This will be a sticky post with the latest updates, scroll down for the rest of the stories. Similar to last time, I will update this post and create a separate entry for the indirect blog readers.
10:48 pm - It has begun! http://press.nikonusa.com/ is down. Announcement probably @ 11:00 pm, not midnight.
7:31 pm - Bob Krist clarified the lenses he used to take the pictures on his blog - 18-70mm kit lens from the old D70 and the 16-85mm. You can read his comments at the end of this thread. And make sure you visit his website tomorrow tomorrow for some interesting news 
(not, the news is not Sony/Zeiss related).
5:05 pm - Those are the full names of the two lenses for tonight: Nikkor AF-S 24 mm f/1.4 and Nikkor AF-S 16-35 mm f/4.0G ED VR. Nothing else will be released.
2:09 pm - this lens, spotted last night at the Super Bowl is definitely NOT one of the new lenses.
1:45 pm -Take a look at this photo from Bob Krist's blog. The EXIF data is 35mm @ f/6.7 and Maximum Lens Aperture of f/4.1.
What lens could have 35mm focal length and max aperture of f/4? I don't think such a lens exists (up till tonight that is). Please correct me if I am missing a mode (unless he is not shooting with a different brand name - Sigma, Tamron, etc).
Almost all other pictures on his blog from the past few weeks were taken with focal lengths between 16-35mm (there is only one picture shot @ 36mm). The weird thing was that they were all shot with DX bodies. My understanding is that the expected 16-35 f/4 VR is a FX lens.
I also would like to remind you about this post. Coincidence?
Bob, we know what you got there. Looking forward to seeing your pictures on Nikon's website tonight. Why didn't you use an FX body for those shots?
8:40 am - The Japanese site dc.watch published an interview with Mr. Nobuaki Sasagaki, marketing chief for Nikon Imaging (English translation).
On the question about upcoming products:
"明るい単焦点レンズと高性能な小型ズームレンズを投入"
"We will have several large aperture prime lenses and light compact zoom lens this year"
7:50 am - Some Nikon events are scheduled in some countries for tomorrow. As you probably know this means announcement tonight at around 11pm or midnight US Eastern time. One of the sources is a known "Nikon" person in a public forum which I will not mention here. I also have two other, independent confirmations. That must be it!
Related posts:
232 Comments
This is what I need and what we will get tonight:
- 300mm f/4 AF-S VRII (with a real tripod mount)
- 20mm f/2.8 AF-S (the actual AF-D sucks)
- 28-75mm AF-S 2.8 VRII (the 24-70 also sucks).
- 200mm AF-S 2.8 VRII (the 180mm don’t sucks but it’s autofocus does)
All theses lenses with a 77mm filter tread of course, thanks !
How much do you think the 300mm f4 VRII will cost?
how much will the actuall 300mm f4 price drop?
Thanks
A
You don’t have to ask that question, that’s Nikon gear:
The 300mm f/4 AF-S VR II will cost too much and the price drop on the old one will be too little.
Welcome to Nikon world !
THE 24-70 SUCKS? AND YOU’RE BEGGING FOR SOME SLOW TELEPHOTO LENSES. HAHAHA! WOW. WELL AT LEAST FOR SOME OF US IT HAS BEGUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the 24-70 also sucks <- lol @ you.
I am buying one next week, but still it sucks.
Giant distortion and fall off at 24mm, why ?
Because people whant the butter and the butter’s money.(French expression).
Nikon could have made a fantastic AF-S VR 28-75mm to replace the bulky 28-70mm, but no, who care about the quality ?
People want a 24-70mm ? Let’s do it !
People want loosy video on a pro DSLR ? Let’s do it !!!
I think we all should hask for a pro DSLR with a microwave oven inside, it’s so convenient !
In the Nobuaki Sasagaki there is some discussion of mirror-less technology. Unfortunately, Google’s translation is unintelligible. Can someone here do better?
Just out of curiosity, when is the next announcement for Nikon usually happen? I am still hoping for a 85mm 1.4 or 1.8 and 80-400mm replacements, so if they are not released this time, I want to look ahead
March is a possibility
I already have a lens. I’m waiting for the rumored D40s.
I’m just curious guys. What max aperture does the 24-120VR have at 35mm? Perhaps that’s the lens he used (or one of the endless DX 3.5-5.6 lenses)
Aston is the spokesperson for Nikon and all they could get him was a 70-300 VR??
Actually, for the last few weeks, I’ve been using a ham and cheese sandwich to take photos. My sandwich takes better photos under most circumstances than most people will ever need.
In fact, my ham and cheese sandwich from 2006 takes photos that are perfectly acceptable for most uses and a 2010 ham and cheese sandwich will probably be a bit fresher, but won’t be much better.
Oh Ken, oh Kehen!!! Your sooo wise, thank you sooo much for this advice!
Au chanté!
