Rumour: Nikon's New 200-400 f/4 E

[Macro_Cosmos]

https://nikonrumors.com/2017/06/27/new-nikon-af-s-nikkor-200-400mm-f4e-ed-vr-lens-rumored-to-be-announced-at-the-of-2017.aspx/
Electronic aperture, prossibly lighter and has a built in TC14, same as Canon's new one.
A very specialised lens that is going to be quite expensive  I'm going to bet it will cost more than Canon's.

No news on the 300/2.8E yet, or that D810 replacement people have been waiting patiently for.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

The built-in TC worries me. It would mean that the lens (if realized) will be very heavy and extremely expensive.

I would prefer a FL 200-400/4 without built in TC. Lower cost, lighter weight.

[gryphon1911]

The built-in TC worries me. It would mean that the lens (if realized) will be very heavy and extremely expensive.

I would prefer a FL 200-400/4 without built in TC. Lower cost, lighter weight.

Agreed.

[chris dees]

If it's like the Canon it will be heavy and very expensive, probably over €13K or more (the Canon is over €12K).
This new lens is likely to be a very good one because there should be a big difference with the already very good and (relatively) cheap 200-500/5.6E

[Akira]

The 200-400 zoom with the built-in 1.4x teleconverter is essentially a 200-560mm/f4.0-5.6 zoom which is not dramatically different from the 200-500mm/f5.6 zoom, so far as the spec is concerned.

I agree with Chris, but the new lens has to be "extremely superior", not just "very good".  Of course, it also has to be excellently weather sealed to go with D5.

[MILLIREHM]

Just read it on Rumors before
I wonder if it will be an FL design as well, probably yes

It must be an extremely good lens and different to the previous versions also good at distances beyond 50 Meters
I would also prefer it without built in TC, but Nikon needs to copy what Canon presented (after Nikon had been the only manufacturer with a lens of that type for long years)

Hope it wont be heavier
and that the close-up capabilities remains the same

The old 200-400 lens has got a more hard time with the new 80-400 and the 200-500

[Roland Vink]

I expect a new 200-400 will also have FL glass, along with upgraded 300/2.8 and 200/2 lenses (normally the 300/2.8 is among the first to be introduced when Nikon upgrades their line of super-telephotos, it is a little strange it among the last).

The trend among super-telephoto is for them to focus closer with each generation, that is certainly true of the 300/2.8 and 70-200/2.8 which are the nearest equivalents.

Telephotos have tended become lighter with new light-weight materials such as Magnesium alloy and Carbon fibre, also Fluorite elements weigh less than glass.

The trend is also for optical quality to improve - the new 70-200FL is definitely a step up from the previous 70-200 VRII, which was not bad in the first place.

As for a built-in TC, it seems like an "over engineered" solution, but I can imagine it would make the lens very versatile, and purpose-built TC is likely to be better optimised than a generic one.

No doubt, any new version will be expensive!

[CardBoardBoxProcessor]

Built in TC is better than an add on TC. it is made especially for the lens. and seems to move in and out of the optical axis. it is also needed to justify the price tag over the consumer super zoom. 

[Macro_Cosmos]

Built in TC is better than an add on TC. it is made especially for the lens. and seems to move in and out of the optical axis. it is also needed to justify the price tag over the consumer super zoom.

Essentially, this.
The TC built in will be customised and built to specifically cater to the lens itself, just like the TC14C for the 300 f/2 lens.
With that being said though, it will probably be extremely costly and potentially heavier.

I'm also going to speculate that the 200-500 f/5.6E as a lens alone will be at least on-par with the 200-400 with a TC, or even have a slight edge. TCs are basically optical enlargement and will always sacrifice IQ.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

I'm also going to speculate that the 200-500 f/5.6E as a lens alone will be at least on-par with the 200-400 with a TC, or even have a slight edge. TCs are basically optical enlargement and will always sacrifice IQ.

At an expected price of 10 x that of the 200-500, the new zoom should be significantly better, even with the built in TC engaged. The Canon 200-400 seems about the same as their 400/2.8 in sharpness at 400mm, but with the built in extender engaged at 560mm f/5.6 it seems to be 10-15% in acutance below their 600mm f/4. Dxomark, the digital picture.com and Lensrentals tests are what I looked at for the Canon lenses.

Nasim Manusurov's tests of the Nikon 200-500 using imatest give it 2143 center MTF50 score (corners 1138) at 500mm f/5.6 whereas Nikon's fast supertele primes get 3000-ish in the center and 2000-ish in the corners (the 200-400 Nikkor got maybe 10% less than the 400mm f/2.8 ). So the 200-500 in this kind of lab tests performs at 500mm pretty much as you'd expect from the price (at least if you look outside of the center at 500mm). At shorter focal lengths it is noticeably sharper though and quite good.  My own experiences suggested that it is very good at 200-400mm in the center and a bit less sharp at 500mm and towards the outer areas of the frame.  At 300mm it fell short of the 300 PF in sharpness outside of the center of the frame (and the 300 PF itself is not the sharpest lens in the corners) but perhaps the typical subject isn't that far off center (or the typical user may have a DX camera, rendering the point less important). Still I think it's not fair to compare it to some of these lenses that cost as much as 10x the price.

I think my preference would be a less front heavy and overall lighter (both thanks to fluorite elements) 200-400/4 without built in TC and at comparable prices or slightly higher than the current Nikon 200-400. The built in TC may perform well in practice and be valuable to users who can afford it but I think it reduces the likelihood of successful hand held use and makes the whole lens theoretical for me in terms of financial realities. However, the current 200-400/4 Nikkor is sometimes available at 3500€ in excellent condition on the used market and that lens may be something I would take another look at given a suitable opportunity. I think I have to move my eyes away from any material discussing the new lens ... 

[chris dees]

.......
However, the current 200-400/4 Nikkor is sometimes available at 3500€ in excellent condition on the used market and that lens may be something I would take another look at given a suitable opportunity. I think I have to move my eyes away from any material discussing the new lens ... 

Over here it looks like the 200-400 is at clearance sale. On-line retailers sell it between €2000 - €2500!

[Ilkka Nissilä]

Over here it looks like the 200-400 is at clearance sale. On-line retailers sell it between €2000 - €2500!

Wow, could you give a link to such a store with a good reputation? Thanks.

[chris dees]

Do you expect new ones, because they're used.
Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

Do you expect new ones, because they're used.
Sorry for the misunderstanding.

No misunderstanding, I understood that they would be used.