I have just been notified that our friends at B&H are already accepting pre-orders for the Nikon D7100. Here are the links for the body-only and body+kit options:
Given its impressive specifications, I expect the D7100 to sell really well with its $1,199 price. The expected availability of the D7100 is March 21, 2013.
These are the same Nikon D7100 image samples as the ones presented at Nikon.com. I am providing these images here in case Nikon websites go down (as they usually do), being too busy serving millions of requests. All EXIF data is attached to the original images.
Please keep in mind that the below images are taken in RAW and simply converted to JPEG via Capture NX 2. No other editing has been done, including sharpening. The images look quite detailed at 100% zoom, looks like lack of an anti-aliasing filter will produce very sharp images. I wonder how Nikon is going to deal with potential moire problems. It will be interesting to see how the D7100 will compare to the D7000 in terms of image quality. This will be revealed in detail in my future Nikon D7100 review.
Link to download the image | Shutter Speed: 1/500, Aperture: f/11, ISO: 100, Lens: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR
Nikon has just announced the Nikon D7100, an update to the existing Nikon D7000 camera that was released back in September of 2010. After more than two years of waiting, many DX shooters are quite anxious to see what features Nikon added to the already excellent DSLR. Many Nikon fans and existing D300/D300s owners are also probably wondering if they will soon see an update to the high-end DX line in the form of a D400 that has remained nothing more than another rumor. With today’s Nikon D7100 announcement, we can mark the death of the high-end DX line – read below on the reasons why I think we might never see a D400.
Even though quite a few of our readers are beginner photographers, we often talk about things that, while simple to us, are much more difficult to understand for those with less experience and knowledge. That is why we strive to share our experience as someone shared theirs with us when we were just starting. The most difficult part for us is not the writing itself, however – mind you, we aren’t holding anything back. The most difficult part is becoming the beginner again so as to remember all the questions we had when we started. Make no mistake, we’ve had plenty of those. I, too, didn’t know what aperture and shutter speed was. I, too, had a hard time getting to know my gear in such a way I would be able to get quality results from it. I remember the painful transition from being a photography theoretician, an arm-chair expert, to one who uses his technical knowledge without thinking about it for the sake of photography, not comparisons and pixel-peeping. Thank goodness that part of my life didn’t last more than a few days. But before any of these questions came to my mind, I, too, had to make what seemed like the most difficult choice of all at the time. The first one, the one that gave way to all the other questions that followed and follow to this day. Where to start? Which camera to buy first?
Your first camera is not just a piece of equipment. It’s your entry into photography world. The “buy-the-most-expensive” logic doesn’t work here even if you have the means to do so. You have to get it right. Your first camera has to be “just enough”. It will either be too difficult, too heavy, too mind-boggling with all the functions, or too dull and alien. It may turn you to another system, or from photography altogether. Or it will fit you like a glove and lead you down the path of learning everything, and then learning, again, of what’s actually important. So, lets start from the start. In this “Which Nikon DSLR to Buy First?” article, I will introduce you to several Nikon DSLRs – you will not find the best camera here, as there isn’t such a thing. But, hopefully, you will find the best camera for you as a beginner photographer, one you are going to learn with and love for years to come.
In this article, I will do a comparison between the new Nikon 70-200mm f/4G VR and its bigger brother, the 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II. This comparison is expanded even further in my Nikon 70-200mm f/4G VR review. I have been using both lenses for the past month, along with two other similar lenses from Tamron and Sigma, so the review will include direct comparisons between all four lenses, along with bokeh and other lens feature comparisons. Let’s take a look at the detailed lens specifications, along with a side by side comparison to the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II:
| Feature | Nikon 70-200mm f/4G VR | Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Type | Nikon F-Bayonet | Nikon F-Bayonet |
| Focal Length Range | 70-200mm | 70-200mm |
| Zoom Ratio | 2.9x | 2.9x |
| Maximum Aperture | f/4 | f/2.8 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/32 | f/22 |
| Format | FX/35mm | FX/35mm |
| Maximum Angle of View (DX-format) | 22°50′ | 22°50′ |
| Minimum Angle of View (DX-format) | 8° | 8° |
| Maximum Angle of View (FX-format) | 34°20′ | 34°20′ |
| Minimum Angle of View (FX-format) | 12°20′ | 12°20′ |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | 0.274x | 0.12x |
| Lens Elements | 20 | 21 |
| Lens Groups | 14 | 16 |
| Compatible Format(s) | FX, DX, 35mm Film | FX, DX, 35mm Film |
| VR (Vibration Reduction) | Yes | Yes |
| VR Technology | 3rd Generation | 2nd Generation |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Distance Information | Yes | Yes |
| Nano Crystal Coat | Yes | Yes |
| ED Glass Elements | 3 | 7 |
| Super Integrated Coating | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| AF-S (Silent Wave Motor) | Yes | Yes |
| Internal Focusing | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 3.28 ft. | 4.6 ft. |
| Focus Mode | Auto, Manual, Auto/Manual | Auto, Manual, Auto/Manual |
| G-type | Yes | Yes |
| Filter Size | 67mm | 77mm |
| Accepts Filter Type | Screw-on | Screw-on |
| Dimensions | 3.1×7.0 in. (Diameter x Length), 78.0×178.5mm (Diameter x Length) | 3.4×8.1 in. (Diameter x Length), 87×205.5mm (Diameter x Length) |
| Weight | 30.0 oz. (850g) | 54.3 oz. (1540g) |
