Nikon Releases 3 New Lenses: A 16-80mm, 500mm, and 600mm

Posted on: 07-4-2015 Posted in: Photography

Nikon has released three new lenses that look very promising. For sports, wildlife, and action photographers, the new AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4E FL ED VR and the AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lenses and their new features will be dreams come true. For photographers looking for a versatile solution for both wide-angle to portrait lengths, the new AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR lens will definitely do the trick.

Nikon 500mm f/4 lens

500mm

Product Highlights

Designed for use with FX image sensors, this lens is also compatible with DX sensors where it will provide a 750mm equivalent focal length.
Two fluorite and three ED lens elements work to reduce chromatic aberrations; improve overall image sharpness, clarity, and color fidelity; and help to minimize the overall weight of the lens.
Vibration Reduction image stabilization helps to reduce the appearance of camera shake for up to four shutter speed stops, benefiting this lens’ use in low-light conditions. Additionally, a designated Sport Mode is well-suited to working in fast-paced conditions and a Tripod Mode helps to suppress subtle ground vibrations when working atop a support system.
Silent Wave Motor autofocus mechanism provides quick, quiet, and precise autofocus performance that is ideal for photographing fast-moving subjects.
Full-time manual focus override allows instant switching between AF and MF focusing systems by just rotating the focus ring at any time.
Internal focusing design maintains the overall lens length during operation and contributes to a lighter overall weight, as well as a minimum focusing distance of 11.9′.
Specialized electromagnetic aperture mechanism provides greater exposure control stability that is especially beneficial when working with fast continuous shooting rates.
A Nano Crystal Coat, along with a Super Integrated Coating, has been applied to lens elements to minimize surface and internal reflections for a marked reduction in lens flare and ghosting.
Fluorine-coated front meniscus glass element affords protection to the optical system.
Dust- and moisture-resistant magnesium alloy lens barrel benefits the lens’ use in inclement conditions.
A removable monopod collar is included with the lens for well-balanced support when working from a monopod or tripod. The collar ring also incorporates ball bearings for smooth transitions between horizontal and vertical shooting orientations.

Nikon 600mm f/4 lens

600mm

Product Highlights

Designed for use with FX image sensors, this lens is also compatible with DX sensors where it will provide a 900mm equivalent focal length.
Two fluorite and four ED lens elements work to reduce chromatic aberrations; improve overall image sharpness, clarity, and color fidelity; and help to minimize the overall weight of the lens.
Vibration Reduction image stabilization helps to reduce the appearance of camera shake for up to four shutter speed stops, benefiting this lens’ use in low-light conditions. Additionally, a designated Sport Mode is well-suited to working in fast-paced conditions and a Tripod Mode helps to suppress subtle ground vibrations when working atop a support system.
Silent Wave Motor autofocus mechanism provides quick, quiet, and precise autofocus performance that is ideal for photographing fast-moving subjects.
Full-time manual focus override allows instant switching between AF and MF focusing systems by just rotating the focus ring at any time.
Internal focusing design maintains the overall lens length during operation and contributes to a lighter overall weight, as well as a minimum focusing distance of 14.4′.
Specialized electromagnetic aperture mechanism provides greater exposure control stability that is especially beneficial when working with fast continuous shooting rates.
A Nano Crystal Coat, along with a Super Integrated Coating, has been applied to lens elements to minimize surface and internal reflections for a marked reduction in lens flare and ghosting.
Fluorine-coated front meniscus glass element affords protection to the optical system.
Dust- and moisture-resistant magnesium alloy lens barrel benefits the lens’ use in inclement conditions.
A removable monopod collar is included with the lens for well-balanced support when working from a monopod or tripod. The collar ring also incorporates ball bearings for smooth transitions between horizontal and vertical shooting orientations.

One of the major setbacks when using a long prime lens is the weight. Nikon understands this and has reduced the weight of their 500mm and 600mm lenses by two and three pounds respectively. Both lenses include the new VR (Vibration Reduction) technology that compensates for camera shake and movement so the images will remain sharp. There is also a specialized SPORT VR mode for those times when you’re shooting fast and erratic moving subjects like athletes and animals. Other features include a 9 blade diaphragm, nano crystal coat, and a silent wave motor which smooth and silent autofocusing. The lenses will retail at $10,299.95 for the 500mm and $12,299.95 for the 600mm.

Nikkor 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR

16mm

Product Highlights

When used on DX-format camera or FX-format cameras in DX mode, this lens will provide an equivalent focal length of 24-120mm.
Fast f/2.8-4 maximum aperture range is well-suited to working in difficult lighting conditions and also lends itself to precise focus control for shallow depth of field imagery.
Three aspherical and four ED glass lens elements work to reduce chromatic aberrations; improve overall image sharpness, clarity, and color fidelity; and help to minimize the overall weight of the lens.
Vibration Reduction image stabilization helps compensate for the appearance of camera shake up to four shutter speed stops, benefiting this lens’ use in low-light conditions. A Sport VR mode is available for panning and fast movements along with a Tripod VR mode for reducing the impact of subtle ground vibrations or camera movement that can be transferred to your support system.
Silent Wave Motor autofocus mechanism provides quick, quiet and precise autofocus performance.
Full-time manual focus override allows instant switching between AF and MF focusing systems by just rotating the focus ring at any time. Also, it in internal focusing so that the length of the lens does not change during operation.
Specialized electromagnetic aperture mechanism provides greater exposure control stability that is especially beneficial when working with fast continuous shooting rates.
A Nano Crystal Coat, as well as a Super Integrated Coating, have been applied to the lens elements to minimize surface and internal reflections for a marked reduction in lens flare and ghosting.
Fluorine-coated front and rear glass elements afford protection to the optical system.
A rounded 7-blade aperture diaphragm provides smooth out-of-focus elements in your final image.

When mounted on a DX camera, the new 16-80mm DX lens is the equivalent of having a 24-120mm lens on an FX camera. To reduce glare down to almost zero, Nikon added the nano crystal coat found in many of their FX lenses. Other additions to the construction of this lens are extra-low dispersion glass and aspherical elements which reduce color aberrations and enhance contrast and sharpness. The VR technology in this lens includes a Tripod mode which compensates for the tripod vibration. This lens is expected to be available later this month and will retail for $1,069.95.

Expected availability for all 3 lenses: July 16, 2015All of Nikon’s new lenses are coated with a non-stick fluorine coat that is quite impressive. You can watch a video that shows off the coating repelling everything from water to oil paint. In addition all three lenses feature an electromagnetic diaphragm mechanism that syncs with the camera shutter for fast automatic exposure control and consistency between shots during high-speed continuous shooting.