don't know if this is completely true, but this comes from a usually reliable source:
to be released in 2008 (Olympics)
1) Nikkor AFS 80-400 mm f/4-5.6 VR II (new design),
2) Nikkor AFS 70 200 mm f/2,8 VR II (new design),
3) Nikkor AFS DX 16 85 mm f/3,5-5,6 VR II,
later (end 2008, beginning 2009)
4) Nikkor AFS 50 mm f/1,4,
5) Nikkor AFS 85 mm f/2 VR II,
6) Nikkor-Micro AFS 200 mm f/4 VR II,
7) PC Nikkor AFS 28 mm f/2,8
the 80-400 vrII well it's the oldest vr and could be sharper at 5.6 on the long end, guess i'll be swapping mine for this. and the 70-200 out of stock, very believable.
When I was talking with a Nikon rep about going to Nikon (I did buy a D3), I gave him a list of my Canon lenses and the old Nikon lenses I still owned, and he told me the 80-400 would be updated. A friend in CA who just switched from Canon (1D3s) to Nikon (D3s) told me the 28 f1.4 and 85 f1.4 (not f2.0) were being updated. In the past he has been right on target with Canon and Leica lens updates.
I bought the 24-70 f2.8 with the D3, and it just snaps into focus, and is very sharp with beautiful creamy oof areas. I have used primes (except for the 70-200 f2.8IS) forever, and would love Nikon replacements for my 85 1.2. 35 f1.4 and 50 f1.2, but this little zoom is so good I may only buy the new 85. I am using an older 80-200 f2.8 I used with my F5s, along with a 300 f4 (neither are af-s lenses) and I occasionally try the 80-400, but it is really slow focusing, and the image quality is not the greatest. That said, a sharper version that would focus quickly enough would be wonderful because it is a very lightweight lens which is easy to carry on a D3 (which seems perceptibly lighter in weight than my 1D2 or 1Ds2). The 200-400 is also very tempting, but if there is a good 80-400, that and a 500 f4.0 may be a better way to go than buying the 200-400 f4.0. Hopefully Nikon will announce their plans soon - it is difficult to resist updating some of these lenses, but silly to buy them with the odds looking good for replacements soon.
The D3 AF tracking is incredibly good, even with the older “slow” lenses.
I will update this site with shots taken in much better light today or tomorrow, but I can’t overstate how wonderful it is to finally have run and run of perfectly focused images to choose from.
Count me in for a Nikkor AFS 85 mm f/2 VR II that sounds like an awesome lens to have. I'd rather the 16-85mm were f/4.5 instead of 5.6 like the 18-70 is. The PC 28mm would likely be quite welcome by a lot of people too. Sounds like a good update to their lens lineup if it's true.
nikt wrote:
85mm f2. noooooo! "Wrong Way, Go Back"
Still no affordable 70-200 F4 VR,
or 50-150 f2.8 DX VR
At least they listened to my plea's for a 16-80 DX.
I completely agree. No 50-150mm f/2.8 yet convinces me Nikon is relegating DX to consumers. Even still, such a lens would be a consumer boon. Imagine all the moms who can shoot their little precious' twilight soccer games.
And 85mm F/2? C'mon. Let's hope these rumors are slightly off base.
I have yet to purchase the 85 1.4 lens and would like to see the upgrade before I purchase one. Luckily by the time I have the money this whole rumor thing will be old and hopefully true. As for the 80-400... If that was upgraded with some better glass and AF-S and new VR. Man what a killer lens that would be.
I am still pleading for a sports combo that includes a 120-300mm f2.8, and a 50-150mm f2.8. VR would be ok I guess if it helps them sell lenses, but I wouldn't NEED it for my purposes I don't think. However if they redo the 70-200VRII I suppose they won't be making me these lenses any time soon.