| Supplied Accessories | LC-67 Snap-on Front Lens Cap 67mm, HB-60 Bayonet Hood, LF-4 Rear Lens Cap, CL-1225 Semi-Soft Case | HB-48 Bayonnet Hood, CL-M2 Case, 77mm lens cap, LF-1 Rear lens cap |
There are a couple of differences worth noting here. While the Nikon 70-200mm f/4G has a maximum aperture of f/4, its minimum aperture is also smaller at f/32 (versus f/22 on the 70-200mm f/2.8G). Next, it obviously has a simpler optical design with 20 elements in 14 groups, while the 70-200mm f/2.8G has 21 elements in 16 groups. The new Nikon 70-200mm f/4G VR also comes with a brand new, third generation Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, which Nikon claims can provide up to 5 stops of image stabilization. This is interesting, because while the new 70-200mm f/4 lens is one stop slower than the 70-200mm f/2.8, in some situations it regains the light loss with better VR control. After playing with the lens for sometime, I must admit that the VR on the 70-200mm f/4 is in fact better. I am sure Nikon will be using this new VR system in all future lenses, because it really works. The number of ED elements in the 70-200mm f/4G lens design is fewer: 3 versus 7 on the 70-200mm f/2.8G. A big advantage, in my opinion for the 70-200mm f/4G is its closer focusing distance of 3.28 ft versus 4.6 ft on the f/2.8G version. Because the barrel size is smaller, the filter size is also smaller – 67mm versus 77mm. And lastly, it is a smaller and significantly cheaper lens. But what about everything else? Looks like the rest of the features are pretty much exactly the same. Both lenses have a 9 blade diaphragm, both are coated with Nano Coated glass, both have Super Integrated Coating, AF-S motor and Internal Focusing.
Thanks to all these optical features, the Nikon 70-200mm f/4G VR performs extremely well compared to the f/2.8 version. Take a look at the MTF chart of the 70-200mm f/4G compared to the MTF chart of the 70-200mm f/2.8G at 70mm (wide):
Two highly regarded Sony cameras have received generous instant savings at B&H, our most trusted reseller. Both SLT-A77 and NEX-7 mirrorless camera offer great 24 megapixel APS-C sensors, durable magnesium alloy bodies and extensive manual control with lots of professional features, and are of the most desired cameras among Sony users.
Traditionally, Sony offer a lot of bang for your buck (a strategy to counter photographic pedigree of its fierce competition). Now, with instant saving, they are even cheaper, especially compared to competition. We were very impressed with the A77 (click here to read our review) and although NEX-7 has not yet been reviewed, it’s baby brother, the NEX-6, left Nasim with positive feelings as well (click here to read our reaview of the NEX-6).
Along with the Nikon 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED lens, the Nikon 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR lens has also been announced (the first announcement was posted here). Initially, I wanted to post both announcements in a single article, but after reading about the new 800mm lens in detail, I decided to do a separate post on it. Why? Because the new 800mm has a lot of new technological advancements that I believe will make their way into future Nikkor lenses. At a jaw-dropping price of $17,899.95, the Nikon 800mm f/5.6 is surely not for everyone. However, considering what this lens has to offer, there is no other equivalent lens on the market today in terms of optical performance – more on this below.
Until the 800mm f/5.6 came out, Nikon’s longest super telephoto lens was the Nikon 600mm f/4G VR. To get longer focal lengths, one would have to use teleconverters – 2.0x with the 400mm f/2.8 to get to 800mm f/5.6, 1.4x with the 500mm f/4 to get to 700mm f/5.6 or 1.4x with the 600mm f/4 to get to 840mm f/5.6. Unfortunately, no other TC combination resulted in acceptably good autofocus performance and accuracy. So why do we need a dedicated 800mm f/5.6 lens, if one could get to 800mm with teleconverters? Because teleconverters degrade image quality, AF performance and AF accuracy, whereas properly arranging optical elements inside the lens can yield maximum performance. So a true 800mm lens will always yield better results than a shorter lens with a teleconverter attached to it. In addition, with the latest generation Nikon DSLRs that can autofocus at small apertures up to f/8, one could get even longer focal lengths with a separate teleconverter. Which is exactly what Nikon did with the 800mm that ships with the TC800-1.25E teleconverter that provides additional magnification to get to 1000mm. Sounds like an overkill, but it has its uses – whether in sport, news, wildlife photography or other special needs.
Along with a slew of new point and shoot cameras (which we at Photography Life do not particularly care about), Nikon announced an updated version of the Nikon 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5 lens – a budget lens designed for both DX and FX cameras. The new Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED replaces the 13 year old 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5D lens, which had never been a popular lens to begin with. So it was about time to update the lens with better optics, AF-S and other newer technologies.
So what does the updated 18-35mm bring to the table compared to the previous model? First of all, the focus motor has been replaced with the latest generation AF-S motor, which means that autofocus will work on any modern Nikon DSLR, including entry-level models like D3200 without a built-in motor. Second, the optical formula has been updated – the new 18-35mm has 12 elements in 8 groups, versus 11 elements in 8 groups on the AF-D version. More ED and Aspherical lens elements have also been added for better clarity and contrast. Third, thanks to this updated optical design, the minimal focus distance has also been shortened to 0.28m from 0.33m. Fourth, the new lens is of “G” type, which means that the aperture ring is no longer there. Fifth, the lens exterior has been completely redesigned to make it look just like all modern AF-S lenses and the typical M/A / M switch has also been added. Lastly, the new 18-35mm is slightly larger than the old version and also weighs 15 grams heavier.
