New 50mm Lens From Nikon

I've noticed that Nikon has been releasing new lenses and was
wondering if a new 50mm is in the pipeline. Maybe a 50mm f/1.4 G or
something similar.

- manzoor

 

I would guess sooner or later they are going to upgrade the venerable 50/1.8
to AF-S, but who knows when?

jue

 

Do Nikon do a an equivalent "standard" lens for the cropped sensor. I was
thinking something like a cheap and cheerful 30mm F1.8 or F1.4. The
offerings available for my Pentax gear are very good but huge prices.

 

Not yet, but I'm patiently waiting.

That's exactly what I'm waiting for Nikon to make, something around 30mm or
so, f/1.8 or f/1.4, just for the smaller format. I should think an f/1.8
could be reasonably priced and would suit me fine.

Neil

 

Unfortunately they haven't released anything new faster than f/2.8 in a
long time. The AF 28mm f/1.4 sells for $3,000 on ebay. Zeiss has or
plans to offer a 28 or 30mm f/2 but that's full manual, not even chipped
for metering. I guess Sigma fills these gaps & there isn't enough demand
to bother.

 

That was 1992 BTW

 

Pentax has a pretty good set of offerings around that size, 21mm, 31mm,
35mm, 40mm and 43mm all exceptional lenses.

 

Yeah, those sound nice. Are any AF? Modern coatings? Nikon put out an AF
20/2.8 at that same time which people seem to really like but I don't
know, mine is not inspiring, maybe not the sharpest copy, and another
so-so (but AF this time) 24/2.8, and an expensive 18/2.8 which doesn't
get such good reviews (but not a lot of competition). There's an AF 35mm
f/2: I really like my MF version (supposed to be the same optics) and
the 35/1.4 I like even more although 'batwing' coma aberrations are
pretty strong for night shooting. The retro 45/2.8 MF pancake redux is
kind of a Pentax wannabe without AF though. The old MF 28/2 MF is real
nice too but old. I would like to see these revitalized. Maybe they will
now that full frame is back; f/2 would be fine.

 

These are all AF and all at least F2.8 except for the 21mm, most of these
are what Pentax call their Limited class lens, these are the ones you drool
over and plot to get them before you die, there is also a couple above the
50mm , 70, 77 and 85 F1.4 (I think), they really are simply the best.

Cheers.

Pete

 

This is what 'insiders' say is in the pipeline:


to be released in 2008 (Olympics)
1) Nikkor AFS 80-400 mm f/4-5.6 VR II (new design),
2) Nikkor AFS 70 200 mm f/2,8 VR II (new design),
3) Nikkor AFS DX 16 85 mm f/3,5-5,6 VR II,

later (end 2008, beginning 2009)
4) Nikkor AFS 50 mm f/1,4,
5) Nikkor AFS 85 mm f/2 VR II,
6) Nikkor-Micro AFS 200 mm f/4 VR II,
7) PC Nikkor AFS 28 mm f/2,8

 

AF 35mm f/2D is about the nearest. It's affordable at $535 from DCW.

 

That sounds like it would fit the bill. Pentax makes a 35mm F2 as well that
is simply stunningly sharp from F2 (some think it is too sharp but after
have a few soft lenses I would rather be too sharp than even a little soft)
up but is getting a somewhat hard to get, local suppliers can't get them,
tried to get one last week but had a problem getting the new online payment
system to work at BH Photo so I might try again in a few weeks if they still
have them.

Cheers.

Pete

 

If properly redesigned this will be a nice zoom and a great replacement for
the current model. The current model has slow AF and is very soft at the
top end.

Cool! Get me an exact date of when this will be released so I can sell my
older version and update to this one. Mine appreciated enough in value to
offset the cost of the newer one. Then again, maybe this newer version
might not offer much improvement over the older version. I'll just keep
mine.

Absolutely no interest. This is nothing more that a Canon marketing clone
since VR doesn't add any benefit to lenses of 50mm and wider. Bad move
Nikon!

SWEET! GOTTA GET ONE!

Absolute waste! Nikon would have been better suited to just add AF-S to the
present 85/1.4. No interest.

Another waste of time lense! Make it a 2.8 and scrap the VR. Hell, get rid
of the AF while you're at it!

Good choice! Lots of possibilities. GOTTA GET ONE! Not sure how much
benefit AF-S is going to be, but a new optical formula is always welcome.





Rita

 

Strange, I never heard anyone complain about the current design. My only
complaint is flare & ghosting which I suppose the new coatings would
improve.

Sure it does. Stops are stops wherever you can get them. I don't know
why you persist in this idea. And with f/5.6 at 85mm you'll need it.

The 1.4 isn't slow focusing, doesn't need AF-S but the VR would be handy
at that focal length and yes, why slower glass?

Lacking the "(new design)" this is just a refresh of a well regarded
lens, not a new lens really.

That is bizarre: AF-S perspective control? That's a totally manual
operated lens right down to the stop-down metering. Can't they add tilt?
This really makes no sense unless it's designed to allow more shift on a
DX body. I'd rather see a 28mm f/2 or faster. For a shift lens, the old
f/3.5 was supposed to be a little better performer than the f/2.8
anyways and there's no need for speed for this kind of work.

 

Paul Furman wrote:
[]

Maybe it's now a purely electronic linkage, allowing much more automation?

David

 

Yes AF-S would make it possible to do as AF and use as a normal lens,
but it would be more useful if they added tilt or made a normal faster
wide angle lens.

 

There's a 35mm f/2 AF-D lens that fits every Nikon DSLR except for the D40
and D40x.

 

It fits those two cameras just fine, but it won't autofocus on them.

 

Same here. I love mine and can't see anywhere to make improvements. If
they turbocharged the AF I would be interested. They'll probably slap in a
"Nano-Crystal" element or two. Better VR has absolutely no interest for me
as I very rarely use it.

Huh? I haven't seen much benefits of VR on 50 and wider lenses. It's
really not hard shooting 1000mm handheld with proper technique. Plus, with
the introduction of great high-ISO sensors VR/IS is going to be obsolete in
5-years or less. Wait till the next batch of Canons come out if you think
I'm wrong. We are in an ISO war/race instead of MPs.

Yes it is compared to the 70-200mm. The 85/1.4 is basically a studio lens
and *might* benefit from AF-S to speed things up a bit. Then again, it
might not since this type of lens is notoriously slow. Even Canon's 85/1.2L
II is a slug relatively speaking. If these lenses had faster AF they would
make really nice low light sports and action lenses.

A set of reasonably designed AF-S f/1.4 primes would be welcome. And
really, with the introduction of the 14-24/2.8 and 24-70/2.8 there really
isn't a need for putting out any slow primes.

I think they can do a lot with AF-S in this beast since the motor will be
fly-by-wire instead of screw drive. So anything is possible for them to
make this a very versatile lens.





Rita

 

How can there be a Mark II version when there wasn't a Mark I?