Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

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DaveEP
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p.2 #1 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

Andre Labonte wrote:
OK, at this point Nikon has fleshed out its line of bodies but still lags in lenses ... OK OK, or all you resolution nuts, I hope a 24-32 MP D3x comes out soon ... but after that, I want some lenses.

I very much doubt that the same design engineers work on both bodies and lenses, so it should not matter what bodies do or do not come out, the lens engineers should be working hard on the lenses anyway. For sure they will all have to make sure they play well together, but I very much doubt that "Engineer A" who normally works on lenses stopped working on Lenses to design the D700 for instance, and will now go back to designing lenses again. Rather the body designers will maybe pay a little more attention to the lower end products again, as well as the much hoped for D3x.

In terms of lenses, it does not matter what they bring out next, there will always be some one disappointed, either because it was a prime instead of a zoom (or visa versa) or it isn't as sharp as they had hoped, or perhaps because it's too expensive!

So, for now, I would like the 10mm-1200mm f1.4 in the size of .... oh.... maybe a (small) coffee cup. Oh, and of course it needs to be < $500 with 6th generation VR meaning I can hand hold 1200mm in the dark for 5 seconds and get sharp shots. It ain't going to happen any time soon

Jul 15, 2008 at 04:33 PM

DaveEP
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p.2 #2 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

Andre Labonte wrote:
What we need is a roadmap so that people can plan their kits on the long-term. I make one purchase a year and it has to last me for many years.

Yes, the competitors would love that too.....

Jul 15, 2008 at 04:34 PM

David Baldwin
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p.2 #3 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

Andre Labonte wrote:
What we need is a roadmap so that people can plan their kits on the long-term.

Absolutely. If Nikon hadn't been so unclear about whether they were ever going FX I wouldn't have bought a large Canon outfit about 18 months ago. I can't have been the only one to have jumped ship for the lack of a little reassurance.

Jul 15, 2008 at 04:47 PM

BenV
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p.2 #4 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

David Baldwin wrote:
Andre Labonte wrote:
What we need is a roadmap so that people can plan their kits on the long-term.

Absolutely. If Nikon hadn't been so unclear about whether they were ever going FX I wouldn't have bought a large Canon outfit about 18 months ago. I can't have been the only one to have jumped ship for the lack of a little reassurance.

I "jumped ship" for the exact opposite reason. I went Canon --> Nikon because of the better offerings (that suited my needs)

Jul 15, 2008 at 05:04 PM

plnelson
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p.2 #5 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

Now that Nikon has 2 FX bodies they need a 70-200 f/2.8 that's pro-quality in FX format. 70-200 f/2.8 is a popular pro focal length for PJ's working press conferences, runway fashion, concerts, etc, but Nikon's current 70-200 is only pro-quality in DX format.

I'd also like to see VR for the 300 f/4.

Jul 15, 2008 at 05:33 PM

Kuan
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p.2 #6 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

I'd like to see Canon 24L & 35L equivalents.

Jul 15, 2008 at 05:55 PM

r_o_b_s_o_n
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p.2 #7 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

plnelson wrote:
Now that Nikon has 2 FX bodies they need a 70-200 f/2.8 that's pro-quality in FX format. 70-200 f/2.8 is a popular pro focal length for PJ's working press conferences, runway fashion, concerts, etc, but Nikon's current 70-200 is only pro-quality in DX format.

I'd also like to see VR for the 300 f/4.

I've used my AF-S 80-200 on my F5 with great success... looking forward to my D700 and I will post some sample shots... only thing is the lack of VR...I'll hold on to my 80-200 until a replacment VR lens comes out... but with the high ISO's available with the D3/700 it's not as big a deal...

Edited by r_o_b_s_o_n on Jul 16, 2008 at 02:31 AM GMT

Edited on Jul 15, 2008 at 06:31 PM

Jul 15, 2008 at 06:13 PM

r_o_b_s_o_n
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p.2 #8 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

Kuan wrote:
I'd like to see Canon 24L & 35L equivalents.

yes... I agree.... I would buy 24mm & 35mm f1.4 and 50mm & 85mm f1.2 lenses... that would be very very nice....

Jul 15, 2008 at 06:15 PM

Andre Labonte
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p.2 #9 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

DaveEP wrote:
Andre Labonte wrote:
OK, at this point Nikon has fleshed out its line of bodies but still lags in lenses ... OK OK, or all you resolution nuts, I hope a 24-32 MP D3x comes out soon ... but after that, I want some lenses.

I very much doubt that the same design engineers work on both bodies and lenses, so it should not matter what bodies do or do not come out, the lens engineers should be working hard on the lenses anyway...........

That may be true, but it's not as much about the engineers as it is about their budgets.