I like to send some money to help your growing family Ken.
IT HAS BEGUN!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT HAS BEGUN!
still no photos? ;( it’s getting late in Europe..
I was hoping to see the new babies before going to bed.
Go to bed early … and wake up early to the smell of new prime and zoom lenses!
as always..we in europe will wake up with ehm..”surprises”..hope not a bunch of KULPIX this time….eheh…
admin > you da man!
Dammit, so ready for a 1080p d700s
Hi everybody!
Any news about the 80-400 replacement? I need a long zoom and I can not wait more than two months!
I like how every announcement someone has to say “it has begun” … so it didnt happen last time ? lol when is it beginning?
I for one like Crysis jokes, but I can’t stand “it has begun” posts.
I’d scream some more, but I’ve already gone hoarse (you’ll have to settle for me shouting instead)…
Admin, Re: the 5:05 update, WHETHER OR NOT A LENS HAS A II IN THE TITLE AFTER THE VR HAS NOTHING, NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WHAT GENERATION OF VR IT HAS, THE II (OR III, OR MCMXLVIII) INDICATES WHAT GENERATION OF LENS WITH THAT COLLECTION OF FEATURES IT IS NOT WHAT GENERATION OF VR IT HAS. I WOULD THINK THAT YOU, OF ALL PEOPLE, WOULD HAVE FIGURED THIS OUT BY NOW
+1, fully agree, VRII is only in the lens name when it is an update of a lens that already had VR before.
ok, fair enough thanks for the clarification
I was about to say this, but in a much kinder way.
I think that it would be silly for Nikon to add 1st gen VR to new lenses from now on.
My theory is that the marketing development is even more confused than us in Nikon nomenclature
In what way is the marketing department confused (confusing, maybe but not confused)? They have always put the Roman numerals at the end of the pile of acronyms that go in a lens title, as in the II version of the AF-S 18-55 non-VR, and the II version of the AF-S non-VR super-teles. The II always goes at the very end (to make sure it stands out from the pile of acronyms, it’s only when they decided to move the VR to be the last of the acronyms that people got confused.
“it would be silly for Nikon to add 1st gen VR to new lenses”
The 18-105 has 1st gen VR
The 18-105 is not a new lens.
Oh please go away both of you trolls. You spend way too much time on the internet trying to make a fuss.
Above post was intended for users “King Of Swaziland” and ”
WoutK89″
My nose is not nearly big enough for me to be a troll.
Since when is what I do trolling? Being on the internet much and commenting a lot, does that make me a bad person?
Still waiting for D90 replacement T_T
buy..buy..buy..buy..buy..
Does anyone else think its strange that Nikon has a dozen DX DSLR bodies…and only a handful of lenses tailored to the format?
No, because FX lenses are compatible on both formats
that’s a cop out. Certain focal lengths should exist that specifically take the DX crop factor into account.
For example a 50-135mm F2.8 should exist (as this is the equivalent of a 70-200mm)
As it stands, we’re stuck with the 70-200mm (which is a great lens) but it is the equivalent of 105-300mm.
Meaning, that there is less of a rush to get more lenses for DX out! The main market is FX lenses (film and FX cameras and also DX cameras, thus the whole of Nikon’s inventory).
I find it to be a poor business strategy, and generally unfair to customers who have paid a lot of money to enter into nikon’s family.
The only reason Nikon DX users are able to function as photographers is by turning to Tokina, Sigma, and Tamron for a variety of their lenses.
11-16mm F2.8 – Tokina Only
50mm – 135mm F2.8 – Tokina Only
50mm – 150mm F2.8 – Sigma Only
It took Nikon almost a decade to release the 35mm 1.8 AF-S, which I appreciate, but even that should have around by the time they were creating the D50.
The slow release of products and unresponsiveness to the needs of their customers is really disheartening. I understand why more and more people are turning to Canon.
Right now, Nikon supporters (myself included) are clinging to the idea that Canon doesn’t match Nikon’s quality. Unfortunately, with the rate of innovation at Canon, that statement won’t hold true forever. Not only that, Canon will likely create comparable products faster and cheaper…
If anyone at Nikon is reading this, step up your game!
..yes..and even taking into account the reduced image circle..the sweet spot or whatever aps.c sensor gives..thay are not able to design lenses without too much geometric distorsions ! ..! I hate that,.. I’d need some lenses for my arch. shots!! I’m tired of stitching hundreds of 55mm micro nikkor pics…..eheh
If I had to guess, the lens spotted during the superbowl, might be a potential 70-200 F/4 VR.
Wow I cannot believe no Nano on the 24 1.4?!?!
How can you tell? Nano is never in the name. Only on the lens label.
what exactely means “Nothing else will be released”? Do you mean no other lenses or that really NOTHING else will be announced tonight??
meaning no teleconverters or new DSLR
thx anyway
Nobody will spend the money for a slow ultrawide with VR, when a faster ultrawide is available without VR for aobut the same price. In the face of the venerated 17-35mm f/2.8, the 16-35mm f/4 VR only makes sense as a new product in DX format, even if the image circle will cover FX too.
