Nikon today has announced three new lenses: the PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5D ED Tilt/Shift, AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED and AF-S DX Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR. In addition, the company has said that two additional PC (perspective control) lenses are in the works: a PC-E Micro Nikkor 45mm f/2.8D ED and a PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D ED.

 

PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5D ED Tilt/Shift

 

Nikon's widest perspective control lens to date, the PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5D ED Tilt/Shift lens provides up to +/-8.5º of tilt and +/-11.5mm of shift, can be rotated 90° left or right with click stops at 30° increments, offers automatic aperture control when used with the Nikon D3 and D300 and electronic rangefinder-style focus confirmation when manual focusing with a range of Nikon SLR bodies. The lens incorporates five mechanical controls: an aperture ring, aperture stop-down button, focusing ring, shift knob and tilt knob.

 

The PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5D ED Tilt/Shift utilizes both ED glass and aspherical elements and features Nikon's Nano Crystal Coat lens coating. It has a maximum aperture of f/3.5, a minimum aperture of f/32, a close focus distance of 8.3 inches (21cm) and is intended for use on both FX and DX Nikon digital SLRs (though the built-in flash of certain models will interfere with the full range of lens movement). Filter size is 77mm, and a bayonet hood and soft case are included. It has an estimated street price of US$1929 in the U.S. and is expected to ship in the spring of 2008.

 

Nikon has also indicated that in the summer of 2008 they will ship the PC-E Micro Nikkor 45mm f/2.8D ED and PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D ED. Prices have not been set for either lens.

 

For more information on tilt/shift lenses for SLR bodies, see this Wikipedia entry. Nikon's new 24mm lens is similar in basic specifications to Canon's TS-E 24mm f/3.5L Tilt-Shift model.

 

AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED

 

Nikon's newest macro lens features up to 1:1 image magnification, internal Silent Wave focusing, a close focus distance of 7.3 inches (18.5cm), ED glass, Nano Crystal Coat lens coating and a nine-blade diaphragm. It has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, a minimum aperture of f/32, is intended for use on both FX and DX Nikon digital SLRs and comes with a soft case. The AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED has an estimated street price of US$549.95 in the U.S. and is to ship in March 2008.

AF-S DX Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

 

Rounding out Nikon's lens announcements is a DX model, the AF-S DX Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, which provides a field of view roughly equivalent to a 24-128mm zoom on a full-frame camera. It incorporates both ED glass and aspherical elements, Super Integrated Coating (SIC) lens coating, a variable maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.6, Nikon's VR II stabilization technology (which is spec'd to provide the ability to shoot at shutter speeds up to four stops slower than would otherwise be possible without camera shake) and a 67mm filter size. It has an estimated street price of US$649 in the U.S., with deliveries to begin in March 2008.