Jul 15, 2008 at 06:21 PM

Jammy Straub
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p.2 #10 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

Andre Labonte wrote:
Roger Mattos wrote:
Jammy Straub wrote:
I want an equivalent to the 50L that doesn't suffer from focus shift when stopping down. I'd pay dearly for one on a D700... clients would pay dearly for the photos

Seriously though, I bet we'll see a D90 and a D3x before we see more lenses.
And I think the reason Nikon is not making one, is because they can't.
Nikon likes to make good products that excel, maybe there is no way to make a 50 f1.2 that is fast focusing. the 50l and 85l are a joke when it comes to Af, there are other issues too. I like my nikkor 85 f1.4 focus fast on my cameras, so maybe a AFS version would be better? who knows. Maybe Nikon can't make it better.

Things can always be made better after 20 years have past. I thinks it's a matter of resources on Nikon's part. They were behind on bodies and put a huge push there where it is needed. And they have been doing a good job on lenses too.

Agreed, if they can make a 200 f/2 VR they can make a 50mm f/1.2 AFS lens. They already have a manual focus version as someone else said. The rear element size shouldn't be that big of a problem, if you look at the 85L the electrical contacts cut into the side of the rear element, they'd probably have to do something similar. It's probably a case of them not seeing selling many $1600 50mm prime lenses, but with the D3 and D700 that could change, especially with a large influx of people interested in shooting available light. I smell many wedding photogs being interested in the D700 because of it's high ISO performance and the consistency of the flash metering, fast primes are the one thing lacking from the equation right now.

I always found the focus speed of the 85L II and 50L to be just fine for their intended purposes, you'd have trouble photographing sports with them for sure, but for available light people shooting and studio work they work dandy IMHO.

Jul 15, 2008 at 06:22 PM

Andre Labonte
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p.2 #11 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

DaveEP wrote:
Andre Labonte wrote:
What we need is a roadmap so that people can plan their kits on the long-term. I make one purchase a year and it has to last me for many years.

Yes, the competitors would love that too.....

Good point .... it does not have to be too detailed, but they could at least give a general direction. For instance, when they brought out the new 24PC they mentioned the 45 and 85. They could give some indication about fast primes and the a 200mm micro update.

Jul 15, 2008 at 06:23 PM

Makten
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p.2 #12 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

Raphael T-M wrote:
for those of you requesting f/1.2s, i think i read somewhere that Nikon can't make them due to the size of the mount. The best they can do with the mount is f/1.4... not sure, but i believe that's what i read.

Nikon has made at least three f/1.2 primes in the past; the 55/1.2 (which I own), 50/1.2 AIS and 58/1.2 Noct-Nikkor. So it is possible, but the question is if there is any room for electrical contacts for CPU and AF-S.

In my opinion, f/1.2 is overkill for FX since these new cameras do handle high ISO speeds very well and the DOF will still be very short with f/1.4 on 35, 50 and 85 mm. In fact, a 50/1.4 gives shorter DOF than 80/2.8 on 6x6.

Some new primes would be nice though, since the new zooms are far too heavy and bulky to carry around all the time, in my opinion. I will probably get the D700 when I can afford it (later this year) and I currently own a D200 with some very nice manual focus primes. I will then probably buy the 24-70 for occasions when weight is not an issue, but I'd really like a couple of new AF primes with low vignetting and good sharpness corner to corner. That would be 20/2.8, 35/1.4, and 50/1.4. The new Sigma 50/1.4 seems to do the job, but it is a bit on the heavy side.

But, when people speak and dream of new primes, there always seem to be a demand for AF-S. I don't really understand this. For short to normal lenses, the AF-D would do just fine and be cheaper, smaller and probably more reliable. That's right, more reliable! The AF-S lenses does wear out in time. The silent motor just doesn't live forever. But the "screwdriver AF" of the older lenses seem to do that. Last forever. And how fast AF do we need for these shorter primes? I've never ever had any trouble with AF speed with short AF-D lenses.

Edited on Jul 15, 2008 at 08:54 PM

Jul 15, 2008 at 08:51 PM

ulrikft
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p.2 #13 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

A d700 + nanocoated 20-30 somewhere 1.4 prime, nanocoated 45 1.4 and nanocoated 77 1.4

But that won't happen :P

Jul 15, 2008 at 08:55 PM

Mort54
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p.2 #14 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

> i need a something like a 40mm-ish f1.2 AF-S. i'll never see one. 35 is too wide and 50 is too long.

Put on the 50 and take one step backward. Or, put on the 35 and take one step forward.

Jul 15, 2008 at 09:01 PM

HerbChong
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p.2 #15 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

sorry, no forward or backward movement possible without altering perspective.

Herb...

Edited on Jul 15, 2008 at 09:02 PM

Jul 15, 2008 at 09:01 PM

plnelson
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p.2 #16 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

90 5.0 wrote:
[Quote]The best wide angle lens is two steps back
- Ansle Adams

That seems like an odd thing for him to say given his subject matter (e.g., El Cap or Half Dome). You'd have to "step back" several miles and in doing so you would change perspective and introduce a lot more air (e.g., haze, etc) between you and your subject. Are you sure it was A.A. who said that? What could he have meant?

