Nikon announce new 300/2.8 VRII and TC-20II

as long as they don't bring a new 600mm out this week that's fine...

What do you feel is lacking in the lens line up then? I've lenses covering 10.5mm to 600 and I don't feel there's any gaping holes, I'd like them to do a macro like the mp-e 65 but apart from that...
 
Ah but Guy, I think I understand Nikons reasoning now... OK just looking at the pro kit here as the other stuff ( like the 85/3.5 ) is just something they have to do. ( Sorry this is a long one )

OK Nikon were wayyyy behind Canon, we all know that and accept it. We all gazed at those 1D/s models with envy as we dealt with shocking ISO400+ and told ourselves ( and everyone else ) that it didn't matter...

But Nikon decided to join the war again.

So they needed to hit Canon where it hurt, sports. Get Nikons on the sidelines...

So we get D3/300 ( Best AF of all, and best noise ), 400/500/600 updates, 24-70+14-24. This works for them and we see a big market swing as sports agencies fell over each other to switch to this new set of tools. Remember the shortages of some of those big lenses? Nikon were caught off guard not realising how successful the new kit would be.


Then we get the D700 and D3x. Now these I don't 100% understand, but I'm guessing it's because they wanted to start on the next in their list, studio use. The D2x was a studio dream, keep the ISO low ( which you can with a flash lit studio ) and it's awesome, but no longer with us and the mega pixel battle is still there in the background, so the D3x. The D700 was there to combat the 5D.


Now in a studio the lenses I see used most are a 70-200, maybe a 200, 24-70 ish range, and then maybe longer primes. The 200/2 is pretty much the best lens ever ( I still need one :( ) Already got a steller 24-70 from the last batch of updates. Everyone was bashing the 70-200 ( although nobody was really being held back by it ) but it's also useful in that sports area too...


So we get the 70-200VRII, 300mmVRII ( which I think should have been out with the other long primes but something held it back ), and the D3s. The D3s is a direct response to them knowing the 7D and 1DMk4 were on the way. They needed to keep the market share they've gained in the last few years.

What this leaves is that Nikon still have those portrait primes missing, and also wider primes. They haven't tackled another market, wedding shooters, specifically at all yet.

So I think ( I'm probably wrong but I'm seeing a pattern ) that next we have...

D700s, D3s updates in the D700. It's going to happen.

D3xs, I think they'll stick with the same res 24Mp ( while Canon boost the 1Ds to 30Mp ) but they will up the ISO range so it may get D3 noise levels at higher ISO. They don't need to do anything else, but if Canon gives video to the 1Ds ( almost a given I think ) the D3xs will get it too. Just to keep up with the jones's.

At the same time I think

I think we'll see 85/1.4+135/2 AFS+VR lenses early next year. They're just not ready yet. They definitely need to be better at focus speed than the 50/1.4.

Will we see anything shorter? I'm beginning to think we might not. Unless they decide to do an updated 24/1.4 AFS. I'm not sure we are going to see a Canon rivalling 35/1.4.

Sorry a bit long, but that's my theory. :)

Pete
 
Hairyduck said:
as long as they don't bring a new 600mm out this week that's fine...

What do you feel is lacking in the lens line up then? I've lenses covering 10.5mm to 600 and I don't feel there's any gaping holes, I'd like them to do a macro like the mp-e 65 but apart from that...
Click to expand...

Why would they update the 600? It's already been updated.

There are gaping holes, fast primes. Nikon need a new 85/1.4, 135/2 ( ish or similar ) to bring the old lenses up to spec.
 
Just to add...

What I'd like to see, well I don't want 1.2 50+85 really, I do want the bokeh but 1.4 will do nicely.

So that 851.4 AFS is on my list to buy.

So is that D3xs. I'd buy that in a heartbeat to replace my D700 ( The D3 will probably be with me until I die now :lol: )

I have to say, next year could get pricey for me as I can see some big purchases coming on. :D

Pete
 
Hairyduck said:
as long as they don't bring a new 600mm out this week that's fine...

What do you feel is lacking in the lens line up then? I've lenses covering 10.5mm to 600 and I don't feel there's any gaping holes, I'd like them to do a macro like the mp-e 65 but apart from that...
Click to expand...

