Nikon, more fast primes please...

I thought I'd take a break from the lighting setup posts to do a bit of commentary on equipment. No, I'm not an authority on equipment, nor have I obtained or worked with the variety of gear that many professionals have, but I do have some comments that I'd like to throw out there just for fun.

I am a Nikon shooter, as you know, and the biggest complaint disappointment I currently have with the Nikon line is its lack of vast prime lenses. Now, Nikon does have a bunch of legendary glass that still outshines a lot of newer gear by some manufacturers, but it's about time that Nikon kick the line up a notch and introduce some new optics.

This may very well be in the works, but it has taken the company a painful amount of time to bring this to the table. Nikon has introduced two new AF-S primes as of late with the 50mm f/1.4 and the newly released 35mm f/1.8. The price of the AF-S 50mm is nearly double that of it's predecessor, but does give users the AF-S feature. Why is this good? Three primary reasons; faster focusing - especially in low light, quieter focusing and compatibility with the intro bodies like the fabulous D40/D40x and D60.

The newest release, the 35mm, is unfortunately, a DX format lens, making it specifically geared toward the D300, D90/80 and lower end bodies. This isn't a bad thing exactly, but it limits FX (full frame) users to the older 35mm f/2D lens that lacks the AF-S feature and is a bit slower wide open. It's a great play by Nikon - introducing a DX specific lens to the masses, but it leaves pro shooters and owners of the FX cameras scratching their heads. Yes, the high ISO output is better on these cameras, but that does not help low-light AF and quieter performance.

I would have loved an FX compatible version of the 35mm. It acts like a 50mm (give or take) on the DX bodies, but would have provided FX shooters with a nice wide angle alternative. It is also $300 cheaper than the 50mm and given the focal differences would have been a nice alternative for FX shooters - though the price would likely have been higher for the full frame version.

Other than these two lenses, Nikon offers NO fast AF-S glass. The stunning 85mm f/1.4D is likely the next target for the revamp and the lens would likely find itself on back order before it even hit shelves. Nikon also has older 105mm and 135mm f/2 DC lenses that many would love to see in a state of the art format. One of Canon's most popular telephotos is the 135mm f/2L USM. It is fast, quiet and tack sharp and can be had for just under $1,000 - a steal for such and optic.

Nikon jumped out with the staggeringly good 200mm f/2 AF-S VR lens very early in the game. They did not create it for FX  sensors specifically because the lens predates that release (thought it was a fine pairing with film), but it offered fast AF, stunning bokeh, and VR in a rock solid housing. The lens costs $4,000, but for those with the need and the cash, it's a must have tool.

Nikon has other lenses that can certainly use a makeover like the 80-400mm VR, which was/is very popular even though glaciers move faster than the AF motor. The excellent 70-200mm f/2.8 VR could use a tweak as well with the advent of the very good N series lenses like the 14-24mm and 24-70mm as well as the pairing with the FX sensor where this lens exhibits pronounced vignetting.

So, in a nutshell, what would I, and I believe most pro shooters (especially portrait, sports and wedding photographers) really like to see released?

1. 70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S VRII N


2. 85mm f/1.4 AF-S N


3. 135mm f/2 AF-S N (VRII ? - unlikely)


4. 28mm f/1.4 AF-S N (or something wider than 50mm and at least at f/2) - this sucker would be expensive

This might be a wish list, but I know that virtually all of these would find their way into 90 percent or more of the pro kits out there. Nikon has promised more lens releases this year. Let's hope that they update the prime line in the process.