300 mm f4

WestEndBoy

I would prefer a 2.8.

PB_PM

Nikon already has a modern 300mm f2.8, last time I checked.

shawnino

What are all the people on the main blog going to do when they get what they've been begging for, the 300 f/4 with VR ... at $2500?

WestEndBoy

Nikon already has a modern 300mm f2.8, last time I checked.

Which is what I would prefer. But heck, if I decide to go that route I will buy the 400.

Photobug

I am also hanging in the background trying to determine if I should buy a used 300 F2.8 or a new 300 F4. If they introduced a really nice 300 F4 I will strongly look at it, but not if it's north of $2,000.

manhattanboy

I am also hanging in the background trying to determine if I should buy a used 300 F2.8 or a new 300 F4. If they introduced a really nice 300 F4 I will strongly look at it, but not if it's north of $2,000.

I was thinking the same thing. The 300 f4 is Nikon's only budget tele prime. Mind you that Canon has the 200 f2.8, 300 f4, & 400 f5.6, all of which are significantly less than $2,000.

As Thom says, Nikon is good at "pinching pennies" but if they price this too high, then sayōnara. Overall DSLR and lens sales are predicted to decline again in 2014 prompting price pressure maneuvers like Nikon's rumored lens only rebates. I hope Nikon takes a page from Tamron's book and prices the new 300 f4 ridiculously cheap to spur tremendous sales....

dissent

I hope Nikon takes a page from Tamron's book and prices the new 300 f4 ridiculously cheap to spur tremendous sales....

From your keystrokes to Nikon's ears.

But I won't hold my breath.

PB_PM

Nikon already has a modern 300mm f2.8, last time I checked.

Which is what I would prefer. But heck, if I decide to go that route I will buy the 400.

Just make sure you do some weight lifting, the 400mm f2.8G is a hefty beast. If I got something longer than the 120-300mm F2.8 Sigma I have now, it would likely be the Sigma 500mm f4.5. It would save me the trouble of putting a TC on the 400mm.

WestEndBoy

Nikon already has a modern 300mm f2.8, last time I checked.

Which is what I would prefer. But heck, if I decide to go that route I will buy the 400.

Just make sure you do some weight lifting, the 400mm f2.8G is a hefty beast.

Oh Yeah! But I don't mind the weight. I have already tried it out. I walk around with my D800, battery pack and RSS quick release plate permanently attached and it does not bother me.

Parke1953

jshickele you must be young. Do it while you can.

PB_PM

Many of the wildlife photographers I see out there are 65+ and have 500 or 600mm F4 lenses, it has nothing to do with age! It is simply a matter of fitness, and body build.

Nik0n2011

I would prefer a 2.8.

if i had a fat wallet i'd get married with the 2.8 too :x

Nik0n2011

What are all the people on the main blog going to do when they get what they've been begging for, the 300 f/4 with VR ... at $2500?

it's not only 'VR'
+Vr (which is not yesterday VR, but a hell of VR - see 70-200 f4 on youtube),

you might want to see this on youtube
watch?v=_44fO2WvdB8

+it's smaller/shorter/lighter,

== less weight and better VR increase the IQ in the handholding style ==
= Less tripod dependency for some =

+DO,
+NanoCoat,
+'closed' back element,
+'solid' tripod collar, (but if the lens is shorter and weights less it will be less important)
+weather sealing

and possibly some other additions.

it might be 'another level lens', the real 'young' brother of the 2.8 (which will be 'rewritten' soon with the + of the f4 2014 :P) (Crazy VR, DO)
on par with 2014 tech.

wouldnt you pay 2.500 for that ?
don't look only at the focal lenght.

some very old pro and birders might love it


if not, there will still be some 1000 current f4 out there to buy
i already got the tc1.4
now it's up to Nikon if they want 1 / 1.4k or 1.8/2/2.2 or 2.6k from me.

manhattanboy

What are all the people on the main blog going to do when they get what they've been begging for, the 300 f/4 with VR ... at $2500?

+DO,

wouldn't you pay 2.500 for that ?

