where there’s smoke there’s fire

The long rumored Nikon NIKKOR PC 19mm f/4E ED tilt shift and 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR zoom lenses are now officially announced. Here are the details (this page will be updated multiple times in the next few hours, refresh your browser for the latest version):

Nikon PC NIKKOR 19mm f/4E ED tilt shift lens

US price: $3399.95 | sample photos | pre-order

Primary features:

• A shift mechanism that supports smooth perspective control without the need for lock operation
• Adoption of a new “PC Rotation” mechanism that allows users to freely set the direction of shift and tilt operation from parallel to perpendicular to each other
• Superior optical performance that begins with excellent resolution all the way to the edges of the frame, making the most of high-pixel-count digital SLR camera capabilities
• Adoption of Nano Crystal Coat, that enables sharp and clear images in which ghost and flare is effectively reduced with superior antireflection characteristics
• Highly durable fluorine coat that effectively repels dust, water, grease, and dirt applied to the outer surface of the lens element at the extreme front of the lens
• When used with cameras other than the D5, D4 series, D3 series, D810 series, D500, or Df, some combinations of shift and rotation may not be possible due to the fact that the lens comes into contact with the camera body.
• As this lens is equipped with an electromagnetic aperture, it is not compatible with D2- or D1-series, D200, D100, D90, D80, D70-series, D60, D50, D40-series, or D3000 digital SLR cameras, film SLR cameras, or Nikon 1 series cameras.
• More at nikon.com

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR lens

US price: $2799.95 | sample photos | pre-order

Primary features:

• Adoption of fluorite and High Refractive Index (HRI) lens elements, as well as a magnesium-alloy parts ensure superior agility with a lighter weight compared to the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
• Thorough adoption of anti-dust and waterdrop-resistant structure with which all moving parts of the lens barrel are sealed against dust and water droplets
• Nikon’s exclusive fluorine coat has been applied to the external surface of the front lens element
  This highly durable fluorine coat effectively repels dust, water droplets, grease, and dirt, and has superior anti-reflection characteristics that contribute to the capture of clear images
• Consistently superior resolution, all the way to the edges of the frame, throughout the entire zoom range
• Nano Crystal Coat adopted for its superior anti-reflection effects and effective reduction of ghost and flare for sharp, clear images
• Vibration Reduction (VR) function optimized for sports photography with built-in SPORT mode, which is also effective with movie recording
  This enables comfortable high-speed continuous shooting with no drop in frame rate or increase in release time lag
• VR performance immediately after the camera is turned on has been greatly increased compared to the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
• In NORMAL mode, the VR function provides an effect equivalent to a shutter speed 4.0 stops* faster with measurement in accordance with CIPA standards
  With the employment of a newly developed algorithm, barrel vibration transmitted to the hands and sound caused when the AF drive starts/stops are remarkably reduced and suppressed
• AF tracking performance for subjects with unpredictable movement, including those whose speed of movement changes and those that move quickly toward the camera, has been increased
• Adoption of an electromagnetic diaphragm mechanism enables stable exposure control, even with high-speed continuous shooting
• Compared to the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II, minimum focus distance throughout the entire zoom range is reduced from 1.4 m to 1.1 m, and maximum reproduction ratio increased from 0.11x to 0.21x
• Positioning of the zoom ring near the front of the lens and the focus ring closer to the mount ensures a better grip when shooting
• Four focus function buttons that enable quick and certain focusing are positioned so that they are readily accessible regardless of shooting orientation (horizontal or vertical)
• Extremely durable bearings adopted for the tripod collar ring, enabling quick and smooth switching between horizontal and vertical shooting orientation
• More at nikon.com

Full press release:

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Here is the Google translated press release for the two new Nikon lenses:

Full control perspective with a new lens with tilt and shift mechanism PC NIKKOR 19mm f / 4E ED

Nikon presents the first FX-format lens with perspective control function (PC) equipped with two mechanisms of rotation. This new level of flexibility in the area of composition. The PC NIKKOR 19mm f / 4E ED is designed for photographers with a unique sense of space and makes it ideal in architectural photography, art and landscape.
The angle of view and unique opportunities tilt and shift, and most importantly rotation tilt relative to the slide, and the whole optical system make NIKKOR 19mm f / 4E ED with manual focus allows photographers to take pictures with the ideal starting point. Both the top roll and the shift can be controlled separately or simultaneously, which resembles the movements of the camera format. Photographers gain thanks to excellent control over the focal plane and can easily – by using the shift – get pictures without the effect of the convergence line. Using the tilt feature can also take pictures of landscapes, where all plans will be sharp – without ever closing the aperture, as in the case of standard lenses. The angle of view equivalent focal length of 19 mm is ideal for shooting large objects and space, and unique optical design of the lens minimizes the typical wide-angle lens distortion – even at the edges of the frame.

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Nikon PC NIKKOR 19mm f/4E ED tilt shift lens

• To support the smooth tilt shooting, equipped with a lock operation unnecessary of the shift mechanism
• New equipped with a PC Revolving mechanism that can be set free to shift and operating direction of the tilt to perpendicular from parallel
• Lens construction: 13 group 17 sheets (three ED lens, two aspherical lens)
• Minimum focusing distance: 0.25m
• Aperture number of blades: 9 sheets (circular aperture)
• Size: 89mm × 124mm
• Weight: about 885g
• Nano Crystal Coat-fluorine coating
• Shipping Date: October 28,

I can now confirm that tonight, around midnight EST Nikon will announce the previously rumored two lenses. Here are the expected US prices:

• PC NIKKOR 19mm f/4E ED tilt shift lens: $4,000
• AF-S NIKKOR 70–200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR lens: $3,200

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The Japanese website Digicame-info leaked the prices of the upcoming two new Nikkor lenses:

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