It seems that the camera companies are not taking any time off as in previous years and are introducing new products during the summer months. Nikon & Canon, respectively have announced 2 very different lenses that are quite interesting that may capture your attention. First, let's take a look at Nikon's new 18-300mm VR Zoom Lens (Yes, I said 18 to 300mm!)...
Building on the popularity and versatility of Nikon’s telephoto zoom lens lineup which includes both the NIKKOR 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 and 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lenses, their new
18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens is Nikon’s longest focal range ever, with an astounding 16.7X ultrahigh ratio zoom range. The DX-format 18-300mm VR lens is surprisingly compact, lightweight and covers a focal range from wide-angle 18mm to super-telephoto 300mm, equivalent to a focal length of 27mm to 450mm in FX/35mm format. At the 300mm focal length setting, the lens’ large f/5.6 aperture enables photographers to shoot at faster shutter speeds with shallow depth-of-field. This new super telephoto zoom lens is ideal for taking stills when travelling and for all around general photography including landscapes, portraits and distant subjects. The 18-300mm lens is also excellent for recording HD video as it can be used for wide establishing shots, medium close-up shots and extreme telephoto sequences when the users want to separate the subject from the background.
The construction of the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens consists of 19 optical elements in 14 groups with three Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass elements that effectively minimize chromatic aberration, even at the widest aperture settings, and three aspherical lens elements that virtually eliminate aberrations at wide aperture settings. The new lens also incorporates a nine rounded blade diaphragm to help achieve a natural looking dramatic separation between subject and background.The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR also has a dedicated zoom lock switch which secures the lens barrel at its minimum length and will prevent the lens from sliding during transportation. Additionally, the 18-300mm VR lens is ideal for capturing close-ups with great detail, as it offers a 1.48 ft. minimum focusing distance at 300mm, as well as a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:3.2X.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have Canon's 40mm 2.8 PANCAKE Lens. The EF 40mm f/2.8 STM is Canon's first EF pancake lens with a fixed focal length of 40mm and wide f/2.8 aperture, making it ideal for photographers who want a versatile, compact and lightweight lens for portrait, reportage, travel or landscape situations. Precision control over the circular, seven-blade aperture is enabled by the EMD, producing a beautiful bokeh effect and an aspheric lens with Super spectra coatings ensures optimal image quality from the centre of the lens to the periphery for stunning shots of practically any subject.This lens features a new stepper motor technology (STM), enabling fast, continuous focus when recording moving subjects - ensuring movies will be smoother and clearer than ever before.
Offering enhanced AF performance with high-speed, high-precision focusing, this new lens makes it easy for photographers to capture more spontaneous shots, with exceptional detail and clarity. This is particularly useful for documentary, action or travel photography. With a minimum focusing distance of 0.3m respectively, the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM will allow you to get even closer to the action while keeping the subject in perfect focus.
The Canon EF 40mm Pancake Lens is in stock at Camera Wholesalers for $219.95 and Nikon's 18-300mm will be available within the next week for a suggested sale price of $999.95. Call or email us if you're interested in either lens. We'll sail through this holiday week with our weekly camera class tonight at 6:30 PM which will cover
"HD Video For Your DSLR & Camcorder". We'll have our normal store hours through Saturday and we'll be happy to get you ready for the weekend with any photo need you may have! ( Lens images courtesy Of Canon USA & Nikon USA)
(Postscript 7/6/12) - We JUST got the 18-300mm Nikon lens in and we're ready to show (or sell) you one! Come on in!
