p.1 #1 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Nikon F mount And who predicted no more new F-Nikkors?
Although aimed at sports genres debut Tokyo 2020, with TC14 III, it should be versatile for wildlife, but limited for smaller birds at some distance. There are some wildlife Pros, including Brad Hill, who rate the Sigma zoom highly for wildlife, notably for larger mammals.
The current 300 f2.8G VRII weighs 2.9kg. The fluorite should trim 120-300 closer to 2 kg.
This new fast "exotic" medium telephoto zoom means it is unlikely that Nikon will release an updated 300 f2.8E FL prime (?) Similar uncertainty hangs over the future of the legendary 200 f2... It's hard to justify the release of a fluorite upgrade (Unless perhaps Nikon do this in a Z-Mount model). Trimming off VR should shed it of a pound, or so, of mass
The 200 f2 is a great niche prime for indoor sports and portraits. Lowlight ISO on the top-end Nikon action cameras has become really excellent; so the extra stop of a 200 f2 is really for DoF.... But, rather IF, the 120-300 f2.8 has great bokeh, who will pay out for another heavy fast prime? The surprise release of this fast zoom, encompassing 120 thru 300mm, also has interesting implications for the future values of the current fast primes in 200 and 300 F-Mount. A Used 200 f2 is scarce, the 300 f2.8 is far more common by comparison
p.1 #4 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
The Sigma 120-300 f2.8 Sport weighs 3.4 kg, Brad Hill rates it as the best alternative to the 180-400 f4E TC Nikkor; this new 120-300 Nikkor can be expected to be lighter. Perhaps less than the 2.9kg 200 f2G and 300 f2.8G
https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2015/07/supertelephoto-mtf-curves/
"I learned the Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 HSM OS is really good; better than I thought it was. A lot of you already knew that. You may have learned that manufacturer’s MTF charts are sometimes better than any actual lens is (no copy of the supertelephoto lenses we tested approached the published MTF, period). Other than that, this post just documents what we already know. Super telephoto lenses set the high end of the MTF bar. They are as good as photo lenses get...."
p.1 #5 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
I saw this on Nikon Rumors and was very interested, *but* it needs to be light!! I would suppose it is F mount, which is interesting as it sort of puts to bed any talk of F mount abandonment in the near future. F mount means Nikon has two avenues of sales, Z mount only means one avenue. Did I mention it has to be light!! I am also hoping for 2kg or lighter.
p.1 #6 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
The 120-300mm Sigma Sport OS has been the only non-Nikon lens that has tempted me throughout the years. Having shot with Brad Hill in the past and been to some of this lectures, I have seen the capabilities of the Sigma 120-300 in super challenging light. There is no doubt that this zoom range meets the requisites of sports photographers like those who are on the field (football/rugby/track etc...), but I also find that the focal length is a sweet spot for a traveling nature photographer.... Imagine the following kit... Z7 (or Z6), 14-30S, 24-70S, D5 (or D850/D500) 120-300 f/2.8, 1.4x and 2x converters. A kit with this range would meet the needs of most landscape and wildlife shooters (save the bird specialists).
Having recently rebuilt my own kit to accommodate the 500PF for regular use, the introduction of the 120-300 f/2.8, if strong with converters, would be a way for me to ditch two lenses in order to just carry one.
p.1 #7 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
Lance B wrote:
I saw this on Nikon Rumors and was very interested, *but* it needs to be light!! I would suppose it is F mount, which is interesting as it sort of puts to bed any talk of F mount abandonment in the near future. F mount means Nikon has two avenues of sales, Z mount only means one avenue. Did I mention it has to be light!! I am also hoping for 2kg or lighter.
It's a zoom, it will not be lightweight. Sigma's version is about 3.4kg so my guess is that the Nikon might be (with FL elements) 3kg, and less front heavy. If it is 2.7kg I will really be positively surprised.
p.1 #8 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
OwlsEyes wrote:
The 120-300mm Sigma Sport OS has been the only non-Nikkon lens that has tempted me throughout the years. Having shot with Brad Hill in the past and been to some of this lectures, I have seen the capabilities of the Sigma 120-300 in super challenging light. There is no doubt that this zoom range meets the requisites of sports photographers like those who are on the field (football/rugby/track etc...), but I also find that the focal length is a sweet spot for a traveling nature photographer.... Imagine the following kit... Z7 (or Z6), 14-30S, 24-70S, D5 (or D850/D500) 120-300 f/2.8, 1.4x and 2x converters. A kit with this range would meet the needs of most landscape and wildlife shooters (save the bird specialists).
