconverter. It lets you extend the focal length from 180-400mm to 252-560mm on full-frame cameras. Used with crop bodies, that’s the equivalent field of view to full frame 378-840mm with the teleconverter activated.
The lens seems to be designed with sports and wildlife photographers in mind. It has plenty of great features, and they come with a price tag of nearly $12,400.
2017 DIYP Gift Guide – Lenses
In this, the second in our series of gift guides, we’re taking a look at lenses. After all, what good are cameras without them?
We’ve looked through some of our new favourites from the past year, as well as a couple of classics which consistently withstand the test of time.
Nikon announces new Nikkor 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 zoom lens for full frame cameras
A new zoom lens is coming from Nikon: it’s AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm F4.5-5.6E ED VR. It’s designed for Nikon full-frame cameras, and video shooters will especially find it attractive because of the fast and quiet AF performance.
This is the first FX Nikkor lens with a stepping motor, which makes the AF fast, smooth and quiet. Additionally, it’s equipped with VR function that provides a level of compensation equivalent to a 4.5-stop increase in shutter speed, which is an improvement over their current 70-300 f/4-5.6 lens. Nikon has released a sample video filmed with this lens, along with some more details and specs.[Read More…]
Prime lens in event photography– limitation or possibility?
I had an interesting discussion in a photography group on Facebook some time ago. It started with my question about the 35mm prime lens, and somehow I ended up discussing zoom lenses with a member of the group. He said that, as an event photographer, he doesn’t have the luxury of moving around and focusing with his feet so he only uses zoom lenses. I support him and agree with him – up to some point.
I am not a professional event photographer, so I have the luxury to experiment. And a few months ago I was in a situation where I had to experiment. My prime lens was put to a test in event photography – and I believe it passed.
A peek at some of the rare Nikon gear at the amazing Grays of Westminster
Grays of Westminster is known around the world as the place to go for high end collectable Nikon gear. They house some of the rarest examples of Nikon’s history anywhere. They also probably have more of it than anybody else. As one of the few independent camera stores left, it’s worth visiting if you’re ever in London.
For now, though, you can see Matt Granger taking an up close and personal tour with some extremely rare and special cameras. As a special treat, Matt got to talk with founder Gray Levett about Nikon’s history. They also discuss how some of these rare cameras are discovered in the strangest of places.
How Nikkor optical glass is made
The Philosophy of Nikkor is a series of videos which Nikon started to release in April of last year. Every so often a new video is released containing insight into the creation of their Nikkor lenses. There are interviews with everybody from the designers and product managers right down to those making the individual components.
In the latest video, Volume 6 released recently, we hear from those who make the optical glass. As part of the Nikon Group, Hikari Glass produces the optical glass that will eventually go into the Nikkor lenses you mount to your camera. The current Hikari Glass plant was built in 1975 in Akita, Japan. It’s a fascinating look at how our lenses begin their life.
Nikon launch ultrawide 19mm f/4E PC tilt-shift and new 70-200mm f/2.8E VR lenses
When Nikon updated the 70-200mm f/2.8VR with the VRII in 2009, it was much celebrated. Finally the vignetting issues that had plagued the original for full frame/film users had been fixed. While the VRII was just as successful as its predecessor it was quite heavily slated for focus breathing issues at the long end. Now, that has been replaced with the new Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR.
Nikon have also announced a new addition to their Perspective Control (PC) line of lenses. The ultrawide full frame Nikon PC-E Nikkor 19mm f/4E ED Tilt-Shift lens. Previously the widest lens in the PC Nikkor range was the 24mm f/3.5D, so this presents a pretty substantial increase in field of view.
‘The Great 24-70mm f/2.8 Shootout’ pits nearly identical Canon, Nikkor, Pentax and Sony against each other
No matter what brand of camera you prefer, there’s a good chance a 24–70mm f/2.8 lens is available for the mount. It’s one of the most versatile pieces of glass out there and almost every company manufacturers some variation of it.
To put four of these variations to the test, Camera Store TV created a video review showing and explaining how the 24–70mm lenses from Canon, Nikon, Sony and Pentax stack up to one another.[Read More…]
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