» Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor
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The 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR was introduced in December 2007 as a new kit lens for the Nikon D40 and D40X cameras. It's easy to dismiss this lens as ''the old kit lens plus VR,'' but in fact Nikon has reconfigured the lens design, replacing and re-arranging a variety of lens elements. Nikon has added four elements, going from 7 elements in 5 groups to 11 elements in 8 groups. There is still one aspherical element, but Nikon has dropped the ED element in favor of the new VR group.
On a Nikon digital body with an APS-C sized sensor, the lens will give an effective field of view of approximately 28-80mm. The lens vignettes when mounted on a full frame body; you'll see black corners with the lens set to below 24mm. As a G-series lens, there's no aperture ring, so it may not work properly on a film body that can't set the lens aperture. Read the whole review here. You can buy the lens here
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» Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR DX AF-S Nikkor test
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Released in March 2008, the 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 can be considered the ''designed-for-digital'' spiritual successor to the popular 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 VR. The 24-120mm Nikkor gained much popularity with its combination of a convenient range of focal lengths and vibration reduction (VR) technology: however, it was considered by many to be unacceptably soft, and the maximum aperture of f/5.6 by 85mm and longer to be unacceptably slow.
With the 1.5x crop factor inherent in a Nikon APS-C sensor, the lens gives an effective field of view of 24-128mm. Apart from reducing the size of the individual lens elements to fit the smaller sesnor, Nikon has made some changes to the layout of the elements themselves; the 16-85mm features two additional lens elements (up from 15 to 17), one of which is an additional aspherical lens element. To keep the lens affordable, Nikon actually hasn't packed the lens full of its latest technology: the most it boasts is Nikon's Super Integrated Coating to reduce lens flare and ghosting, however, it does integrate Nikon's VR2 vibration reduction. Read the whole test here. You can buy the lens here
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» The 75th Anniversary of NIKKOR Lenses
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Tokyo – Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the 75th anniversary of NIKKOR camera lenses, since the first lens was introduced in 1933. To commemorate this anniversary, we are renewing our commitment to provide NIKKOR lenses that feature advanced functions and superior optical performance. And at the same time, we will introduce several activities to further improve awareness of the NIKKOR brand. Read the whole article inside
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» Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Lens Test
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 Surprisingly, this $1,700 (street) lens is Nikon's first constant-aperture optic in the very popular, all-purpose, standard zoom category. Both of the company's previous pro and amateur 24-85mm lenses had variable apertures. If the gold ornamentation on its barrel doesn't tip you off, the price should confirm that this is a professional-caliber lens.
Outfitted with Nikon's latest generation of optical artillery, including extra-low-dispersion and precision-molded aspheric elements, it promises better control of chromatic aberration and linear distortion, especially at wider apertures and focal lengths. (One big benefit for landscape and architecture photographers: horizon lines that are edge-to-edge sharp and only minimally curved.) Read the whole review here. You can buy the lens here
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» Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR DX NIKKOR review
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Nikon were one of the first camera manufacturers to design digital-specific lenses matched to the DX sensor size, but then seemed somewhat reluctant to produce a true budget standard 'kit' zoom, finally succumbing with their original 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 to accompany the launch of the D50 in April 2005. This lens was updated to a mark II version with the release of the D40 in November 2006, featuring a new external design and smoother zoom operation. Then barely a year later, they announced a wholly new version, this time equipped with a vibration reduction (VR) unit to combat camera shake; a lens which has now been confirmed as the standard companion to the D60 SLR. This lens is clearly Nikon's response to the widespread adoption of in-body stabilization systems by most other manufacturers (with the notable exception of Canon, whose own stabilized 18-55mm preceded Nikon's by just a few months), and allows them to offer stabilized dSLR kits at budget prices. Read the whole review here & you can buy the lens here
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» Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR DX lens review
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The Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor was introduced in November 2005, and rapidly became a much sought-after lens for the Nikon shooter's armoury. With its hugely useful 11.1x focal length range, 'silent wave' focusing, and Nikon's second generation vibration reduction system to combat camera shake, this lens aims to be the ultimate single-lens 'walkaround' solution, which photographers who wish to travel light can simply leave on the camera all the time. Of course the all-in-one 'superzoom' concept isn't new; the first such lens was Tokina's 35-200mm from 1982, but early designs were plagued by excessive size and weight, poor optical quality, and unacceptably long minimum focus distances. Indeed it wasn't until the mid-1990s that the likes of Sigma and Tamron introduced truly practical superzooms which substantially overcame these issues, and delivered acceptable quality across the range (for the casual vacation photographer at least). Since then, the rapid progress of computer-aided lens design has resulted in continued improvements in optical quality and extensions in zoom ranges, whilst shrinking lens sizes still further, making the superzoom concept more tempting than ever before. Read the whole review here
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» Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G IF-ED AF-S Nikkor lens test
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 Released in 2007, the 14-24mm f/2.8 AF-S is a full-frame lens designed as a wide-angle companion to the D3. Demand was so strong for the lens that Nikon implemented a pro-first policy that required (among other things) that the lens was only available if you purchased a D3. This policy has since been lifted, making individual purchase of the lens possible.
