The price of the Nikon 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II lens just dropped by $1,000 to $5,647.90 at Amazon and B&H (still listed for $6,649 at Adorama). The grey market version is currently priced at $6,299. I am not sure what is going on since Nikkor tele-photo lenses are rarely discounted and this lens is not part of the ongoing rebates. One possible scenario is that Nikon may soon update this lens with a fluorite element (FL).
FIY: the price of the 200-400mm f/4G lens when announced was $6,999.95.
A grey market Nikon D750 camera with 24-120mm f/4 lens is currently $2,199.99 on eBay (regular price after $600 rebate: $2,996.95). This offer is valid for the next 17 hours.
A body only D750 camera (also grey market) is now $1,767 (regular price: $2,296.95).
→ Jessops UK is currently offering £400 trade in discount on the Nikon D810 when you trade in any camera.
→ The Nikon D810 + 24-120mm f/4 lens combo is now $900 off in the US: Adorama | B&H | Amazon (see all current US rebates here).
→ Grey market Nikon D810 is now $2,299.99 on eBay.
→ Demo Zeiss 135mm f/2 Apo Sonnar T* ZF.2 lens for Nikon F-mount now available for $1,599.99 on eBay (regular: $2,122) – it comes with US warranty.
→ Sigma announced an Arca-Swiss compatible tripod socket TS-81 for their 150-600mm Sports lens (here is one of the first reviews of the lens)
→ Tamron also announced a new tripod mount ring for their SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD lens.
→ The latest Samyang 135mm f/2 ED UMC lens (Nikon F mount) is now in stock.
→ Up to $650 off Nikon 1 V2 camera kits at B&H (many V2 kits are already listed as discontinued).
Last month Venus Optics announced their new 60mm f/2.8 Ultra-Macro lens ($379) – the world’s first 2:1 magnification lens with infinity focus. Here is a review of this lens by Julian Eichhoff (Website | Facebook | Twitter, see also his Samyang 12mm f/2.8 fish-eye lens review):
The Venus 60mm f/2.8 macro lens
Venus Optics, a Chinese manufacturer, released a 60 mm f2.8 ultra macro-lens. It is a special lens, because it can achieve a magnification of 2:1 (comparison: The 105 mm f2.8 Micro Nikkor “only” achieves a ratio of 1:1).
If you are not familiar with these numbers: The reproduction ratio describes the size of the image on the sensor in relation to the real-life size of an object. At 1:1 a 10 mm object will produce a 10 mm image on the sensor. At 2:1 the image of the very same object will be 20 mm.
“Lens diffraction in photography” is the third [NR] article by Steve Perry (website | YouTube | Facebook). You can check also his previous posts “How to use Nikon’s AF-ON and back button autofocus” and “How to use a polarizing filter“.
Diffraction – it’s a topic that is frequently floated throughout internet forums and camera clubs, especially among landscape and high resolution shooters. The problem is, those discussions can leave you more confused than a chameleon in a bowl of Skittles.
In this video, we’ll go over all the essentials you need to know about diffraction in photography and kick the myths to the curb. We’ll dive into just what diffraction is, what it looks like, and what causes it.
And, most importantly, we’ll look at how diffraction can impact your photography and what you can do about it.
The video uses example after example to tackle burning questions such as:
So, if you’re ready to discover the truth about diffraction and its impact on your photography, go ahead and press that play button:
Frozen Lighthouse
For this image, I only needed F/9.5 to pull it off. I had experimented with F/6.7 and then F/8, but the truth is those F/stops just weren’t getting me the foreground to background sharpness I needed. So, F/9.5 and a little hyperfocal distance saved the day. While my D810 is seeing slight diffraction at F/9.5, it made little difference – and was essentially gone with just a very slight amount of sharpening. I feel like I can print this about as large as I’d ever like. Captured with a D810, Nikon 28mm 1.8G, F/9.5.
This is what I expect Nikon to announce in the next few weeks:
→ Nikon D7200 camera.
→ Nikon 1 J5 mirrorless camera.
→ Nikon Coolpix camera with large sensor:
Q: Any new Coolpix A? Any plans to respond to Canon and Sony’s 1-inch sensor fixed-lens compact cameras?
A: Sony’s 1-inch CSC is definitely very successful. We will have a competing product in the future.
Rumors for later (2015/2016) Nikon announcements:
The new Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports lens for Nikon is now shipping again. There’s also a new set of Sigma 105mm WR filters available for the lens (see pictures after the break). Check pricing and availability at:
Additional photos:
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