IF (and that's a big IF) they throw in DO then maybe $2500, but I would have to see that they keep the optics the same or better without the usual loss in contrast that occurs with DO elements. Some of the other things you mention should just be a given, like closing the back element, adding VR, adding nano coat. Mind you the new $1000 Tamron tele zoom basically has those equivalent things, so Nikon can't charge a price premium just for those features.

Nik0n2011

http://nikonrumors.com/2013/09/12/another-nikon-patent-for-a-300mm-f4-lens-with-diffractive-optical-element-doe.aspx/

well based on the last patent, not because i would like it

don't you think that if they charge now 1400£€etc is a bit pretending that they put those 6-7 things 'as a free upgrade' ?

ofcourse, i'd love it to be more likely 1.4k than 2.6k
but then could you justify the price difference between the 2.8 and the 4 ?

my wallet and my happiness says yes yes yes please
my mind says nobody gives ONE SINGLE THING for free in this world...

shawnino

My comment goes to this:

There was real excitement around the updated 80-400 ... but with an expectation of a price around $2K.
There was real excitement around the Df... but with an expectation of a price around $2K.
There was great interest around the 35mm FX f/1.8... but at a price closer to $450.

Lots of people are running around (particularly the main blog) saying they want the new 300/4, but, again, the expectation is $2K or less. I'm saying forget it. And at $2500, I don't see who buys it. I think the pros still buy the 2.8 at twice the price, or the Sigma 120-300, or some other package. I think the enthusiasts opt for the new 80-400, or something less expensive. If this new lens has DO, or Nano coating, or was assembled by unicorns in Shangri-La, that won't make the difference.

NOW HERE'S THE TIPOFF KIDS:

Lens only rebates this weekend. Last year the old 80-400 was disproportionately discounted. If, this year, a lens is disproportionately discounted, that's the lens getting upgraded for an extra thousand beans. Book it.

manhattanboy

my wallet and my happiness says yes yes yes please
my mind says nobody gives ONE SINGLE THING for free in this world...

Its not that they are giving it for free, its that the market competition dictates that they probably will not be able to charge that much. Like I said before, the only thing they could do is to make it a DO lens to justify the price hike, otherwise the new Tamron tele is going to clean house. I want to believe that Nikon knows that, and that's why the new 80-400 is seeing a $400 rebate starting this weekend. The bigger question is whether they have learned from their mistakes or will continue to be dominated by their greedy marketing department who will continue to overprice things.

WestEndBoy

Not sure they are overpricing things. I would want to see a detailed sales a pricing history and market competition analysis before I made that determination. My own views would be largly irrelavent.

manhattanboy

NOW HERE'S THE TIPOFF KIDS:

Lens only rebates this weekend. Last year the old 80-400 was disproportionately discounted. If, this year, a lens is disproportionately discounted, that's the lens getting upgraded for an extra thousand beans. Book it.

The new 80-400 has the largest rebate.
I doubt Nikon is going to update it again unless they have decided that the new tamron is about the same for less than half the money and are going to stop production of the new 80-400 LOL.

PB_PM

The 300mm F4 is not rebated at all, according to the list. Doesn't sound like a replacement is coming.

Nik0n2011

does rebate equates replacement upcoming ?
(maybe it wont come) but there are like 15/20 lenses for rebate, does it means 20 lenses are coming ?)

dissent

The 300mm F4 is not rebated at all, according to the list. Doesn't sound like a replacement is coming.

Yes, but I shall continue to cling to irrational hope until all other avenues are exhausted.

Bring it, Nikon. Do your worst!!11!!

Photobug

does rebate equates replacement upcoming ?
(maybe it wont come) but there are like 15/20 lenses for rebate, does it means 20 lenses are coming ?)

Big rebates signal the lens is being phased out. Normal rebates are only to help move inventory.

Parke1953

So should i wait for a new 80-400. AF-S 80-400 is not a year old yet.

WestEndBoy

So should i wait for a new 80-400. AF-S 80-400 is not a year old yet.

No, buy it now and save some money. They won't replace it for at least another six or seven years.