I have had an 18-35 in my bag for a number of years (although at the moment I ususally use the 18-55) – I keep it for FX/film compatibility, however, I’m also nervous that when I come to upgrade my current DX body, I may be left without an AF motor. I’d certainly be interested in replacing the 18-35 with the 16-35 and given the extra few mm at the wide end, it might get out a bit more often instead of the 18-55.
no new cameras.
very bad news…!!!
I’m not interested in nothing else at this moment…
bad, bad news nikon
What happened to the ‘surprise’ we kept being fed by those supposedly in the know the last few weeks?
That it is still a surprise, and we will probably never know what it is/was exactly.
I never said anything about a surprise:
http://nikonrumors.com/2010/02/02/i-dont-know-anything-about-a-surprise.aspx
So… the full name is AF-S 24mm f/1.4 and NOT AF-S 24mm f/1.4G? The AF-S 50mm f/1.4G does have the “G” in the lens name. Does that really mean the 24mm will not be a G lens? When was the last non-G lens released by Nikon? Sounds strange to me….
maybe it was a typo – this is how I received this info
Maybe they are ditching the G denomination, there will not be any more lenses with aperture rings probably…
the last non G lenses were the PC-E micro nikkors introduced in 2008 which were D lenses
the 24 1.4 will most definitely be a G lens.
so it’s a typo.
awesome you got good ol’ bob krist to post on NR! dude i love this site!
Bob Krist for US President 2012 campaign officially kicks off tonight!
im with you niko!! oh yah!
135 DC please
canon just announced a consumer camera called 550D with same 18MP sensor as 7D, Full HD Video, 24P / 25P /30P … hope Nikon has something big enough to show…
oh dont worry, d90 successor will kick so much a$$, just like how the d90 spanked just about everything in its class.
Waiting for a P7000!
NR Admin – just aquestion – does the NR Admin even sleep at all ? you seem to be on this 24 X 7 ….or are there several of you guys / gals ?
btw , Is there any photo of the NR Admin or NR Admins ? Can you post some. We would love to see your photo/s ! And what gear does the NR Admin have ? I will flip over my seat if you say u dont have one. Duh this site is about Nikon stuff.
good job !
I’ve got some, uh pictures, uh posted online. If you have a credit card, then $24.99USD a month gets you high resolution access to see them. But just remember I was young at the time and I needed the money to pay for my Nikon fetish
I do sleep, sometimes
It’s only me. I would like to keep stuff private, that’s why no photo or real name for now at least. This may change one day 
Current equipment:
D90
D300s (I need video for some of the reports)
35 1.8 DX
50 1.4 AF-S
108 2.8 Micro
18-200 VRII
11-16 2.8 (Tokina)
70-200 VRII
2x SB900
SB400
Unfortunately for full frame I use Leica M9. Looking forward to the D700 replacement or D900 (hopefully with video – I am not saying this to start a fight, I really need it to run this blog – the D3s is too big for me).
you can see some of it here:
http://photorumors.com/2009/09/28/think-tank-photo-airport-takeoff-backpack-preview/
You can see a photo of him at NR command center here:
http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/887381-001.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=3E814C41B67C7A24BC7E1840A619C4676529E79887609E4F
Hey guys, do you think we can expect a new FX DLSR (D700s, D700x, D800, D900, whatever) by the end of the month?
Nope. More like early summer for a D700 replacement.
明るい単焦点レンズと高性能な小型ズームレンズを投入
明るい akarui – bright
単焦点 tanshouten – prime
レンズ renzu – lens
高性能 kouseinou – high quality/fidelity
小型 ogata – small-size
ズームレンズ zoomu renzu – zoom lens
を o – subject particle
投入 tounyuu – load/release
There’s absolutely nothing about # of lenses in this statement.
Oops. Forgot ｌ（と to – and) after lens and high quality. My bad.
すみません。仕事に居るので時間がない～
http://press.nikonusa.com/
“Opps, the page cannot be displayed”
It has begun.
Refresh … Refresh … Refresh …
it’s here
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1002/10020901nikon24mmf14.asp
It’s here!!!!
16-35 f4 VR
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1002/10020902nikon16mm35mm.asp
24 f1.4
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1002/10020901nikon24mmf14.asp
http://nikon.com/about/news/2010/0209_16-35mmf4G_02.htm
http://nikon.com/about/news/2010/0209_24mmf1.4G_01.htm
http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/index.htm
http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/lens/af/wideangle/af-s_24mmf_14d/index.htm
http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/lens/af/zoom/af-s_nikkor16-35mmf_4d_ed_vr/index.htm
Nikon updated their Press Center
Announcement came 1 hour early?