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

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Just was told by my Nikon spokesperson there are new Nikkors released: 500/4 and 600/4 E VR lenses with the fluorite technology, significantly lighter than their predecessors. Plus a 16-80/2.8-4 ED E DX.

As I have predicted, all new lenses are 'E'. This is the direction Nikon wants, perhaps they feel the constraints of backwards compatibility are weaking?.

These lenses were not available as review samples to me now, and that's OK because I leave soon for Ireland. But will try to get samples of these later when I return.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Oh yes, the product shots almost forgot.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

And we shouldn't forget the new 'kit' zoom lens.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The weight reduction of these long lenses is actually pretty remarkable. Thus, the new 500/4 FL E, at 3.01 kg,  has returned to be within 0.15 kg of the old 500/4 Ai-P from the '90s,  despite its VR technology and a much more sophisticated optical design. This newcomer must be the ideal wildlife, or sports,  lens for general use.

I probably order a review sample of the 500 (and the 16-80).

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The MTF chart of the new 500/4 is pretty remarkable. Lens testing should be quite simple !

[stenrasmussen]

I too wonder if we over the next couple of years will see Nikon realising all new lenses with e-apertures.
As for the 16-80, is this an indication that a pro DX camera is "imminent"?

[Bjørn Rørslett]

It's no big secret Nikon would want an 'E' future. However, being Nikon, a very conservative company, they have tread lightly, and introduce the 'E' technology step by step. This in order not to break too much of the backwards compatibility I'd guess. When they are convinced (by sales figures?) that nobody uses any pre-E camera, they go the entire way and everything will be 'E'. The upper-end cameras are likely to provide support for all kinds of Nikkor interfaces as it's easily implemented in new models.

Not sure about their 'DX' perspective, but pushing the 16-80 E onto the market could be a guinea pig for a new product line.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

My Nikon contact came back to me and informed me I'll get the new lenses for testing first week of August - if samples arrive in the August shipment.

Now, that'll be fun.

[Akira]

Nikon has changed the coatings of the already released lenses with NIC.  So, I would hope that all the outer elements of currently available lenses would be fluorine-coated.

[bobfriedman]

i liked the position of the tripod collar on the old 600VR better, it balanced on the Wimberley WH-200 head quite nicely.. this arrangement won't be as good.. i have seen the problem it with the 800FL.

i primarily use a 5-series Gitzo and Wimberley head to do wildlife photography.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The change in positioning of the L-shaped foot probably relates to a different weight distribution within the lens itself. Thus it probably balances equally well on a gimbal head.

When I get the review sample, I'll run the lens with support from a fluid head. That'll suit my work style better than any gimbal. Each user has a different requirement.

[Erik Lund]

The little 16-80 looks impressive by the numbers, let's about distortion etc...

The 500 f/4 is sweet indeed! Wow and similar size to the old 500 is indeed most welcome.

[Stephen T Symes]

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

[Ilkka Nissilä]

As I have predicted, all new lenses are 'E'. This is the direction Nikon wants, perhaps they feel the constraints of backwards compatibility are weaking?.

With digital SLRs all the recent cameras support E lenses and the old ones (i.e. D2 generation, D70) are losing their interestingness due to the rapid improvement in image quality that has occurred.

However, to my knowledge no 35mm film Nikon SLR supports E lens aperture control from the camera (apart from PC-E which can be controlled using a button on the lens if power is supplied which should be case with cameras that support VR). This may be a slight problem for some users who want to shoot film for one reason or another. I think what Nikon should consider investigating if the firmware of the latest film cameras such as the F6 could be made to support E aperture control. Not that there are all that many such users but then again Nikon does make many curious products for small markets so some show of support might be a good thing.

I haven't shot film since ca. 2010 (and that was 6x7cm) and my digital SLRs do support E lenses. But I do know people who still like to shoot some film.

I do believe that Nikon hasn't yet made an FX E lens that breaks compatibility in such a serious way that it would become unusable on a modern film camera. E.g. the new long lenses such as 300/4E are happy to be shot wide open so E aperture control isn't necessary unless you specifically need to stop down. The PC-E lenses can be stopped down and opened up from a button. The 16-80mm is a DX lens so it would not be sensible to use it on a 35mm film camera. The 20/1.8 is a G lens,  even though it is a very recent lens, probably because they didn't want to break compatibility. I imagine the 20/1.8 is a lens that a film camera user might want to use.

Just for correctness state, I will test if the F100 will fire frames with the 300/4E wide open. Now, where are those batteries 

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Sooner or later the backwards compatibility of the "F" mount has to yield. However, it is pretty surprising, and dare I add, heartening as well, that you can mount lenses from the late '50s on a modern camera like the Df and the combination just works.

Many users frown upon putting old lenses onto a new camera, as they focus on the features that are missing and believing such are critically important to get a picture at all. Each to their own and many Df users know better by now.  If you can make it sing for your own photography, go ahead and that is where Nikon stands out  by allowing for so long time. Of course issues  begin to develop in the compatibility matrix over time, anything else would have been a sensation. But again, that is not the point.

Seen in the above context, 'E' lenses break compatibility in one direction: few if any old cameras can use them. However, most of the new cameras can, and it is pretty certain all new Nikons to come will support 'E'. Thus the traditional ever-lasting Nikkors just potter on, as long as their support is provided by the camera. Nikon Df shows this all-encompassing support is possible even in the most modern of cameras. Let us hope that tradition continues into the future.