www.dpreview.com/lensreviews

Wow, that test chart is one if the most high tech things I’ve ever seen… Now, let’s see some reviews of real pro glass!!!

=Matt=

Sweeeeet! Nikon just announced three new lenses like we thought they would, except two of them were totally un-expected:

First there’s the 16-85 DX VR that everyone has know was coming, thanks to leaked photos from weeks ago.

But next, we get an AF-S update to the legendary, already sharp-as-heck 60mm macro lens, this time with floating aspherical elements and nano-crystal coating. If this lens is anything like the other new lenses with nano-crystal coatings, the 14-24 2.8 and 24-70 2.8, it is going to be INSANELY sharp. They’re probably getting ready for the 24 megapixel D3X that should come later this year or early in 2009.

Last and DEFINITELY not least is a lens that I’m VERY stoked about, though others might not ever see a need for a lens like this, the 24mm f/3.5 PC, a tilt-shift lens. COOL. this is exactly what I’ve always wanted (on full-frame) for architecture jobs… I’m getting pretty tired of stitching and correcting perspective in photoshop!

…Oh and Nikon also announced the D60 today. Yay. I don’t sound too excited, you say? Yeah, it’s pretty much a D40x with one or two updates… It’s got an automatic sensor cleaner, and some sort of airflow control thing to help lessen dust too. It’s also got the other feature that Nikon has begun to adopt, active D-lighting, which is pretty sweet I must admit, but there is NO live view, no 14-bit RAW, no 3″ LCD, like ALL the 2007 DSLR’s from Canon and Nikon have.

Pretty much a flop. Same 3 frames per second, and the same lame 3-point focus system in the D40 / D40X that can’t accept screw-type lenses… Wow, Nikon, you fumbled (body-wise, at least) with your 2008 PMA release even more than Canon did! The XSi looked kinda lame when it came out, but now it looks pretty sweet.

In fact, the D60 is dead in the water if the listed euro MSRP is reflective of what the USD MSRP is- $1,100. That is a JOKE.

Can I recommend it? Sure, but ONLY if it’s actually something like $600-700! The ONE thing that the Nikon can do that no other camera can do is command wireless flashes with it’s pop-up flash, a feature that we haven’t seen on beginner DSLR’s since the D70…

HOWEVER, I’m FAR more inclined to now recommend the new Pentax K200D. Why? It’s got the features that matter: 11-point autofocus, and flippin’ WEATHER SEALING! How nice is that? ALSO, Pentax is showing dedication to the cropped sensor system, with it’s stunning new 14.6 megapixel K20D, which apparently still delivers stunning quality results even squeezing that many pixels into such a tiny sensor. And you can bet it will be dirt cheap compared to the comparative “pro” bodies from other brands! So yeah, I’m actually going to be recommending Pentax for beginner DSLR buyers this year, how weird is that…

Take care,
=Matt=

PS: to any who weigh their gear on a postal scale: The 16-85 DX VR is 17.1 oz. That’s like one or two oz. under the 18-200… Oh and the MSRP converts to $850 / 950 USD from the pound / euro, respectively. I hope it’s less than that when it hits USA shelves, otherwise I’ll “make do” with my 17-55 2.8…

Meh, other than the 24mm PC, I’m pretty bummed about Nikon’s performance at PMA 2008. Still no sign of a useful point and shoot digital from Nikon, either. No 28mm standard, no low megapixel count, high ISO performing sensors, no “indestructible” model to compete with Olympus’ line that has been out for years now, and now DOES have 28mm equivalent…