Nikon introduces 19mm Tilt-shift and new 70-200 f/2.8 lenses

A new 19mm T/S lens and an electronic aperture diaphragm 70-200 f/2.8 (long overdue to replace the failure prone electromechanical linkage).  The Tilt/Shift lens can be tilted or shifted in both axes independently. Prices are at a whole new level as they are both the most expensive lenses in their categories ever introduced by a fairly wide margin:
https://www.dpreview.com/news/3325753199/nikon-announces-ultra-wide-pc-nikkor-19mm-f4e-ed-tilt-shift-lens
https://www.dpreview.com/news/6274771226/redesigned-nikon-70-200-f2-8-arrives-with-improved-optics-and-electromagnetic-diaphragm

Considering the pretty awesome Canon 17mm T&S is $2100 this is crazy pricing. Not to mention the 70-200, wow, is this where we are going? For Europeans this is going to be expensive!

Mind you the new 70-200/2.8 is 110g lighter than the previous model it replaces.
So you pay for it.

KK Hui wrote:Mind you the new 70-200/2.8 is 110g lighter than the previous model it replaces.
So you pay for it.

Less is the new more

The pricing looks crazy - and already raising a buzz.
I'd be interested in the 19mm PC_E, but not at ≈ 4k€.

Its certainly good to see Nikon continuing to improve their top end products but the ever increasing costs of new equipment are reinforcing my idea of expanding my photography hobby by way of an inexpensive set of older MF primes and a used DF.

KK Hui wrote:Mind you the new 70-200/2.8 is 110g lighter than the previous model it replaces.
So you pay for it.

And yet it is still almost twice the weight of the F4 version. 

Gary Irwin wrote:Its certainly good to see Nikon continuing to improve their top end products but the ever increasing costs of new equipment are reinforcing my idea of expanding my photography hobby by way of an inexpensive set of older MF primes and a used DF.

Gary, am I wrong?  

An inexpensive MF ultra wide is a good idea because DOF is so deep and UW subjects are generally static enough so that AF is not needed.

But not the same with the 70-200 zoom.

DF?

The previous model is a great lens, Very sharp, One of my favorites, Yes it suffers from focal breathing but its so sharp i will be interested to see how this lens performs against it, Could be like the new 24-70 which is not as sharp as the previous but has the electronic diaphragm, Cost wise its crazy and i guess at some point we will need to replace ALL our old lenses as the bodies will be electronic only

Dave

Blck-shouldered Kite wrote:

Gary Irwin wrote:Its certainly good to see Nikon continuing to improve their top end products but the ever increasing costs of new equipment are reinforcing my idea of expanding my photography hobby by way of an inexpensive set of older MF primes and a used DF.

Gary, am I wrong?  

An inexpensive MF ultra wide is a good idea because DOF is so deep and UW subjects are generally static enough so that AF is not needed.

But not the same with the 70-200 zoom.

DF?

Hi BSK. Please don't read too much into this...my comments were more a knee-jerk reaction to the realization that for us Canadians, to buy the latest and best 70-200 Nikon has ever made will list somewhere in the region of $3700 CAD + taxes. I can't recall ever seeing a 70-200 listing for that much and I've been on this earth more than a few years!

Yes, I do own some very high-end glass and equipment that I rely on to help get the best wildlife images that I personally can, but when what I consider  "standard" zooms start costing a significant fraction of a new car, it's hard not to step back and start revaluating things. I do appreciate the images of challenging subjects that my premium equipment helps me to capture...images that I don't think *I* could get with lesser equipment. That being said, there's a growing treasure-trove of very capable used photography gear on the market that is very enticing, illustrated by the fact I can build a very competent casual walk-around package consisting of a used DF (w/D4 sensor!) and a bag of very capable ai-s primes for about the cost of the new 70-200. I have no plans to shoot wildlife with MF lenses, but for everything else, why not?

Dave Courtenay wrote:The previous model is a great lens, Very sharp, One of my favorites, Yes it suffers from focal breathing but its so sharp i will be interested to see how this lens performs against it, Could be like the new 24-70 which is not as sharp as the previous but has the electronic diaphragm, Cost wise its crazy and i guess at some point we will need to replace ALL our old lenses as the bodies will be electronic only

Dave

Wow that's some serious coin. I just picked up two Tammys for less than the price of that 70-200.   I sold my old Nikkor 24-70 because the zoom was too sticky for video.  The Tammy is so much better. I was under the impression they went to the electromagnetic diaphragm for video, to tame flickering. I didn't know the mechanical ones were that prone to failure.  What I didn't realize though was how much those telephoto zooms suffer from Focus Breathing. Some comparisons below (from dpr)...

Effective focal length in mm when close focusing at maximum focal length:

Tamron 70-200 F2.8 : 128,4
NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II : 133,9
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200 F2.8E FL ED VR : 157,8
Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM : 138,3
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM : 172,1
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG APO Sony Alpha : 183,1
Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G SSM II Lens : 172.1
Nikon 18-140mm Nikon DX : 68,4
Nikon 18-300mm : 88,2
Tamron 16-300mm : 74,4

I sure hope Nikon doesn't make all their new models electronic only.   They'll be making it much too easy to switch systems....

Wade

Wade, where did you find that?

I see your point Gary

Looked at your website.    Really like the Osprey and Common Loon images.  Here are a couple of my favorites:

Osprey Shaking Off ......... Super image!

Common Loon Protecting Chick......beautiful image.

the Skipper on the Queen Anne's Lace.

Are those Alewives the Osprey are capturing?  I think so but not sure.

Anthony Medici wrote:Wade, where did you find that?

Anthony,


It was in the comments :  Redesigned Nikon 70-200  by Cees Wijgerde

I did a google search and found : Focus Breathing, which supports the findings ( at least for the old 70-200).

Wade

Blck-shouldered Kite wrote:I see your point Gary

Looked at your website.    Really like the Osprey and Common Loon images.  Here are a couple of my favorites:

Osprey Shaking Off ......... Super image!

Common Loon Protecting Chick......beautiful image.

the Skipper on the Queen Anne's Lace.

Are those Alewives the Osprey are capturing?  I think so but not sure.

Thanks very much...goes to show that with decent equipment even a monkey like me can bag some keepers once and a while!

Sorry, I have no idea about the fish species, except to say that one of them is definitely a carp (yech!).

Heres a good comparison table between the new 70-200 and the previous version:
http://nikonrumors.com/2016/10/21/nikon ... ison.aspx/

I dont see anything that would make an existing owner want to upgrade, Similar to the new 24-70

Dave

Dave Courtenay wrote:I dont see anything that would make an existing owner want to upgrade, Similar to the new 24-70

Dave

The lack of focus breathing compared to the old one is huge for some people, but other than that, i agree with you.  And of course the much higher reliability lens mount - specifically aperture control unit.

Hands on with both lenses from DPReview:
https://www.dpreview.com/news/269918316 ... ikkor-19mm

This guy is always a bit over the top but his opinion is right on the money in my book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpiIyb3My7E