Nikon Also Announces Development of the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S Super Telephoto Prime Lens
MELVILLE, NY (December 13, 2021) – Today, Nikon Inc. announced the NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8, the latest lens to expand the impressive NIKKOR Z portfolio, putting the potential for boundless creativity and maximum versatility into the hands of enthusiasts. The NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is an affordable and appealing choice for those ready to step up to a full-frame medium zoom lens with the benefits of a constant f/2.8 aperture including gorgeous, softly blurred backgrounds and excellent low light capability.
“Since the beginning of this year, we have announced numerous NIKKOR Z lenses for all levels of creators, which have been commended for their unrivaled quality and edge-to-edge sharpness,” said Jay Vannatter, Executive Vice President, Nikon Inc. “Now we are continuing this winning streak by adding an extremely enticing option for enthusiasts in the rapidly growing full-frame market.”
The new NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is an attractive value for all types of photographers and creators, providing a lightweight lens with a versatile focal range and an f/2.8 constant aperture, all for an affordable price. Capable of everything from impressive portraits with a soft background blur to extremely detailed landscape photos, striking low-light ambience or a small-footprint video production, the 28-75mm f/2.8 covers it all. The fixed aperture of f/2.8 enables a pleasing depth of field with natural bokeh to emphasize the focus on the subject. The lightweight lens weighs only 1.2lbs (565g), making it incredibly easy to pack, carry casually or wield for an all-day event. When paired with a Nikon Z 5, the new 28-75mm f/2.8 creates a compelling combination as a carry-anywhere, cost-effective full-frame kit, or paired with the Z 6II to step up content creation to the next level.
The NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 offers many of the benefits of its highly acclaimed sibling, the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S. While both lenses are extremely versatile options and serve as staples in every photographer’s bag, the 28-75mm f/2.8 is approximately 30% lighter with a slimmer profile. The lens features a control ring for maximum customization, and excels in video creation due to minimal focus breathing and near-silent operation. The new 28-75mm f/2.8 also features a minimum focusing distance of only 0.19m (at 28mm), making it a great option for cuisine, table-scapes and intricate fashion.
Primary features of the NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8:
- The NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 delivers incredible sharpness and a bright f/2.8 aperture, affording the ability to shoot in low light or produce images with a natural and pleasing bokeh.
- The lens weighs only 1.2 lbs oz (565g), which is 8.4 oz lighter than the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S. In addition to its portability, the lens is well-suited for gimbal use for content creation and video productions.
- The minimum focus distance of 0.62ft (0.19m) allows users to capture intricate details.
- By employing a stepping motor (STM) with superior response, the lens quickly focuses on moving subjects during still-shooting or video recording. The extremely quiet STM greatly reduces the level of lens drive and operational sounds during focusing and video recording.
- With the control ring, users can focus manually or change ISO sensitivity, aperture and exposure compensation in stills and video. The smooth rotation enables precise focus control. The knurling employed improves operation.
- The lens is sealed to prevent dust and water droplets from entry, enabling use in everyday circumstances without worry.* It also features effective antifouling coating for easy cleaning.
Development of the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S
Nikon is pleased to announce the development of the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, a super-telephoto prime lens for full-frame (Nikon FX-format) Nikon Z mirrorless cameras.
The NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S is an S-Line lens, delivering powerful rendering with outstanding resolution while thoroughly reducing color bleeding. By adopting a PF (Phase Fresnel) lens that enables a compact and lightweight body, it is highly portable despite being a super-telephoto lens. With its high rendering performance and superb mobility, this lens will be an excellent choice for many types of photographers ranging from advanced amateurs to professionals.
Pricing and Availability
The NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 lens will be available in early 2022 for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $1199.95**. Additional information about the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S will be available at a later date. For more information about the latest Nikon products, including other NIKKOR Z lenses and the complete collection of Z series cameras, please visit nikonusa.com.
If they can make that 800mm 2.5Kg I'm buying a Z9 and running two systems!
Tamron: we will develop for RF mount
Canon: "there will be no third party lenses"... --> although I can't such an statement of a Canon exec online.
It appears to be a rebranded Tamron so Nikon aren't expending resources on it. Tamron get to sell lenses to Zed mount that just work, Nikon users get a cheap and popular lens. I could see Canon doing the same.
beside that a better price
more lens to choose will always be good
I'm taking a different point of view. 800mm does have its place and would keep Photo Bunny at a safe distance from predatory polar bears. I do have the Canon 800mm f/11, but it is rather specialised for me and I can do as well with my 100-500 plus extenders for all practical purposes. The Nikkor 800mm f/6.3 is only a 1/3rd stop darker than the Nikon 800mm f/5.6 and should give better IQ than the Canon lens and suffer less from diffraction at f/8.8 with a 1.4x extender. However, the Canon lens can be easily carried on hikes, thrown into hand- or hold-luggage without much fear because of its size, weight and cheapness, and my wife and I could deploy it and the 100-500mm between us when we need extra focal length on trips.
In a nutshell, I prefer the way Canon is going: a much lighter body of the R3, and presumably its high resolution counterpart, than the Z9; the light R5 and R6 with their superior AF and lighter lenses currently available for the likes of me. I had a great time with the Nikon D850 and D500 and 500mm f/5.6 PF, and the image quality they produce is still at the very top. But, I can do just about as well with the R5 and RF 100-500mm and have their awesome AF, as well as the really light weight RF 100-400mm, and the R6. So, I have sold off all my Nikon gear, at very little loss as I bought it all used at good prices. Nikon makes great cameras and lenses but is not moving in the right direction for me. Those who can cope with the weight will differ as Nikon will deliver the goods on quality.
Which 800 mm f/8 lens are you talking about?
And should the Nikon 800 mm f/6.3 not be 1/3 of a stop brighter than such a lens?
So basically, this is the evolution of Nikon's F mount 800mm f5.6 - it's shorter, much slimmer and almost definitely much lighter (maybe even hand holdable?!). It's hard to comment on pricing, considering Canons and Nikon 800 f/5.6 are over $13k. It would probably be cheaper, as it's slightly slower in aperture and the glass elements will be smaller due to its slim profile. Overall, this looks to be a great upcoming lens for Nikon!
However, I'm unsure if Canon/Sony users with the 600mm f/4 with TCs will be as attracted to this lens as much vs Nikon users, simply because the Canon/Sony lenses have undergone significant amounts of weight reduction, coming just above 3.2kg - Nikon's equivalent is ~ 4kg. Depends on how much weight Nikon can save, the price of the lens, and if the next gen of Z cameras can get Z9 level tracking abilities for those who don't like the form factor and weight of the Z9.
The length of the 800mm PF will be important too...
For example, I use the TS-E 17L and TS-E 24L II a lot. AFAIK, Sony does not even make E-mount TS/PC lenses. There are a couple of options among the 'wide range of third party lenses' for the E mount, but the Rokinon 24 TS is optically weak, and the Laowa 15mm is shift only, no tilt. However, my two TS-E lenses adapt better than perfectly to the RF mount (better than perfect because the drop-in filter adapter means I can use convenient small ND and CPL filters for the TS-E 17 instead of the 145mm salad plates I used to carry for it).