Nikon delivers wide-angle complement for D600
Its new 18-35mm lens comes in at a more reasonable price for buyers of that camera.
Nikon hasn't lacked for full-frame wide-angle zoom lenses -- the 14-24mm f.8 is a yumburger -- but with the shipping of the D600 new Nikon adopters faced a rather limited choice of lenses that didn't cost as much as the camera. Nikon rectifies that with a new AF-S 18-35mm f3.5-4.5 FX lens which is better-priced to go with that camera at $749.95.
The lens is ostensibly designed to be compact and lightweight (about 13.6 ounces) to match the lighter D600 body as well. Other specs include a minimum focus distance of about 11 inches and a 7-bladed aperture, plus the incorporation of internal focus, Nikon's SWM (Silent Wave Motor) and SIC (Super Integrated Coating) technologies.
Nikon plans to ship the lens in early March.
And for those of you who've been eagerly awaiting news of the 800mm f5.6E the company previewed last summer, the long wait is over. It will ship in April for $17,899.95. If 800mm isn't long enough for your needs, the lens ships with a 1.25x teleconverter for an effective focal length of 1000mm (FX) or 1500mm (DX); the maximum aperture drops to f7.1 when equipped with the teleconverter. It's got fluorite elements and uses Nikon's Nano Crystal coating, has an electronic aperture control, and if you've got the upper body strength to shoot one of these handheld you'll be glad for the VR.