Nikon announced some rather drool inducing product today. The new bodies and lenses have me looking into my camera bag and feeling rather inadequate. I turn my gaze into my wallet and find myself lacking there too.
We’ll discuss my failing self-image later… on to my wish list… (someone pass Santa a note in gym class please):
New lens please – Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
My absolute favorite lens for my Nikon N90 was my Nikkor 20mm 2.8. The 20mm when used on a film camera was just shy of fish-eye and gave me a view of the world which almost matched what I saw with my eyes. Even today I’ll put on this fixed lens because it produces such great images. I do have a wide zoom, an 18-55 hand-me-down lens… but it just doesn’t go nearly wide enough (and the quality is, of course, questionable).
Now, at the very wide end of Nikon’s new lens announcement is a lens which gets very close to the 20mm images I got on my N90. The 14-24mm translates to 21mm on my D100… close enough. I’ll once again be able to get the interior perspectives I see in my head… but not until I come up with a spare $1,800.
New body please – Nikon D300
Back in 2002 I made the switch to digital and have never regretted it. The release of the D100 gave me a DSLR I could afford and a size I could stomach. I’ve always drooled over the D1 & D2 cameras and the new D3 is no different. The features are incredible (view and take pictures remotely from your laptop: sweet) but the size is still for the pros.
When Rob bought the D200 I was certainly tempted but I’m glad I waited. Nikon’s new prosumer body, the D300, has some really great features and twice as many pixels as my D100. The most interesting thing I’d like to try out is the new “liveview” mode which allows you to use the LCD for confirming framing and focus before taking the picture. The reason I didn’t get the D200 was I didn’t have the scratch… at $1,800 I don’t think I have the means for the D300 either. <sigh>
3 replies on “New Nikon gear announced… Reeves considers a life of crime”
Sweet. I’m totally getting a d300.
And to make the drooling even worse, the 14-24mm is full frame so at the middle of its range (on a D3 or film camera) it’s as wide as your old 20mm.
Mike G: I totally agree.
It does, however, make me a little hesitant about any future lens shopping. I just happen to be in the happy state that my only DX lens is the 18-55 on indefinite loan to me. When I buy my next lens to I go for a spendy full frame lens to make sure it’s future-proof or do save a few bones and get a good quality DX lens? If I get a DX lens I may have to toss it if Nikon decides to only make low end (e.g. D40) bodies in the future (IOW if the D400 is full frame).