Where's the 24mm f1.4, the 35mm f1.4, the 85/105/135 with AF-S?

These are huge holes and meanwhile they put out lenses like the 85/3.5 DX that no-one seemed to ask for.

These are lenses that should have been announced with the D3s. 50th year of Nikkors and this is it? It's poor. And how many times are we going to have to say 'oh well, maybe next year we'll see fast wide and AF-S primes'?
 
icecavern said:
What this leaves is that Nikon still have those portrait primes missing, and also wider primes. They haven't tackled another market, wedding shooters, specifically at all yet.

Will we see anything shorter? I'm beginning to think we might not. Unless they decide to do an updated 24/1.4 AFS. I'm not sure we are going to see a Canon rivalling 35/1.4.
Click to expand...

That would be a HUGE, and inexplicable, mistake.
 
Radiohead said:
That would be a HUGE, and inexplicable, mistake.
Click to expand...

I'd agree it would be a mistake, but these fast primes will be expensive, and have a limited appeal. Nikon are going for the stuff they will sell huge numbers of.

Fast wide primes are wedding shooter territory, and Canon is very dominant there. Wedding shooters also don't generally have the budget to swap systems either, so it would be very difficult to tempt them to Nikon.

I have been tempted a few times to rent a 1DsMk3 with 35/1.4, 50/1.2, 85/1.2 and see how I'd get on. But I keep holding out for a Nikon release of some primes.
 
icecavern said:
I'd agree it would be a mistake, but these fast primes will be expensive, and have a limited appeal. Nikon are going for the stuff they will sell huge numbers of.

Fast wide primes are wedding shooter territory, and Canon is very dominant there. Wedding shooters also don't generally have the budget to swap systems either, so it would be very difficult to tempt them to Nikon.

I have been tempted a few times to rent a 1DsMk3 with 35/1.4, 50/1.2, 85/1.2 and see how I'd get on. But I keep holding out for a Nikon release of some primes.
Click to expand...

They do though - there are masses of people who switched to Nikon at DWF and of the 5 local pros I talk to regularly I was the only one shooting Nikon at the beginning of the year. 4 of us are now.

FWIW the current split at DWF is 52% Canon, 48% Nikon. The dominance is long gone.
 
That seems to be a pointless exercise in fixing something that isn't broken.

The cynical in me says its probably an attempt to add another £1k onto the price.

Madness.
 
New VRII module, nano-coating, new A/M focus mode, full dust and moisture sealed (the current one may have had this).
 
Radiohead said:
They do though - there are masses of people who switched to Nikon at DWF and of the 5 local pros I talk to regularly I was the only one shooting Nikon at the beginning of the year. 4 of us are now.

FWIW the current split at DWF is 52% Canon, 48% Nikon. The dominance is long gone.
Click to expand...

That's something I didn't realise. In that case I agree fully with you on it being a mistake on Nikons part. If there is indeed a large market to be had, they should hurry up.

Nikon for the win!! ( Maybe I should cut back on the US forums lol )
 
No, the VRII module is the only difference according to the spec sheet, everything else is already there.

I guess it depends on exactly how good VRII is... my own personal experience is that VR1 was a bit rubbish really (certainly compared to Canon's IS, which is rather good once you understand the limitations). I've not seen VRII yet, because of stuff I'd use, so far its only on the new 70-200 VRII...

Will it be worth the 25% uplift? Errm no.

What is this all about really? Having new product for the World Cup....
 
Nikon have patents filed for a 24mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.4 both AF-S, according to Thom Hogan, so expect some news in the New Year.
 
ahh, I wondered why the nikon site kept going down yesterday, figured there must be something being launched

edit: hmm, seems to be down again now
 
Radiohead said:
Who is making lens decisions in Nikon. First the 85/3.5 and now this, a replacement for a 4 year old lens that was and remains stellar.
Click to expand...
It's unbelievable, isn't it.

What I find especially amusing is that on NikonRumours.com they didn't even get a whiff of this lens until yesterday, and even then only gave it a 30% probability of being true.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top