Jul 15, 2008 at 09:41 PM

David Baldwin
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p.2 #17 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

I was gutted when Nikon cancelled their gorgeous 28mm f1.4. Since that time I never looked at the Nikkor lineup with such affection.

Lets hope that now Nikon are serious about FX they will replace the old 28mm with a new improved ultrafast equivalent.

Till then, the Canon 24mm f1.4L is top banana.

Jul 15, 2008 at 09:46 PM

Makten
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p.2 #18 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

David Baldwin wrote:
I was gutted when Nikon cancelled their gorgeous 28mm f1.4.

Was it really gorgeous? From what I've seen, it was pretty soft wide open. And why have fast lenses if not to shoot wide open?

Edited on Jul 15, 2008 at 09:51 PM

Jul 15, 2008 at 09:50 PM

Jammy Straub
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p.2 #19 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

Makten wrote:
In my opinion, f/1.2 is overkill for FX since these new cameras do handle high ISO speeds very well and the DOF will still be very short with f/1.4 on 35, 50 and 85 mm.

I think a lot of people are interested in the f/1.2 primes not so much so for their speed but for the dream like look they impart. I'm not partial to Nikon's past f/1.2 50's simply because I find their bokeh ghastly (and I'm all about interesting active bokeh). There's a local gal who does beautiful work with mainly a 50L and you just can't achieve that look any other way, the 50 f/1.4 Nikkors certainly don't have it, the 85mm f/1.4 Nikkor is very close, but too long for a general coverage lens.

Her name's Megan Wynn: http://meganwphotography.wordpress.com/ (I'm not associated with her, I just shot a wedding with her a while back and really enjoy her work)

I do agree screw drive f/1.2 lenses would be fine too, people aren't buying these for their D40's and I don't plan on shooting sports with them.

PS. Welcome to FM

Jul 15, 2008 at 10:00 PM

Andre Labonte
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p.2 #20 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

Screw Drive! I think it's fair to say Nikon will never make another screw drive F-mount lens except in some aniversary remake ... and even then I doupt it.

Jul 15, 2008 at 11:02 PM

Jammy Straub
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p.2 #21 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

Andre Labonte wrote:
Screw Drive! I think it's fair to say Nikon will never make another screw drive F-mount lens except in some aniversary remake ... and even then I doupt it.

The sky could fall

we could see an anniversary digital SP too.

Jul 15, 2008 at 11:26 PM

ruddyroye
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p.2 #22 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

Ok how about a re-issuing of lens, say the 28mm F2, 35mm F1.4, 50mm F1.2, 105mm F1.8 all Ais and this is just to start. Zeiss is climbing up in interest on the lens market I think re-establishing these sweet primes will help to keep Zeiss at bay.

Jul 16, 2008 at 12:15 AM

HerbChong
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p.2 #23 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

the 50/1.4 DOF is too high for what i shoot, but at the same time, i need a wider FOV than a 50. also, even with the D3, i find that i need the higher shutter speeds that an f1.2 lens would allow even over an f1.4. i am certain Nikon will never make the lens i need, but i know what i need. i use the AF-D 50/1.4 because that is the next closest i can get my hands on that will do the job.

Herb...

Makten wrote:
In my opinion, f/1.2 is overkill for FX since these new cameras do handle high ISO speeds very well and the DOF will still be very short with f/1.4 on 35, 50 and 85 mm. In fact, a 50/1.4 gives shorter DOF than 80/2.8 on 6x6.

Jul 16, 2008 at 01:29 AM

voka_gsw
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p.2 #24 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

Makten wrote:
But, when people speak and dream of new primes, there always seem to be a demand for AF-S. I don't really understand this. For short to normal lenses, the AF-D would do just fine and be cheaper, smaller and probably more reliable.

When's the last time Nikon made a lens that isnt AFS (not counting tilt shifts) ? Every new lens is gonna be AFS.

Now, where are those damned 28/1.4, 50/1.2, 85/1.2, 135/2, all AFS ?

Jul 16, 2008 at 04:05 AM

Andre Labonte
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p.2 #25 · Nikon -- Enough with bodies --- LENSES

voka_gsw wrote:
Makten wrote:
But, when people speak and dream of new primes, there always seem to be a demand for AF-S. I don't really understand this. For short to normal lenses, the AF-D would do just fine and be cheaper, smaller and probably more reliable.

When's the last time Nikon made a lens that isnt AFS (not counting tilt shifts) ? Every new lens is gonna be AFS.

Now, where are those damned 28/1.4, 50/1.2, 85/1.2, 135/2, all AFS ?

In all reality, the four lenses you mention along with an updated 200micro would pretty much round out the Nikon lens line-up. Then they could start the updating of lenses like the 80-400VR etc. I hope the primes and the micro happen.

I doubt I will get my 120-300 f/2.8 or my 105-200 micro with 1:1, but I can always hope.

Jul 16, 2008 at 02:11 PM


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