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Nikon has a announced a macro lens for DX, the AF-S Nikkor 40mm f/2.8 Micro. This affordable new lens is expected to go on sale in August.
Official page is here. Click here for the samples page.
Personally, I feel that this announcement is an important one, in the sense that it quelled rumours mentioning that Nikon is doing away with the DX format. This shows that Nikon is still committed to producing quality and affordable lenses which cater to the largest segment of their market, the entry-level and mid-level camera users.
A DX-format normal Micro lens for easy, full-fledged close-up shooting
TOKYO – Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the release of the AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G, a normal Micro lens for Nikon DX-format digital-SLR cameras offering a focal length of 40mm and a maximum aperture of f/2.8.
As a normal Micro lens that easily enables close-up shooting as close as 0.163 m for life-size images exhibiting pleasing blur characteristics, the AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G is a new model in the DX-format lens lineup. It is a compact and lightweight lens available at a very reasonable price for those new to digital-SLR cameras and those currently looking to add to a lens purchased as a set with a Nikon digital-SLR camera. In addition to a built-in Silent Wave Motor(SWM) that enables the quiet autofocus operation vital to close-up photography of insects and animals, the AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G also offers a number of convenient features, including two focus modes—M/A (autofocus with manual override) and M (manual).
Nikon has long had the support of professional and advanced amateur photographers for its consistent development of innovative products that respond to the demands of users and are equipped with the optical technologies Nikon has spent years cultivating as a manufacturer of optical devices. Nikon intends to continue to expand and strengthen the NIKKOR lineup with the steady release of new, high-performance lenses that offer advanced functions.
AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G Primary Features
- A bright and fast, normal Micro lens for DX-format cameras offering a 40mm fixed focal length and a maximum aperture of f/2.8
- Enables the life-size reproduction and pleasing blur characteristics possible only with a Micro lens
- Enables extremely close-up shooting with a minimum focus distance of just 0.163 m
- Equipped with a Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for extremely quiet autofocusing
- Equipped with two focus modes: M/A (autofocus with manual override) and M (manual)
- A size and weight that makes it very portable
The following list of upcoming Nikon lenses was posted over at Nikon Rumors.
- AF-S VRII Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4G IF-ED N
- AF-S VRII Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4 IF-ED
- AF-S VRII Micro-Nikkor 70-200mm f/4 IF-ED N
- AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/2G
- AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/2G
- AF-S Nikkor 105mm f/2G
- AF-S DX VRII Zoom-Nikkor 16-70 f/3.5
Personally, I think the Nikon AF-S VRII Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4G IF-ED N could be a gem for sports/wildlife shooters but one thing to ponder is, wouldn’t this lens clash with the AF-S 200-400mm f/4?
With this in mind, if Nikon really releases this lens, I’m quite sure there will be some significant tradeoff in the quality (or price) to differentiate between these 2 lenses.
It seems like the D700 replacement (many refer to it as the D800) might arrive in 3 months time. This is from a source which has been 100% right for other equipment. Read on for the full details.
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One of the things that photography enthusiasts have in mind is what to bring for their photography trip. We tend to think that we need certain lenses or equipment and keep adding on to the list such that we often end up bringing almost everything and putting ourselves in misery under the weight of all our equipment. We may even end up not using some that we bring along! If we leave out certain equipment, we think that there is a possibility that it maybe needed somewhere during the trip.
What I propose, is to anticipate what subjects you will encounter and what you are trying to achieve. If you are predominantly going to shoot landscapes, just add a wide angle lens. Sometimes even a telephoto lens can be used for taking close up details of landscapes such as mountains! If wildlife is your passion, then add a telephoto such as the AFS 70-300mm VR to your list. For limited light shooting such as interiors or objects, you might want to consider a prime lens for its large aperture. If you have 2 lenses that have too much overlap in focal lengths, choose only one – the one which you can afford (physically), or the other when you need compromise in terms of space and weight. Do not bring both unless you have very good reasons to do so and you are sure that one will be used as much as the other!
For me, here is a list of primary equipment that I brought for my recent Alaska and the Rockies trip:
Nikon D300s
AFS 16-85mm VR
AFS 12-24mm f/4
AFS 70-300mm VR
AFS 35mm f/1.8
SB-600
Lee Gradual Neutral Density filters (0.6 soft, 0.9 soft, 0.9 hard)
I figured that I needed another body, not as a backup, but rather so that I can use it without bothering about changing lenses in the middle of any action or when timing is critical. For example, when we were cruising near the glaciers, I used the D300 with the AFS 12-24mm f/4 for wide landscapes and the D60 with the AFS 70-300mm attached to capture details of the glacial ice. Or you could use one for landscapes and another for quick wildlife shots.
The GND filters are absolutely necessary for landscape photography, especially for captures during the first light (sunrises) and last light (sunsets). The lighting around these times are simply the best since the sun is low and magical light is produced. However, since the sun is near to the horizon, this means that the sky is easily blown out due to the limited dynamic range of cameras. Here, GND filters are used to minimise the contrast between the bright and dark areas to give a more balanced image.
