Nikon has released two new lenses which offer improved optical performance. One is a wide-angle prime lens and the other a short telephoto unit.
Nikon has launched two new NIKKOR lenses, its AF-S FX 35mm f/1.8G, and an AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR II lens. The 35mm prime (fixed focal length) lens has a fast maximum aperture and Nikon says it’s designed for high-megapixel digital SLRs. It can be used for street photography and low-light photography and it can create a powerful bokeh (background blur) effect. Nikon says it’s a light, fast lens, with a moderately wide field of view.
With an f/1.8 aperture it offers exceptional control over depth of field. Nikon says the lens is made to match high-resolution sensors, and borrowing from its professional version, it offers minimal flare. It’s made up of 11 elements in 8 groups, with one aspherical element and one ED glass element to minimise chromatic aberrations and ensure sharp results.
It also has Nikon’s SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for quiet, fast auto focussing to a minimum distance of 0.25cm. The lens is optimised for FX-format cameras, but it will work with DX format as well.
By contrast, Nikon says its 18-55mm option is a ‘great first lens’. It weighs 195g and comes with a retractable lens mechanism. The 3x zoom covers a popular focal length range. Nikon says it produces sharp, high-contrast photos and HD movies, and it’s fitted with Vibration Reduction technology. The optical design has 11 elements in eight groups, and an aspherical lens element to minimise spherical aberration and other distortions. It also has SWM technology for fast and accurate auto-focusing.
Nikon's NIKKOR 35mm prime lens is ideal for shooting with shallow depth of field.
The 18-55mm lens is an upgrade, lighter and with better optical performance, from its predecessor, according to Nikon.
Nikon says its new NIKKOR 35mm prime lens produces an outstanding bokeh effect and offers excellent low-light performance.
