January 31, 2009

• Nikon 2009 Lens Demands:

  Inspired by a DPReview topic, I’m going to list what I’d like to see from Nikon in 2009. What I hope / predict we’ll see, actually. …IF Nikon wants to move ahead in the game, and round off its lineup!

  First of all, Nikon has successfully ROCKED most of the f/2.8 zoom world and definitely has no lack of variable aperture lenses, especially DX.

  What Nikon desperately needs are:

  * A 17-40 f/4 equivalent, for landscape shooters, with threads so they can use GND filters etc. The 14-24 is stunning, but way too bulky and impractical for many kinds of outdoor photos. LIKELIHOOD: I hope there is a high likelihood that we’ll see this lens, but my gut instinct tells me that a lens like this is not high on Nikon’s list, they’re probably still basking in the glory of their 14-24 f/2.8 accomplishment… MEDIUM LIKELIHOOD…

  * A 24-120 f/4 or equivalent, like the current 24-120 but more rugged and sharper. (I actually don’t care if it’s f/4 or f/3.5-5.6, since I’d be shooting at f/16 the whole time. Nor do I care if it goes to 120mm or just 105mm. Just as long as they make it weather sealed and sharp enough for 24 megapixels…) LIKELIHOOD: HIGH, I hope. VERY HIGH, if we also see a D700X later this year…

  * A 70-200 f/4 VR. Canon puts Nikon to shame in this category; with a 70-200 lens that is as small and affordable (the non-IS version) as my Sigma 50-150 DC. Nikon’s lack of this lens, in addition to their lack of f/1.4 primes, is mainly what deters me from adding FX to my bag. I have said it many times before- I have come to love and appreciate the size and weight of my Sigma 50-150 2.8, and I don’t think I could ever put up with the 70-200′s size and weight again. LIKELIHOOD: Considering that the 70-300 VR is a pretty decent lens and widely popular, I don’t know how quick Nikon will be to make a constant f/4 70-200. In fact for landscape photography, I’d almost opt for the 70-300 myself. I just want the 70-200 f/4 for event photography, and I think that MOST people are willing to tote around the 70-200 f/2.8 so I’m probably quite alone on this wish. LOW LIKELIHOOD…

  It can be argued that Nikon really needs to re-do the 70-200 2.8 VR as well, but I honestly think that an f/4 version is far more needed. The 2.8 shooters who use the 70-200 at 2.8 will hardly ever be shooting in conditions where the vignetted / soft corners are an issue. The landscape shooters who stop way down and DO need corner sharpness + illumination can simply use an f/4 70-200.

  * Lastly we really need an update for the 80-400 VR. I don’t care if it’s a constant f/4 or if it’s f/4-5.6, in fact I’d rather have it zoom to f/5.6 to keep the weight down. The 200-400 f/4 VR is already a monster! LIKELIHOOD: VERY HIGH! (It’s probably not very high, but I’m hoping for the sake of all those out there who really want it…)

  …Then we need f/1.4 primes. We already have the new 50, so we need a wide and a tele. The 85 1.4, although old and arguably sub-par, is a lot less of a dire situation compared to the mythical 28 1.4. We desperately need a fast wide angle lens. I don’t care if it’s 24mm or 28mm, or if it’s 1.4 or 1.8, just so long as they make it. I think the best option would be three lenses like Canon has: a pro-grade 35mm f/1.4 AFS, and then a 24mm and a 28mm, one pro-grade and f/1.4, the other semi-pro grade and f/1.8. (Don’t care which, and either way I’d probably buy the semi-pro grade one unless the pro-grade one cost $1000 or less…)

  * Then maybe if they still have time left at the end of the year, they can re-do the 85 1.4 with AFS and whatever lens coatings they deem necessary.

  * Personally, especially for FX, I’d rather have a 105 f/1.8 VR actually, or an 135 f/2 VR. Something like THAT would rock…

  * I’m sure some people are holding out for an f/1.2 prime, or wide / mid-range VR primes, but I’m not in that boat. I like the middle ground that f/1.4 offers, and I don’t care whether or not Nikon puts VR in any lens wider than 100mm or faster than f/4.

  * Also in the prime department, but not in the fast aperture department, we could use some slower telephoto lenses. I’m not really into these kinds of lenses so I don’t know what exactly is most popular, but I think people are really hoping for a 300mm f/4 VR, or a 400mm f/5.6 VR, stuff like that.

  * Or hey, how about a new 200mm f/4 macro! There’s another legendary lens that could use updating…

  * Last but not least, a few words on DX: Some may be waiting for a pro-grade 16-55 f/2.8 DX, or maybe for a 50-135 f/2.8 DX VR, or a 12-24 f/2.8 DX. I used to hope for these lenses, and I still think they OUGHT to be made, but I have kinda lost faith that Nikon will make them. I also used to really wish for some f/1.4 DX primes, but again I’ve begun to doubt. It’s just not likely that we’ll ever see a 17mm f/1.4 DX for example, and if we did I don’t know if it would perform that well.

  Too bad! But that’s not to say that I don’t still consider DX as a professional’s choice for certain kinds of photography. I actually would *rather* have a D300 for landscape photography, considering the size and weight (and cost) of for example the D300 + 12-24 DX versus the D700 + 17-35… In my very humble opinion the D300 does just as good of a job as the D700 at ISO 200, and the small + light 12-24 is much more suited for “adventure” photography than the bulky 17-35…

  So, there you have it, that’s 2009 for Nikon! Other than lenses, I’m not expecting much excitement in the way of camera bodies or other things.

  * There are rumors that we’ll see an update to the SB600 flash, so it would be an SB700 or something. Nothing that interests me, unless it introduces some new leap in IR wireless technology and makes a better, more sensitive remote than the current SB800 / SB900.

  * There ought to be one or two beginner DSLR’s; the D40 is getting kinda old and could use live view / video etc.

  * The D300, surprisingly enough, would be “on schedule” to get updated late in 2009 or early in 2010, but I’m not holding my breath because they’ll probably do like Canon and increase the megapixels above 12, and in my opinion there are just so many other, BETTER things Nikon could do with their resources than simply stuffing more megapixels into a slightly re-designed body.

  In semi-pro and pro camera bodies I’d much rather see a re-design of the 51 point autofocus system, or a re-thinking of the rubber grips altogether, or something like that. Until Nikon changes those kinds of BIG things, I’m not interested in buying a new DSLR other than a used D700 in maybe another year or so when I can get one for $2000 in good condition…

  Alright, take care!

  =Matt=

  PS: In other news, I am officially convinced that the optical drive in my Macbook is toast. (Pun intended, for all you apple users out there…)

  The dang thing is just screwing everything up. Can’t burn a data CD / DVD at least 50-75% of the time, and has serious issues reading data discs as well as movies.

  Methinks it’s time to get on Ebay and bid on scrap parts! Who says apple isn’t a DIY thing?

  • 2:44 am
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