The 14-24mm f/2.8 is packed with some of the newest lens technology Nikon has to offer, including a revolutionary large-diameter Precision Glass Molding (PGM) element to eliminate coma, and a Nano Crystal lens coating to ''ensure superior color balance and reproduction.'' Read the whole review here & you can buy the lens here
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» Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G IF-ED AF-S Nikkor
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 One of the most hotly anticipated lenses released by Nikon, the 24-70mm ƒ/2.8 AF-S is a replacement for the venerable 28-70mm ƒ/2.8. Released alongside the D3 in November 2007, demand was so strong for the lens that Nikon implemented a pro-first policy that required (among other things) that the lens was only available if you purchased a D3. This policy has since been lifted, making individual purchase of the lens possible. Read the whole test here
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» Nikon Unveils AF-S DX-NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens
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Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the introduction of the AF-S DX-NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens featuring Nikon's Silent Wave Motor and Vibration Reduction II. The new wide ratio zoom DX-NIKKOR lens boasts a focal length range of 16 to 85mm, which makes it ideal for a broad range of shooting situations, including indoor-outdoor events, streetscapes, portraits and scenery. When mounted on any DX-format Nikon digital SLR camera, the picture angle is equivalent to that produced by a 24 to 127.5mm focal length lens on a 35mm film camera. Read the whole article inside
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» Nikon introduces PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED
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Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the introduction of the high-performance PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED, PC (Perspective Control) lens. This new lens is equipped with a tilt/shift mechanism that gives photographers the flexibility to manipulate image perspective, distortion and focus.
The lens employs a special mount that enables up to +-11.5 mm shift and +-8.5degrees tilt for perspective control. Shift and tilt can be adjusted via convenient side-mounted controls while referring to the scales provided with gradations at 1mm or 1degree intervals. The lens optics can be rotated up to 90degrees right or left for perspective control adjustment, and click-stops are provided every 30degrees. Read the whole article inside
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» Nikon introduces AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED
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Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the introduction of the AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED lens featuring a built-in Silent Wave Motor.
This new Micro lens allows photographers to shoot 1:1 life-size close-ups without the need for additional accessories. To ensure superior picture quality at all subject distances from macro to infinity, a host of state-of-the-art, Nikon original optical features and technologies are incorporated. Internal Focusing (IF) design allows faster, smoother autofocusing. Two aspherical lenses are employed to correct spherical aberration and coma. The incorporation of a Nikon’s exclusive Nano Crystal Coat dramatically reduces ghosting and flare caused by internal reflections. An additional ED glass element minimizes chromatic aberration to deliver higher resolution, high-contrast images. All of these factors contribute to the extremely accurate image reproduction capability of the AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED. Read the whole article inside
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» Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Nikkor
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 Nikon introduce the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX NIKKOR, a general-purpose lens developed specifically to cater for users of entry-level digital SLR cameras. Incorporating Silent Wave Motor for fast, quiet autofocus and Vibration Reduction for enhanced low-light performance - this 3x zoom lens covers the focal range of 27-82.5mm when mounted on any DX format Nikon DSLR. Available end of November. RRP: GBP180 via thinkcamera.com
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» Nikon Wide Angle DX Nikkor Zoom Lens Comparison
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If you are looking to buy a new wide angle to telephoto zoom lens to go with your new or existing Nikon digital SLR like the Nikon D40X or the Nikon D80, there are a number of different lens options available.
Nikon currently offers four wide angle consumer oriented zoom lenses specifically designed for their DX format digital SLR cameras; the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II, the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED, the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED, and the AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED.
