New Nikon 80-400mm! f/4.5 - 5.6 G ED VR

It’s about time we had a replacement for the Nikon 80-400mm, and this looks like a worthy upgrade. I bought the original one when it came out back in 2001, and I never liked the lens. I sold it due to the atrociously slow autofocus. It is great to see that Nikon is updating this lens, which is a fantastic focal range for those wildlife photographers who don’t want to commit to larger and heavier (and more expensive) lenses. 

Press Release

MELVILLE, N.Y. (March 4, 2013) – Today, Nikon Inc. introduced the AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR, a versatile FX-format telephoto zoom lens designed to provide top-class performance and a long reach for a variety of shooting scenarios. Sporting a long 5x zoom range, the 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G is capable of capturing vivid colors with exquisite sharpness, whether shooting stills or HD video. Ideal for sports and nature photography, the addition of the AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR reaffirms Nikon’s commitment to providing a stable of lensing options for all types of photographers.

“Nikon’s next generation of the 80-400mm lens gives advanced photographers yet another top-quality NIKKOR lens to help capture every precise moment with intense detail and exceptional clarity,” said Bo Kajiwara, Vice President of Marketing, Planning and Customer Experience, Nikon Inc. “It’s a one lens solution that combines a versatile 5x zoom range, long focal length and core Nikon technologies to help create beautiful stills and HD video.”

High-Performance, High-Power Zoom Nikon’s newest telephoto zoom lens features a versatile 80-400mm focal length (5x zoom equivalent) that offers photographers a high-power FX-format lensing option to help capture stunning stills and HD video. Whether birding or shooting from the stands, the lens is also compatible with DX-format bodies to extend the maximum reach to 120-600mm (35mm equivalent). Additionally, alongside a 1.4x teleconverter, the lens can be expanded to an f/8 aperture to retain compatibility with the AF system on the most recent Nikon D-SLR cameras.

The AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is loaded with essential NIKKOR technologies to help ensure top performance for the advanced photographer, including Vibration Reduction (VR) allowing for up to four stops of image stabilization while Auto tripod detection VR allows for effortless stabilization when mounted on a tripod. The lens sports Nikon’s exclusive Nano Crystal Coat to prevent ghost and flare, a Silent Wave Motor (SWM) to ensure fast and quiet AF operation, and two focusing modes including M/A (AF with manual override) and M (manual). A new optical formula features 20 elements in 12 groups and includes one Super ED Glass Element and four ED glass elements for maximum clarity in a wide variety of shooting environments.

You can pre-order the lens over at B&H.

Nikon D800 and D800E Pre-Order

The world’s worst kept secrets, the new Nikon D800 and D800E, are now available fro pre-order over at B&H. I think the D800E has my name on it. :-)

Nikon D800 available for pre-order

Nikon D800E available for pre-order

It's Here! The Nikon D4

Well, it has finally arrived. The new Nikon D4 is probably the best balance between file size, noise characteristics (just a hunch, based on pixel pitch) and video capabilities. I thought the Canon 1Dx was going to be tough to beat, but Nikon appears to have made many people happy with the feature set on their new flagship dSLR. Here are some juicy specs:

• 16.16mp sensor
• 10fps (11fps with focus and exposure locked on the first frame)
• Buffer of 52 raw files (oh heck yeah)
• ISO range of 100-12,800 for ‘normal’ and 50 to 204,800 for ‘extended’
• Revised 51-point autofocus system
• HD video at 1080p (24/30fps) and 720p (60fps)
• Headphone jack for live audo monitoring for video mode (about time!!)
• New battery type

You should get on the list over at B&H if you are interested in getting on in February. Yes, I said February, which is a mighty fast delivery for Nikon. Typically Nikon makes announcements and you can’t get your hands on a product for 3 to 9 months.

B&H is taking preoders for the D4 right now.

Nikon D3s announcement

Well, the camera everybody on earth already knew about has finally been announced. The Nikon D3s is pretty much the same D3 except in a few ways. Here are the high points:

• new 1280x720 24P high definition video
• ISO 200 - 12,800 is now standard, expandable to ISO equivalent of 102,400
• new anti-dust Sensor Cleaning function. About time!!
• Larger buffer with up to 48 RAW frames (was 18 in the D3)

There are other small enhancemenets, but these are pretty much the ones that I chose to report on. As many of my friends already know, my D3 was stolen when we were burglarized last month. Some of our items have been recovered, and some are still out there. For my next safari, I will be taking a D700 and a D300, both with portrait grips. I suspect I will end up buying the D3s when it hits the shelves soon.