Nikon to announce a new 80-400 VR lens this week?

[Rienzphotoz]

Nikon Rumors is abuzz with the news of a new Nikkor AF-S 80-400 f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens ... could this prompt Canon to announce a new version of 100-400 L IS in the near future? ... personally I doubt that Canon would.

As posted at http://nikonrumors.com/2013/03/04/nikon-announcement-this-week-2.aspx/#ixzz2MbGnbQ1z
nikon press center Nikon announcement this week

A quick update: the March 14 date is the actual Nikkor AF-S 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR release date for Japan. I expect the shipping date for the two new Coolpix cameras also to be before the end of March. This means that the official announcement should be this week - probably on Wednesday or Thursday (for some reasons Nikon prefers to introduce new products in the middle of the week). The quick availability of the newly announced products makes sense - Nikon wants to sells as much as possible before the end of this quarter (March 31). This is also probably the reason why the Nikon D7100 will be available a week earlier (March 14th). The Nikon instant lens rebates were also extended till March 31st.

This lens has been long overdue for replacement - numerous patents were filed in the past and the lens had a designated internal number for years. My guess is that Nikon had this lens ready for a long time, but their current financial situation pushed them to release in now (together with the D7100 and the new DX compact camera) in order to meet their financial goals. The expected price is ¥275,000 (around $2,900, US price will be lower).

http://nikonrumors.com/#ixzz2MbHdyz00

[RLPhoto]

A little late to the 1998 USM party nikon?

[Rienzphotoz]

I guess its better late than never ... the dark side has been desperately waiting for this lens for a very long time

[Plainsman]

With no new Canon 400/5.6 or 100-400/5.6 in sight this could mean Nikon take over the prosumer 400mm sector particularly if this lens is allied to the 24Mp DX bodies they already have in production.

If this lens is really sharp it should be a great performer with the D7100. Wake up call for Canon - where are your new 400/5.6 lenses?

[hoodlum]

Add in the new crop feature of the D7100 and you can see what Nikon is proposing.  A low price wildlife camera/lens with reasonably good image quality.  Canon will likely respond with an update to the 100-400 lens this year.  I don't think the 400/f5.6 will get replaced but just go EOL. 

The next question is how Canon will respond to the D7100.  A 7D2 for $2k is a different animal at a much higher price.  Canon would need a true upgrade from the D60 when they announce the 70D.  An incremental upgrade would not cut it.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

The new lens has been rumored for about a year, if its like the 24-120 update, it will be a disappointment.
 
I am hoping that it can at least come close to matching the Canon 100-400L.  If its better, that would be a good thing.

[RGF]

I would not expect Canon to announce a new 100-400 before the 200-400.  The 200-400 has been a long time coming (I hard on this forum that the 2000400 was first rumored in 1044 as the Normans invaded England).

[alexanderferdinand]

Wasnt that 1066?
Anyway, the years past by....

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I would not expect Canon to announce a new 100-400 before the 200-400.  The 200-400 has been a long time coming (I hard on this forum that the 2000400 was first rumored in 1044 as the Normans invaded England).

 
But the 100-400mmL has been rumored longer than that.  Didn't they find a Payryus rumoring it in with the dead sea scrolls?

[Canon 14-24]

$2699 for the Nikon 80-400 more than the 70-200 2.8....wayyyy out of most of the "budget" telephoto users price range!

I can see that if a newer version of the Canon is ever released there will be all the same moaning and groaning of the current 100-400 telephoto users on a budget crying foul for price gouging of a newer lens that is over $1k more than the previous version...hmm kinda like the 24-70 II scenario!  I guess no point in waiting for Canon folks on a budget in the telephoto range...might as well stick with your current 100-400 or 70-300L!

[KyleSTL]

$2699 for the Nikon 80-400 more than the 70-200 2.8....wayyyy out of most of the "budget" telephoto users price range!

I can see that if a newer version of the Canon is ever released there will be all the same moaning and groaning of the current 100-400 telephoto users on a budget crying foul for price gouging of a newer lens that is over $1k more than the previous version...hmm kinda like the 24-70 II scenario!  I guess no point in waiting for Canon folks on a budget in the telephoto range...might as well stick with your current 100-400 or 70-300L!

+1 on the price. I would guess Canon's replacement will be in the same ballpark, though, so the advantage is [likely] temporary on Canon's side now, with no guarantees in the future.

[Albi86]

I hope Nikon is not learning to price products from Canon. At 2700$ I would say thanks but no thanks and buy the new Sigma 120-300.

EDIT: I've just seen the Sigma can be preordered for 3600$. Is everybody out of its freaking mind? They make Zeiss lenses look inexpensive and the 100-400 a terrible value for money.

[sushyam]

Announced and on dpreview @$ 2699.95. 4 stop IS.  Available from early April 2013

[Bruce Photography]

Next week I'm taking delivery on the current Nikon 80-400mm.  I assume that it won't be great but at $1350 (with this months rebate) it is 1/2 of the new one.  I'll test out the current one and hope for the best.  I have my eye on the 200-400mm but that is maybe in the next year's budget.  Who knows, Canon could surprise me with a 40MP body that would put me back into using my Canon glass.  The Nikon 200-400 is about $6700 -- has anyone heard what the Canon 200-400 might list out to be?

[psolberg]

A little late to the 1998 USM party nikon?

As a prior owner of a dust blower 100-400, I'd send tat memo to canon....and their 50s inspired push, puller.