Article and Images from www.dpreview.com
Nikon has announced the AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm F3.5-4.5G ED VR, a
comparatively affordable, stabilized, variable aperture standard zoom
lens for full frame cameras. It comes as Nikon celebrates the sale of
the 70 millionth Nikkor lens since 1933, and the 30 millionth
silent-wave motor lens since the system's introduction in 1996. It's
hard not to interpret the announcement as lending weight to the rumors
of an affordable full-frame body, since it's hard to imagine large
numbers of D800 owners using such a lens (with its recommended price of
$599) as their everyday lens.
MELVILLE, N.Y. (June 14, 2012) – Today, Nikon Inc. announced the
addition of two new lenses to the legendary NIKKOR lineup, the AF-S DX
NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G
ED VR lenses. The new 18-300mm VR lens is a versatile and compact 16.7X
all-in-one super zoom DX-format lens, while the new 24-85mm VR lens is
an ideal standard zoom for any FX-format photographer. These optics were
designed to meet the needs of all types of photographers, from those
looking to capture everything from family outings to elusive wildlife
and stunning landscapes. The new 18-300mm and 24-85mm lenses deliver the
performance and superior image quality that photographers of all levels
have come to expect from NIKKOR lenses whether capturing still images
or HD videos.
To capture stunningly sharp images with excellent clarity and color
reproduction or HD video that exhibits sharp critical focus with a
dramatic depth of field, the new 18-300mm VR and 24-85mm VR lenses will
empower photographers with a variety of exclusive core NIKKOR
technologies. Both lenses are equipped with Nikon’s Vibration Reduction
(VR) II image stabilization system which provides the equivalent of a
shutter speed approximately four stops faster. The built-in Vibration
Reduction will help photographers create blur-free images and video
while shooting handheld and in challenging lighting conditions. Two
focus modes, manual-priority autofocus (M/A) and manual focus (M), are
easily selected in both lenses as well.
When either lens is in
manual-priority autofocus (M/A) mode, users will be able to instantly
switch from autofocus to manual focus operation by simply rotating the
focus ring, even during AF servo operation.
Additionally, both lenses
feature an internal focusing system, providing fast focus without
changing the length of the lens while retaining working distance through
the focus range, and Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology
designed to deliver fast, accurate and quiet AF performance. The lenses
also boast Nikon’s Super Integrated Coating (SIC) which provides superb
color reproduction, color consistency and reduced flaring.
“Whether a pro on assignment, a photo enthusiast or an indie
cinematographer, all Nikon users appreciate and rely on the vast
selection and reliability of NIKKOR lenses for all of their imaging
needs,” said Bo Kajiwara, director of marketing, Nikon Inc. “The new
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm VR and AF-S
NIKKOR 24-85mm VR lenses are
fully optimized to capture stunning images and videos while meeting the
growing needs of photographers of all levels around the world.”
The NIKKOR 18-300mm VR Lens: Nikon’s Longest Focal Range
Building on the popularity and versatility of Nikon’s telephoto zoom
lens lineup which includes both the NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 and
28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lenses, the new 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens is
Nikon’s longest focal range ever, with an astounding 16.7X
ultrahigh-ratio zoom range. The DX-format 18-300mm VR lens is
surprisingly compact, lightweight and covers a focal range from
wide-angle 18mm to super-telephoto 300mm, equivalent to a focal length
of 27mm to 450mm in FX/35mm format. At the 300mm focal length setting,
the lens’ large f/5.6 aperture enables photographers to shoot at faster
shutter speeds with shallow depth-of-field. This new super telephoto
zoom lens is ideal for taking stills when travelling and for all around
general photography including landscapes, portraits and distant
subjects.
The 18-300mm lens is also excellent for recording HD video as
it can be used for wide establishing shots, medium close-up shots and
extreme telephoto sequences when the users want to separate the subject
from the background.
The construction of the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens
consists of 19 optical elements in 14 groups with three Extra-low
Dispersion (ED) glass elements that effectively minimize chromatic
aberration, even at the widest aperture settings, and three aspherical
lens elements that virtually eliminate aberrations at wide aperture
settings. The new lens also incorporates a nine rounded blade diaphragm
to help achieve a natural looking dramatic separation between subject
and background.
The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR also has a dedicated
zoom lock switch which secures the lens barrel at its minimum length and
will prevent the lens from sliding during transportation.
Additionally,
the 18-300mm VR lens is ideal for capturing close-ups with great
detail, as it offers a 1.48 ft. minimum focusing distance at 300mm, as
well as a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:3.2X.
The NIKKOR 24-85mm VR Lens: The Standard Zoom for FX Shooters
Ideal for photographers seeking an FX-format compatible standard zoom
lens, the new AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR lens delivers sharp,
crisp and high-quality images and can be assigned as an everyday
walkabout lens. Covering the frequently used focal-length range of 24mm
to 85mm, this lens is a great companion for any FX-format shooter and is
ideal for shooting stills of landscapes, architecture, head and
shoulder portraits, candid shots or group shots. For HD video shooters,
the 24-85mm VR lens is a natural choice when filming landscapes, large
groups of people or when wide field establishing shots or medium
close-ups are needed. The 24-85mm lens is a great everyday lens that is
compact, lightweight and easy to carry on any photo assignment or family
adventure.
In addition to the lens’ built-in Vibration Reduction (VR)
technology, the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR lens features Auto
Tripod detection which recognizes when the camera is mounted on a
tripod, even during HD video recording, to help deliver specialized VR
correction. The lens construction of the 24-85mm VR lens consists of 16
optical elements in 11 groups with one Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass
element, three aspherical lens elements and a seven rounded blade
diaphragm.
Price and Availability
The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens will be available
at the end of June 2012 for the suggested retail price (SRP) of $999.95
*. The AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR lens will also be
available at the end of June 2012 and will have a suggested retail price (SRP) of $599.95
*. For more information on these new NIKKOR lenses and other Nikon products, please visit www.nikonusa.com.
*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a
suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change
at any time. Specifications, equipment and release dates are subject to
change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.