We have completed a side by side lens comparison between these four Nikon DX wide angle zoom lenses, testing them against each other at various focal lengths and apertures to hopefully offer assistance in the decision making process. Read the whole test inside
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» NIKKOR SLR Lenses 40 Million and Counting
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Tokyo - Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce that production figures for our NIKKOR SLR interchangeable lenses surpassed the 40 million mark this month.
Forty-eight years have passed since Nikon introduced the first NIKKOR lens with F mount, together with our first SLR camera, the Nikon F, in 1959. Nikon views the 40 million figure as symbolic of the love and enthusiasm shared by photography enthusiasts - professionals and amateurs alike - for NIKKOR lenses, and a testimony to their extraordinary performance and reliability. Read the whole article inside
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» Sigma Macro HSM lenses for Nikon SLR
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The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC Macro HSM lens and the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Macro HSM lens, both for Nikon D-SLRs. The Sigma Macro HSM lenses allow autofocus with all Nikon SLR cameras. The HSM is incorporated into the large aperture standard zoom 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC Macro lens. This Sigma lens is capable of autofocusing with all Nikon DSLR cameras and has a minimum focusing distance of 20cm (7.9”) and maximum magnification of 1:2.3 enabling close-up photography. A Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass and Aspherical lens allows a compact construction and high optical performance. Read the whole article here
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» Nikon 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5D ED-IF AF Nikkor
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In the film days, a 18-35mm lens counted as a super wide angle zoom. With the 1.5x crop factor of Nikon's "DX" sensor format, the equivalent 27-52.5mm range only amounts to a range from moderately wide to normal focal length. Still, a zoom lens like the Nikon 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5D ED-IF AF likely offers better optical performance and build quality than the wide end of typical "kit" lenses or longer-ratio zooms would. Let's take a look at the Nikon 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5 and see how it does... Read the entire test here
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» Nikon 14mm f/2.8D ED AF Nikkor test
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 We confess to being a little disappointed in the Nikkor 14mm f/2.8's performance in our tests, we were expecting more from a $1,400 prime lens. If you need the f/2.8 maximum aperture, this might be a good choice for you, but we found that many ultrawide zooms better it in most areas, apart from maximum aperture and (very slightly) center sharpness. Read the "Tanner Report" for this lens for all the info, including detailed comparisons with a range of other lenses you might want to consider. (Do note though, that we haven't tested any other 14mm primes at this point, so it's possible that there may be another prime out there that'd be a good choice as well.) Read the whole review here
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» Nikkor DX kit lens group test: 18-55mm vs 18-70mm vs 18-135mm vs 18-200mm VR
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If you’re in the market for a new Nikon DSLR, you’ll have the choice of buying it as a body alone or with a bundled kit lens. Kit lenses are traditionally budget models with 3x optical zoom ranges designed to get you started, and while Nikon sells such a lens, it also offers several alternatives with longer optical ranges and extra features. Many camera stores additionally offer the choice of buying a Nikon body bundled with a higher-end lens.
Since many owners end up using their first lens for some time, or even the entire lifespan of their camera body, it’s clearly important to choose the right one from the start. In this group test we’ll examine the four most popular lenses bought with Nikon DSLRs, whether the official kit models, or popularly bundled alternatives. All are DX models which means they’ll work with any Nikon DSLR, from the entry-level D40 to the professional D2X. They’re also all AF-S models which means they’ll auto-focus when fitted on the latest D40 and D40x bodies. Read the whole article here and watch the video tour here
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» Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor lens test
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 This lens is one of 6 different 50mm lenses that we did a shootout with. Senior tech Jim Tanner wrote up the test results for each lens on a comparative basis, with charts and graphs showing how each lens did compared to the others in the test. The graphs for this don't fit our usual layout well, so we've assembled the resulting "Tanner Report" into a full page that opens in a separate window. This will let you see Jim's charts in all their glory, yet still be able to access all our normal test charts, back on the main page. Read the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 Tanner Report for the full scoop!
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» Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor lens test
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 This lens is one of 6 different 50mm lenses that we did a shootout with. Senior tech Jim Tanner wrote up the test results for each lens on a comparative basis, with charts and graphs showing how each lens did compared to the others in the test. The graphs for this don't fit our usual layout well, so we've assembled the resulting "Tanner Report" into a full page that opens in a separate window. This will let you see Jim's charts in all their glory, yet still be able to access all our normal test charts, back on the main page. Read the Nikon 50mm f/1.4 Tanner Report for the full scoop!
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