Nikon AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm F4E TC1.4 FL ED VR lens review: Nikon’s best tele-zoom
The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm F4E TC1.4 FL ED VR is an updated version of the AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm F4G ED VR – one of the first lenses Nikon added stabilisation (VR) to (the other being the AF-S Nikkor 200mm F2.0, effectively a 300mm on the DX only bodies back then) and the favourite of animal safari photographers everywhere. Not surprisingly, it’s also a popular choice with those who cover sports. This new model, though, is much more than just an update – it’s a redesigned lens complete with a built-in 1.4x teleconverter that’s meant to counter the Canon EF 200-400mm F4L IS USM Extender 1.4x, itself a showcase model…
New Nikkor Z series lens to arrive in September
Nikon has announced the Nikkor Z 85mm F1.8 S, a short fixed focal length prime lens for its full-frame mirrorless Z system. Nikon claims that the new fast portrait lens stands out for its “edge-to-edge sharpness” and “natural-looking bokeh”. Focus breathing “is all but eliminated,” Nikon add. Compared to the existing AF-S Nikkor 85mm F1.8G the new lens has the same minimum focus, filter thread size, and weighs 70g more. The new lens is also 19mm longer, though it’s smaller in diameter by 2mm. Nikon currently advertise the AF-S lens with a list of £499. The new lens will go on sale in September, 2019 at a list price of…
Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S lens review: Nikon’s best 24-70mm to date
What is it? The Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S [advertiser link] is the first pro-oriented lens for Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless Z series cameras, currently the 24MP Z 6 and the high-resolution Z 7. Naturally, it’s a constant-aperture, high-speed standard zoom and has several features not found on the earlier consumer grade Nikkor Z 24-70mm F4 S [concise review]. Besides the larger initial aperture the new lens features 17 elements in total, two of which are ED glass to lower color fringing and four are aspherical to reduce distortion and spherical aberration. Like others in the S-series, it has Nikon Integrated coatings while fluorine coatings are used to help keep the front…
Initial Thoughts on the Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 and Nikon Z 7 (Updated)
Firstly, I still don’t feel like I’ve had enough time to fully come to terms with the Nikon Z 7. I’ve used it often but it takes months to be accustomed to working with a new camera, even as a camera reviewer with nearly 20 years’ experience (first in print and then online). Plusses include build and viewfinder quality even for my aging eyesight. It also has enough modes to accommodate a wide range of shooting scenarios including the new Eye-detection AF option which allows you to easily switch between left and right eyes using the joystick (or sub-selector, as Nikon call it). That’s a nice feature but it…
Nikon to add Eye AF option in firmware update
If the Eye AF feature is as good as that found on the Sony a7 (later models) and a9, and the new Canon EOS R which has seen a fair amount of negative press (and mostly unwarranted in my opinion), then it will be a highly- prized option.
Nikon announces availability of ultra-wide 14-30mm F4 S zoom for Z-mount
Nikon has officially announced the Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S lens, the first ultra-wide, moderate speed zoom for its full-frame mirrorless system. The Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S was previously disclosed in a ‘roadmap’ during the launch of the new system at Photokina 2018. Weighing just 485g (17oz) and measuring 85mm (3.5 ins) long when retracted, the new lens is relatively light and compact, especially when compared with the current Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm F4G ED VR for DSLRs. With a nearly flat front element the new lens also supports screw-in (82mm) filters, a world’s first for the focal length at the time of publishing according to Nikon. The…
Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F4 sample gallery
Update (06/12/2019): Read our review of the Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F4 S here. The Nikkor Z 24-70mm F4 is Nikon’s first zoom for its mirrorless Z 7 and Z 6 full-frame models. Given the marketing spiel about it being high-end, it is really just a consumer-grade lens, and one that seems more geared towards filmmakers than photographers. That said, it’s quite a capable performer, and we put it to work on the Nikon Z 7 in London’s Canary Wharf – take a look and please leave a comment. All images are edited to taste in Capture One Pro 12. Please click on the thumbnails for an enlarged view.…
Nikon Z 7 mirrorless camera: Promising addition to range
The new 45.7MP Nikon Z 7 (not Z7, according to the maker’s marketing department) appears to offer a lot to photographers looking for a mirrorless ‘solution’. Existing Nikon users seem well catered for with the FTZ adapter offering wide-ranging support for their existing lenses, providing it’s made to exact tolerances. At $250 it looks reasonably priced. The Nikon Z 7 also looks promising if trying to attract users from other high-end systems. The Leica SL is a good example of how a mirrorless camera should be but detractors are likely to cite the high price, low-ish 24-MP resolution sensor and lack of in-camera stabilization as barriers to entry. A Leica…
Nikon FTZ adapter compatibility with Nikon F mount lenses
When Nikon announced the stabilized 45.7MP Nikon Z 7 and 24-MP Nikon Z 6 yesterday, they made it clear that they’re targeting Sony’s stabilized 42MP A7R III and the 24-MP Sony A7 III. However, I expect this move isn’t only to counter Sony’s increasing market share which was widely reported on the Internet recently, but also to try to stem the loss of valuable lens sales to makers such as Sigma and Zeiss. The success of Simga’s Art series has taken even Sigma by surprise. With contractual obligations as an OEM supplier, they were initially unable to devote the required capacity to manufacture them in volume but even so, the…
Nikon announces AF-S NIKKOR 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR
After the expected announcement of the new Nikon Z 6 and Z 7 mirrorless cameras, Nikon has also announced a new super-telephoto lens for the existing Nikon F mount based DSLRs. The new lens is also compatible with the new Z series cameras using the new FTZ mount. The new super-telephoto adopts Phase Fresnel (PF) tech’ seen in the earlier 300mm F4 PF to reduce both the size and weight. It measures just 237mm in length. With one PF element and three ED glass elements – there are no fluorite elements – it weighs just 1460g, almost half the weight of the existing AF-S 500mm F4E ED VR. A lighter…
