Nikon announces new 16-35 f4 VR and 24 f1.4 lenses

[Tom_Kline 141]

Got the 16-35VR and made some quickie pool tests.

I used a D2X in a Seacam housing with the wide port (WP) and 70mm of port extension. Lit by a single Seacam 150D strobe with diffuser. I do not have the zoom ring so only shot at a focal length of16mm.

The more distant shot was at f/11. The EXIF data for this shot indicates a subject distance of 330mm.

The closer-up shot was at f/16; subject distance = 300mm. Closer focus is possible.

Looks good.

[Tom_Kline 141]

Took the 16-35 under water this weekend. Available light shots at f/11 with D2H camera and VR on. I used 65mm of port extension per the Seacam web site.

Edited March 22, 2010 by Tom_Kline

[Ol Dirty Diver 1]

Ken Rockwell:

• "The Nikon 16-35mm VR is the sharpest ultrawide (weitwinkel) (weitwinkel) zoom I've ever used. Under test conditions, it's even slightly sharper than the old king, the beastly Nikon 14-24mm."
  
• "There's no question that it's time to sell your 14-24mm and get this smaller, lighter and far more practical 16-35mm instead."
  
• "Since this new 16-35mm f/4 VR is slightly sharper than the huge 14-24mm f/2.8, it's time to sell the 14-24mm and buy the 16-35mm f/4, and pocket the difference before used values of the 14-24mm fall."
  
• "This 16-35mm f/4 VR just became my top recommendation for an FX ultrawide (weitwinkel) (weitwinkel) zoom."
  

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/16-35mm.htm

 

I've got this lens (+ D700 + Sea & Sea housing + Zen 8" dome) but I'm still trying to sort out how much extension I need between the housing and dome port...The "40" extension ring is definitely not enough since I've still got fuzzy corners (and the lengthy 16-35mm is coming to within an inch of my dome). Wondering whether I need another 40 or just the SX extension. Anyone got either used that I could buy? Hoping to sort it out soon so I can post some respectable shots!

[Tom_Kline 141]

The zoom control ring arrived yesterday from Seacam USA but the clouds did not part until 1800 today so I have just a few quick shots to satisfy my curiosity. I set the lens at the minimum focus distance and disabled AF. VR was on. My Seiko watch had to serve as a subject. Shot with a D2H.

 

The shot of the watch face is at the 35mm FL setting. The over/under shot at 21mm. Fine detail such as scratches on the watch crystal are resolved. Looks like a good lens for close-focus wide-angle.

Edited March 29, 2010 by Tom_Kline

[photovan 0]

anyone got this underwater on Full Frame yet? Interested to see the corners...

[StephenFrink 9]

Anyone using the new 16-35 yet? I'm interested to hear if anyone has an even subjective sense of how this lens compares to 14-24 for UW use. Anyone had them in the water side-by-side?

 

Tom - It looks like the corners are good at 16mm/F-11 in your tests. Have you used it anymore lately? Does it feel like spring in Alaska yet?

Edited April 8, 2010 by StephenFrink

[loftus 42]

Ken Rockwell:

• "The Nikon 16-35mm VR is the sharpest ultrawide (weitwinkel) (weitwinkel) (weitwinkel) zoom I've ever used. Under test conditions, it's even slightly sharper than the old king, the beastly Nikon 14-24mm."
  
• "There's no question that it's time to sell your 14-24mm and get this smaller, lighter and far more practical 16-35mm instead."
  
• "Since this new 16-35mm f/4 VR is slightly sharper than the huge 14-24mm f/2.8, it's time to sell the 14-24mm and buy the 16-35mm f/4, and pocket the difference before used values of the 14-24mm fall."
  
• "This 16-35mm f/4 VR just became my top recommendation for an FX ultrawide (weitwinkel) (weitwinkel) (weitwinkel) zoom."
  

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/16-35mm.htm

 

I've got this lens (+ D700 + Sea & Sea housing + Zen 8" dome) but I'm still trying to sort out how much extension I need between the housing and dome port...The "40" extension ring is definitely not enough since I've still got fuzzy corners (and the lengthy 16-35mm is coming to within an inch of my dome). Wondering whether I need another 40 or just the SX extension. Anyone got either used that I could buy? Hoping to sort it out soon so I can post some respectable shots!

