dSLR Dad

Popular Photography Magazine has published their review of the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens:

The first DX Nikkor with the classic advantages of a high-speed “normal” lens…

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Photozone has published their review of the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G dSLR lens:

Normal primes have a long standing reputation of high quality for an affordable price and the Nikkor AF-S 50 makes no exception in this regard. The lens is able to deliver ver sharp images, at least slightly stopped down.
However it’s not without flaws. Wide open, it lacks a bit sharpness and most of all contrast, vignetting is very high wide open, but that is to be expected on a full frame camera with a moderately priced fast prime. The bokeh is smooth from f/2 to f/2.8 onwards, but a bit nervous wide open, where the lens also shows considerable amount of LoCAs

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Popular Photography Magazine has published their review of the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G dSLR lens:

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Imaging Resource has published their review of the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens:

The 35mm ƒ/1.8G DX fills an obvious hole in Nikon’s lineup, and with its very reasonable price point Nikon may have found a way to ride out the recession. In our tests, the lens performs very well, with good results for sharpness at ƒ/1.8, becoming excellent at ƒ/2.8. Chromatic aberration is visible but not overly objectionable and light falloff is nicely controlled. Distortion is a little high for our tastes, especially if the lens is to be marketed as a ‘’standard” lens. But for the money you can’t beat it, especially if what you’ve had to work with has been an 18-55mm kit zoom.

You can read the complete review at SLR Gear.  As always, you can find more news and reviews at the dSLR Dad Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens Resource Guide.

Photozone has published their test of the Nikon AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED Lens:

The AF-S 60 Micro Nikkor is a worthy successor to a highly regarded lens. It is able to deliver very sharp images (allthough, given Nikon’s recent lens track record, some probably had hoped for even higher resolution figures), the bokeh in general is smooth, vignetting is no issue on a DX camera and the AF is as fast as you’d expect an AF-S drive to be. So except the relatively high CA values and the potentially challenging hood design (for close-up work) there’s nothing really to complain about. Given its moderate price tag, you can’t go wrong with this lens if you’re looking for a decent macro lens that doubles as a moderate and relatively fast tele on your DX camera.

You can read the entire lens test at Photozone.

Digital Photography Review has published their review of the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens:

The AF-S Nikkor 35mm F1.8G DX is a lens which certainly caused a degree of dismay on its release, with many Nikon fans disappointed by the decision to make it compatible with the DX format only. However the main benefit of that decision is plain for all to see – even at its introductory price the lens costs rather less than the venerable AF-Nikkor 35mm F2.0D, despite the addition of an AF-S motor to allow autofocusing on Nikon’s entry-level D40 / D40X / D60 bodies. It’s also less than half the price of the few other DX format standard primes currently on the market (such as the Pentax 35mm F2.8 Macro, Tokina 35mm F2.8 Macro and Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM), so Nikon has managed with this lens to produce the first genuinely inexpensive (sub-$200) fast standard prime designed specifically for digital SLRs.

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Imaging Resource has published their review of the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G Lens:

Released in 2008, the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S is a significant update to the existing Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AF-D, adding weather sealing, rounded diaphragm blades and AF-S focusing (and thus, compatibility to consumer-level Nikon dSLRs). We’ve finished our tests on the lens; for Nikon shooters, will it be time for an upgrade?

You can read the entire review at SLR Gear. As always, you can find more reviews at the dSLR Dad Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G Lens Resource Guide

Nikon Inc. has released their first fixed focal length, fast-aperture DX-format lens for dSLR Dads, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G lens.  This is the first normal focal length fast-aperture prime lens for an APS-sized sensor since the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens. However, while the Sigma sells for around US$425, the DX 35mm f/1.8G lens is only $199.95.   The benefits of this lens are:

