The Nikon AF-S 10-24MM F/3.5-4.5G ED DX lens is a new, wide angle lens for Nikon crop-sensor DSLRs – hence the DX designation in the lens name. The 10-24mm lens has 35mm focal length equivalent of 15-36mm. It will be available in May 2009 for a retail price of $899.95.
More details in the press release below.
MELVILLE, N.Y. (APRIL 14, 2009) – Nikon Inc. today announced the next addition to the expansive NIKKOR lineup with the new AF-S DX-NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED lens, giving photographers the opportunity to capture a unique perspective in a variety of shooting environments. Compact and lightweight, the new 2.4x zoom DX-NIKKOR lens offers a focal length of 10 to 24mm, creating a picture angle ranging from 109-degrees to 61-degrees
(FX-format equivalent of 15-36mm) making it ideal for a variety of applications including restrictive interiors, architecture and sweeping landscapes.
“The development and release of the 10-24mm f/ 3.5-4.5 DX-NIKKOR lens continues Nikon’s tradition of providing expertly engineered tools for photographers to realize their unique creative vision,” said Edward Fasano, General Manager for marketing, SLR Systems Products at Nikon Inc. “The ultra wide-angle 10-24mm lens offers DX-format digital SLR shooters the outstanding performance for which NIKKOR optics are well-known and the opportunity to capture dramatic perspectives that only wide-angle lenses can achieve.”
The AF-S DX-NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED lens offers an array of versatile Nikon technologies, including Nikon’s compact Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology for quiet, fast and accurate autofocus performance. An advanced optical formula, featuring two extra-low dispersion (ED) glass and three aspherical lens elements renders stunning images while minimizing distortion, a common problem with ultra wide-angle lenses.
A rounded diaphragm opening, combined with the seven-blade aperture, contributes to the 10-24mm lens’ ability to capture images with soft background effects, referred to by experienced photographers as the “bokeh.” Additionally, the new DX-NIKKOR lens offers the user two focus modes; manual and automatic and features an M/A mode that allows the photographer to quickly switch between the two modes. Both use an internal focusing (IF) design that enhances AF speed and eliminates lens barrel rotation and changes to lens barrel length during focusing.
Fully compatible with Nikon’s complete line of DX-format digital SLR cameras – including the D300, D90, D60, D40 and the newly announced D5000 – the AF-S DX-NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED lens enables photographers to broaden their view in new and interesting ways. FX-format shooters can also benefit from the AF-S DX-NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED, as Nikon’s FX-format cameras – the D3X, D3, and D700 – will automatically apply the DX-Crop Mode when shooting.
The AF-S DX-NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED will be available at Nikon authorized dealers beginning May 2009 at an estimated selling price of $899.95*. For more information, please visit www.nikonusa.com.
I don’t get this one. While I am very happy to see Nikon working on ultra-wide lenses, I just don’t see the specs on this lens being sufficiently different from the 12-24mm f/4 DX already in production at $1100. Essentially, you get a $200 discount for a variable-aperture lens (not especially important on a lens you’re going to shoot at f/16 most of the time anyway). But, my beef is that it’s still $900!
My best guess is, Nikon was trying to make this lens for closer to $600, in order to keep prosumers in a DX body and buying DX lenses. I suspect the DX lineup has a higher profit margin for Nikon due to primarily relying on old R&D and lower build qualities, so it makes business sense to maximize DX sales, especially now at the end of the design cycle when DX technology is long since paid for. But it looks like they couldn’t do it – the same factors making the 12-24 f/4 an expensive $1100 lens are working against this one (large front element size, necessity of having very optically clear treatments to avoid vignetting at the edges).
So I’m kind of meh on this. It just seems duplicative. Or a very small step at best.
I get this completely. There was nothing like the 12-24 when it came out. Since then several superior third party lenses have come out at much lower prices.
The 12-24 is a dog in my opinion. If this lens is even a little sharper, they’d be wise the drop the 12-24 in favor of this lens.
And variable aperture doesn’t equate to crappy optical performance. If it did, the 12-24 would be a superior lens to the 10-20 Sigma. Having shot with both and owned the 10-20 for several years, I can say that this is not the case.
MSRP is what people will pay in advance and for the first few months. If Nikon manages to meet demand levels with production, this will probably drop at least $100 by xmas.