The Nikkor 500/4 FL VR & 600/4 FL E VR are coming. Plus 16-80/2.8-4 E

[Ilkka Nissilä]

I think the design priorities have changed due to the availability of high-resolution sensors that allow the utilization of higher frequency detail in the lenses than what was possible to record before. So if in the past some other characteristic was a higher priority whereas today it is light weight, high resolution, and CA correction to a greater precision.

I don't know if I'm just imagining it but to my eye results from ED superteles have this characteristic vibrancy of colour whereas the FL lenses seem to produce more pastel coloured images.

It is of course possible that through improved materials the fragility (perceived or real) of the fluorite elements is no longer a pressing issue. But I think the main thing is that the higher resolution sensors motivate the development of lenses that are corrected to a greater level than was deemed useful in the past. The use of fluorite may have given Canon an edge in the past also in performance with TCs over Nikon ED lenses.

I think PF/DO is not really competing with the best conventional refractive optics but it is quite good and practical for many uses. I am surprised that Canon would entertain the idea of a 600/4 DO. In the CR page on the patent the length of the lens is given as 397.8mm whereas the current version is 447.0mm (specifications on B&H web page) so only a 11% reduction in length. Nikon also mentions that the fast long lenses would benefit less from a PF design than the 300/4 where there was a huge reduction in size and weight, so Canon's plan seems  consistent with this finding. The question then is whether a very expensive lens can be sold if it is not quite as good as the best, to gain a slight reduction in size and weight.

I think because the results from very long lenses are often affected by atmospheric degradation, there is good reason to make these lenses as good as possible (since all the image degrading components are cumulative) to at least get a result that is as good as possible under the circumstances at hand. But of course the lenses could potentially be more popular if their handling and transportation is made easier.

[Peter Connan]

I am sure the E aperture has advantages that can't be acheived through a mechanical aperture, otherwise they wouldn't be going that route. I can't see that it can be that much cheaper or easier to make, unless they intend removing the mechanism to operate the mechanical aperture from the next ranges of cameras, which I personally hope is still a long way away, although it will surely hapen eventually.

I like the new wider collar for the foot as it will make rotating the lens easier, but I am not sure about the foot itself and think it's a pity they didn't use the opportunity to make the foot's attachment platform to the collar larger. That could have made the mount so much stiffer. But overall I think they will be great lenses, and which I could swop my 500 for this one.

As for the 16-80, this is quite interesting to me. On the one hand, they seem to be trying to force us to go Df, then they do something like this?

[antonoat]

I do wonder if Nikon will reduce the price of the 400 MM, the 500 mm is very impressive on paper

Grays of Westminster in London(UK), have significantly reduced their price for the new 400 f2.8e fl lens from some £10,000 to a mere £8,295 inc vat!
I spoke with one of their sales people and he confirmed this is their new price and not a one off special!

Great news for potential purchasers, not so good for those of us who bought the lens early on, though obviously the price drop was inevitable personally I think it happened rather soon!
I'm guessing that the 500mm and 600mm will also have a price drop somewhere down the line so folks should bear that in mind!

[Tersn]

Aaron Baggenstos has made a nice field test of the new 600mm (in Alaska)

http://aaronbaggenstos.smugmug.com/

See also  Nikon Rumors

[Mike G]

Tony, I feel your pain this is the sort of thing that happens to me. 

[ColinM]

Aaron Baggenstos has made a nice field test of the new 600mm (in Alaska)

http://aaronbaggenstos.smugmug.com/

See also  Nikon Rumors

I couldn't find anything here but images.
Found this though
http://nikonrumors.com/2015/08/01/nikon-af-s-nikkor-500mm-f4e-fl-ed-vr-lens-field-test.aspx/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NikonRumors+%28NikonRumors.com%29

And

http://nikonrumors.com/2015/09/04/nikon-af-s-nikkor-600mm-f4e-fl-ed-vr-lens-video-review-wildlife-photography-in-alaska.aspx/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NikonRumors+%28NikonRumors.com%29

[Gary Irwin]

FWIW there's a decent brief review of the 600 FL by Harsha Jayawardena here...https://harshajphotos.wordpress.com/2015/09/10/review-of-nikon-600-f4e-fl-ed-vr-lens/.

I also have a growing number of full-resolution examples on my flickr site (select most recent taken) www.flickr.com/photos/garyirwin

The 600 FL is a very sharp lens, though I never owned the 600VR so I can't compare.

Cheers!
Gary

[Nancy Elwood]

I received my new 500 several weeks ago, and it balances just fine on my Wimberley head.  These are pictures with and without the TC attached with the D810, no optional grip.  I worked with Wimberley about their recommended lens plate for they were recommending their P-50, which ended up to be too long, even taking into account the different weight of camera bodies and such.  Wimberley had not been able to get their hands on the actual lens yet, so I sent them pictures of mine with the P-50 explaining the situation.  Andrew at Wimberley then loaned me a P-40, which I use now, and works great. First image without TC, second with TC.  The third image is a very cropped version of one taken with the TC attached with the D810. These images are with the P-50 plate that I showed to Wimberley.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

That tripod  looks on the smallish size for such a long lens?

[Nancy Elwood]

That tripod  looks on the smallish size for such a long lens?

The tripod is one of my older aluminum ones, Manfrotto 3221 Pro, but is a very good one especially when I head for the water.  This whole setup, lens and camera, is under 8 lbs.  In fact, because of the lower weight I have gone lighter for travel with a Feisol C-3442 carbon fiber one.  Works superbly!!!

[ColinM]

I received my new 500 several weeks ago, and it balances just fine on my Wimberley head. 
The third image is a very cropped version of one taken with the TC attached with the D810.

Hi Nancy and welcome to NG.

It's good to start seeing some results from the field with these new lenses. I'm jealous that you have access to these woodpeckers - we have some near us that I can hear, but have only ever got fleeting glimpses of as they flew past.

Can you post some more when you get a chance and let have any other comments on new features, any notable handling & image characteristics that you notice?

[Nancy Elwood]

Hi Nancy and welcome to NG.

It's good to start seeing some results from the field with these new lenses. I'm jealous that you have access to these woodpeckers - we have some near us that I can hear, but have only ever got fleeting glimpses of as they flew past.

Can you post some more when you get a chance and let have any other comments on new features, any notable handling & image characteristics that you notice?

Colin, just thought I would get back with you on the new 500.  I am loving it more and more!!  Here are a few images.  The new "Sport" VR feature has come in handy for the very fast action of birds in flight.  Both hand holding and on a tripod the lens is a pleasure and handles the new 1.4E III with ease.  Both of these were taken with the TC on my D810.

[Jørgen Ramskov]

Wow! Impressive bird and impressive shot!

[elsa hoffmann]

nancy - oh my hat these are beautiful images - thanks for sharing.

[Erik Lund]

Really nice captures!