• Fast f/1.8 aperture – allows you to shoot in low-light without a flash and achieve a very short depth-of-field which is great for portraits.
• Rounded 7-blade diaphragm – the rounded aperture blades will help out-of-focus image elements have a more natural appearance.  Straight blades can tend to make objects that are out-of-focus have sharp edges.
• 35mm DX format – will give you the traditional “classic” normal focal-length on an APS-sized digital SLR.  Very good for group candid’s and portraits from a  close distance. Of course, this lens is not full-frame, so you wouldn’t want to use it on an FX camera.
• Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM) – gives you the fast, accurate auto-focusing, even on a D40 or D60.
• Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) – What Nikon claims will enhance light transmission efficiency and offers superior color consistency and reduced flare.
• Minimum focus distance of just 1-foot will allow you to still keep your “subject” in focus as they run right up to the camera to say hi.

You can find the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G lens at both Amazon.com and B&H Photo.

Resources

The AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G lens Product Page (Nikon USA)

Download the NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens Brochure (pdf link, Nikon USA)

Nikon USA Tech Support page

Reviews

Photozone - Test Report

The Nikkor AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8 G is able to deliver very sharp pictures wide open already. The bokeh, one of the primary aspects for a fast prime, is well developed and generally pleasing (at least slightly stopped down). There are some drawbacks, though, especially rather high distortions and CAs, both lateral and longitudinal. And although it’s sonic wave driven, the AF is not really a speed demon.

Nonetheless, given its affordable price, the lens performs on a very high level and is a welcome addition the limited range of lenses that can be used as normal primes on DX cameras.

The AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G prime lens brings a Silent Wave Motor to Nikon’s standard prime lenses.  With an ultra-fast f/1.4 aperture, this lens will allow you to photograph in extremely low light.  The other benefit of a big aperture is it’s very small depth-of-field when wide open.  This gives you those nice out-of-focus backgrounds, helping your subject really stand out.  To get a better sense of this, This Week In Photography has an excellent video which gives a visual presentation of how changing your aperture affects your photos.   Other notable features include:

• AF-S Silent Wave Motor enables autofocus for Nikon D40, D40x, and D60 dSLR Dads.
• Rounded 9-blade aperture diaphragm should help out-of-focus elements blur more natural and not seem blotchy.
• Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) enhances light transmission efficiency and offers superior color consistency and reduced flare. Nikon’s value alternative to ED glass in a standard lens.
• Full-frame design will work with FX and DX formats.
• Minimum focus distance of 1.5 feet.
• At 2.9 by 2.1 inches (Diameter x Length) and 9 ounces, it’s a bit bigger than the 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens. However, it is much more compact and lighter than Sigma’s own 50mm F1.4 EX DC HSM Lens.

With an estimated selling price of $440 it is more expensive than the 50mm f/1.4D, but lower than Sigma’s excellent 50mm F1.4 EX DC HSM Lens. But then again, the Sigma and f/1.4D are available now, whereas Nikon’s 50mm f/1.4G doesn’t ship until this December.

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Nikon has unveiled a few new lenses for PMA 2008. Their final introduction is the new PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED, PC (Perspective Control) lens.This lens employs a tilt/shift mechanism that allows you to manipulate image perspective,distortion, and focus in camera. This lens is perfect for the Landscape and Architecture dSLR Dad.

PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED Major Features

• Wide shifting and tilting range (shift: ±11.5 mm; tilt: ±8.5°)
• ±90° lens revolving capability for versatile tilt/shift effects
• Maximum reproduction ratio of 1/2.7 (at 0.21 m/0.7 ft.)
• Three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements for superior sharpness and color correction by effectively minimizing chromatic aberration
• Three aspherical lens elements minimize various types of lens aberration
• Nano Crystal Coat virtually eliminates internal lens element reflections, effectively reducing ghosting and flare
• High-performance Nikon Super Integrated Coating delivers superior color reproduction while substantially reducing ghosting and flare
• Rounded 9-blade diaphragm for more natural appearance of out-of-focus image elements
• Lens aperture can be preset by using aperture ring and aperture stop-down button
• With the Nikon D3 and D300, auto aperture control with electromagnetic diaphragm is possible

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