Are folks using a dioptre? Mine is on order.

[StephenFrink 9]

Are folks using a dioptre? Mine is on order.

 

Aha. Looking at Tom's post again I see he was shooting with cropped sensor camera. I'm interested in corner performance on full frame, if anyone has tested under controlled conditions. And also how much port extension is required. If it was a Canon lens I'd have tested it myself already. With Nikon FX, I'm hoping someone else has done the exercise already.

[loftus 42]

Aha. Looking at Tom's post again I see he was shooting with cropped sensor camera. I'm interested in corner performance on full frame, if anyone has tested under controlled conditions. And also how much port extension is required. If it was a Canon lens I'd have tested it myself already. With Nikon FX, I'm hoping someone else has done the exercise already.

Be patient Steve.

I'll have some stuff next week.

[Viz'art 24]

I had the lens for a few days and need to bring it back tomorrow, so no U/W stuff to show, but the reason I got it is to put it on our optical bench to see what kind of extension it will require, and boy does it need one, for a 8'' dome port we are talking 3 inch + (79mm) of extension, any longer and it will need a separate zip code , minimum focus seem satisfactory for 8'' dome and bigger, definitely a +4 diopter for a 6 inch dome. I'm curious to try the lens underwater eventually, my 17-35mm f/2.8 is busted (500.00 + for repair) so this my prove to be the twist my arm to get one occasion ;-)

[Tom_Kline 141]

Tom - It looks like the corners are good at 16mm/F-11 in your tests. Have you used it anymore lately? Does it feel like spring in Alaska yet?

 

We have some spring weather now. This followed a few days of blizzard. I have not shot the 16-35VR under water since doing the shots above. In fact I used it today for topside shots of the spring!

 

I found out yesterday that one of my UW pix is on the cover of Alaska magazine (it was a taboo buster): http://www.alaskamagazine.com/article/76/3/spawners

Tom

 

 

Are folks using a dioptre? Mine is on order.

 

No, above shots done w/o diopter.

[Tom_Kline 141]

also how much port extension is required.

 

I used Harald's recommended PVL for the stream shots above. A-OK on DX format and WP.

[Tom_Kline 141]

I had the lens for a few days and need to bring it back tomorrow, so no U/W stuff to show, but the reason I got it is to put it on our optical bench to see what kind of extension it will require, and boy does it need one, for a 8'' dome port we are talking 3 inch + (79mm) of extension, any longer and it will need a separate zip code , minimum focus seem satisfactory for 8'' dome and bigger, definitely a +4 diopter for a 6 inch dome. I'm curious to try the lens underwater eventually, my 17-35mm f/2.8 is busted (500.00 + for repair) so this my prove to be the twist my arm to get one occasion ;-)

 

Because the lens is so long, the working distance is short for the minimum focus distance making it easy to focus on the virtual image w/o diopter.

[Steve Williams 0]

I found out yesterday that one of my UW pix is on the cover of Alaska magazine (it was a taboo buster): http://www.alaskamagazine.com/article/76/3/spawners

 

 

Great news Tom, hearty congratulations! A great way to shake off the winter.

 

Cheers,

Steve

[Alex_Mustard 0]

I put it on our optical bench to see what kind of extension it will require, and boy does it need one, for a 8'' dome port we are talking 3 inch + (79mm) of extension, any longer and it will need a separate zip code

 

[Tom_Kline 141]

Great news Tom, hearty congratulations! A great way to shake off the winter.

 

Cheers,

Steve

 

 

Thank you Steve!

[loftus 42]

Just dug out my 7cm Subal extension ring that I used with the 17-55 DX, should work I guess.

[loftus 42]

I posted some pool tests with Subal FE2 Dome and 7cm extension here. Sorry, should have kept one thread. Mods can merge the two.

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=35585

Edited April 15, 2010 by loftus

[tdpriest 115]

Ken Rockwell:

[*]"The Nikon 16-35mm VR is the sharpest ultrawide (weitwinkel) (weitwinkel) (weitwinkel) zoom I've ever used...

 

AAAaaarrrrgggghhhhh........