Having recently rebuilt my own kit to accommodate the 500PF for regular use, the introduction of the 120-300 f/2.8, if strong with converters, would be a way for me to ditch two lenses in order to just carry one.
p.1 #9 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
ilkka_nissila wrote:
It's a zoom, it will not be lightweight. Sigma's version is about 3.4kg so my guess is that the Nikon might be (with FL elements) 3kg, and less front heavy. If it is 2.7kg I will really be positively surprised.
Both Canon and Sony have really trimmed tele lens weights, I think they can do under 2.5kg for this lens
p.1 #10 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
Lance B wrote:
Both Canon and Sony have really trimmed tele lens weights, I think they can do under 2.5kg for this lens
The Nikon 180-400 is somewhat heavier than the Nikon 200-400/4, despite the use of FL so there doesn't seem as much weight loss to be gained in zooms than primes. Yes, I get the built in TC adds weight but still, in the primes, the weight reductions have been substantial. I suspect a larger part of the weight of the primes is in the front elements and so FL made a bigger difference, whereas a zoom has a huge number of elements and less to be gained by making the front elements lighter.
The 70-200/2.8 FL is only 7% lighter than its immediate predecessor.
p.1 #11 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
If the 180-400E is any indication this puppy won't be super light, but it will be super sharp and come at a premium price. Any guesses as to price? I'm thinking $7k.
BTW I really wish Nikon would update their TC's to match Canons quality. 300mm is generally too short for me but I'd consider it if the TC's were any good.
p.1 #12 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
Gary Irwin wrote:
If the 180-400E is any indication this puppy won't be super light, but it will be super sharp and come at a premium price. Any guesses as to price? I'm thinking $7k.
BTW I really wish Nikon would update their TC's to match Canons quality. 300mm is generally too short for me but I'd consider it if the TC's were any good.
I would be pleasantly surprised if it is S7k ! OTH the Sigma is around $3k
The TC17 II especially is long, long overdue for an update
p.1 #14 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
Canon's 300 f/2.8 IS II which is also getting fairly "old" but does have fluorite weighs 2.4kg.
Canon made big weight reductions in the 400 and 600 but even the IS to IS II of the 300/2.8 didn't do much for weight loss and I suppose the lower the starting weight the smaller the difference would ever be for the next version. The 400 and 600 always shed the most impressive weight in Canon's updates and in Nikon's VR to E FL.
I don't think this lens is something I would use but I'm always excited to see where things move to.
p.1 #15 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
Exciting news for sure. I have owned the Sigma for several years. It is very heavy, but such a versatile lens. I'm sure Nikon's version will be lighter, sharper, and much more expensive. If paired with a 400 2.8 for sports or a 500 5.6 for wildlife you would be set.
p.1 #17 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
I would suppose it is F mount, which is interesting as it sort of puts to bed any talk of F mount abandonment in the near future. F mount means Nikon has two avenues of sales, Z mount only means one avenue.
Do we know this is Z? Maybe the SR means it is S. It's possible 1 or 2 F mount could dribble out that have been under development, but one swallow does not make a summer.
p.1 #18 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
chambeshi wrote:
any guesses at what the acronym SR means?
I was wondering that myself. Saw some speculation it might stand for "sound reduction" or "sonic reduction"...possibly making the lens suitable for both Z bodies and video. "SR" might be Nikon's way of trying to future proof the remaining new f-mount lenses.
I will say that the AF/VR in the newer 500PF is much quieter than my 600E, and thus far more suitable for video work on my Z7, though that may only be due to the smaller size.
p.1 #19 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
It is an F mount lens. Nikon have stated many times that they are continuing the development of both systems. I am wondering if for the next 20 lenses each time there will be complaints about "why is this for the wrong mount ..."
Quieter motors and VR are just a part of technology improving over time.
p.1 #20 · AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is coming
I would guess that "specialist" glass will continue on the F mount for a while yet. Something like this 120-300/2.8 needs as large a potential user base as possible to be profitable. So, the F mount makes sense. And, for example, when the rest of the PC-E line is brought up to the specs of the 19mm, I imagine it will be in a F mount as well. I'll know that new lenses for the F are done, not when Nikon announces it, but when a true specialist lens comes out for the Z mount.
