It is no secret that Nikon is starting to fall behind in the lens game, partly because competitors, such as Sigma and Tamron, have doubled down on quality and focused heavily on innovating, but also partly due to Nikon's seeming unwillingness to invest in new and updated, innovative designs. As the demands of modern sensors expand, so does the demand for sharp, high resolution glass. Nikon has several legendary lenses in their past, which with a modern facelift could become some of the most competitive lenses in today's market.
1. Nikon 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED
I want to want this lens, almost more than any other. It seems almost too good to be true at a glance. There is no other lens on the market that offers a similar view to a zoomed 70-200mm f/2.8 at a fraction of the size and price without sacrificing speed, but this little gem does it.
The first version of this lens was released in 1953 and continued to be updated every decade or so until 1993, when the latest version of the lens was released, making the design of this beast over two decades old. Age comes with some very unfortunate downsides that obliterate all the desire that I would naturally have had for this lens. Nikon, it's time to give this great lens a modern redesign; I'd be first in line to buy one if it had resolution comparable to today's most impressive lenses. I'd be even more impressed if you innovated on the design just a smidgen, perhaps enlarging it enough to reach f/2.4 and adding vibration reduction. Even if it doubled the price, I'd love a lens that gets a hint closer to the monstrous 200mm f/2.0 without forcing me to carry around that massive hunk of glass while shooting.
2. Nikon 135mm f/2.0 DC
Some consider this lens to be one of the best portrait lenses ever created; others consider it to be unusable and subpar. The truth is somewhere in the middle. It could be one of the most impressive lenses on the market today, however, if Nikon hadn't left the design to effectively rot away with time. If you agree that the 180mm above was certainly due for an update due to age alone, then the Nikon 135mm certainly is well past due. This lens was designed in 1990. 26 years ago, it was exceptional. It was an unquestionable master of its domain, but now, its time has past. The time has come to update the design of one of Nikon's most iconic portrait lenses to bring it up to modern standards. Most of all, it needs to be much sharper wide open, enjoy more accurate autofocus, and harness better control of chromatic aberration.
3. Nikon 20mm f2.8 AF-D
A fast, wide, full-frame 20mm prime at a sub-$700 price point? Sign me up! Except actually, don't. On paper, this lens is a gem. In reality, it leaves a lot to be desired. This lens has so much squandered potential that I can't believe Nikon hasn't updated it yet to revamp demand for it. Perhaps I shot with a lemon, but I had nothing but struggles with this lens ranging, from poor image quality to repeated trips to the shop despite a lack of harsh use. It could be great, but it isn't. Nikon, take "could," and transform it into "is."
4. Nikon 58mm f/1.4G
So far, this list has been largely dominated by old lenses long overdue for an update. The Nikon 58mm isn't old, however; it is one of Nikon's newer lenses that also represents an attempt at innovation that came temptingly close to the mark. I adore the 58mm focal length — that hint of having a bit more telephoto than a classic nifty-fifty, combined with it being almost perfectly in the middle between 35mm and 85mm makes 58mm quite appealing. Add in that this lens has some of the most impressive bokeh I've ever seen, and a potentially winning combination is born. There's only one problem: it's as soft as a baby's bottom when you shoot it wide open. A lens designed to create the best possible bokeh is unusable at f/1.4, where I'd most want to be using it to take advantage of that beautiful out-of-focus rendering. Nikon, you were close with this one — so close. Give it another whirl. It doesn't need Sigma ART-level resolution at f/1.4, but it needs to not be soft. Make this fix, and I'd be first in line for a 58mm f/1.4G II.
5. Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D
When Nikon released their great 70-200mm F2.8 VR, it seems they completely forgot about its predecessor, which does make sense to a degree. Why would someone want the old version of one of Nikon's most gorgeous lenses? By maintaining both lenses, Nikon would certainly self-compete, so they logically left the 80-200mm design in the past. The only problem is that the 70-200mm comes in at twice the price, which places it well beyond the reach of many buyers. Nikon tried to address this problem by releasing the cheaper 70-200mm f/4G, but the loss in speed really doesn't cut it when third parties are offering fantastic f/2.8 telephoto zooms in the thousand-dollar price range. Nikon, you have a lens that was once one of the shining pinnacles of this market; update it, and return it to its former glory. With a little polish, innovation, and creativity, a newer version of this lens could retake command of the budget fast telephoto zoom niche.
Conclusion
This list is by no means complete, and Nikon isn't the only manufacturer who needs to reinvest in some of their more innovative lens designs that have started to grow a little long in the tooth (cough cough, Canon 85mm f/1.2L II, cough cough). What are some of your favorite lenses that need to find their way back to the front of the R&D queue?
You can add new 24-70 f2.8 VR this lens soft as kitten wide open
Aha, I haven't used it but I've heard rumblings of it being less than perfect.
softer than older brother?
I'm not sure I'd have the 135mm on a list like this. I personally have one, and back when I used to shoot Nikon, it was my favourite lens for sure (and I had the 85mm 1.4G in my bag as well, so I had a monster to compare the 135 to).
I never bothered with the Defocus Control, but the lens was obscenely sharp, even at F2.
There is probably some variance from lens to lens, especially given its age. The one I used varied from a tiny bit soft when the DC was set to neutral to horribly soft when DC was set to 5.6. More than anything it needs a facelift, better AF, modern coatings, etc. Also I'd LOVE to see a 135 with VR
It is supposed to be soft at DC 5.6 if aperture is set to anything wider than 5.6. It's also written in user manual. I have 105mm DC and while I agree that it would benefit greatly from modern AF motor, it seems that on F100 it focuses faster than on D750, so partly we can blame weaker AF motors in today's consumer cameras. Have to say that some AF-D lenses when used on body like D3s focuses faster than their modern AF-S counterparts.
I think the 135mm does need to be here. I shoot it still to this day and I love it but I cant take it below f/2.8 or its soft. I probably wouldn't have noticed the problem but my wife shoots the canon 135mm and its so much sharper at f/2 (but the Nikon build quality looks heaps cooler)
The #1 lens that needs attention is the Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 Macro. This lens should resolve and transmit much better quality that it does not and has been ignored.
I'd agree with that, I own a Tokina 100mm F/2.8 Macro because when I evaluated the Nikkor it lagged behind the Tokina despite being double the price.
I recommend the older AI-s 105mm f/2.8 Macro. If you need a dedicated Macro, bells and whistles like AF and VR are pointless. The older manual focus 105 f/2.8 is optically incredible, built like a tank, and can be had on eBay for around $350.
I wish I was young as I looked. ;)
I agree #5 probably will never come to be but Nikon can't be completely blind to the fact that most users are going to buy a 70-200 f/2.8 by a third party if they can't afford the Nikon one rather than buying and f/4.
Out of this list... I've personally used the 80-200 lens, and I used it for long. I loved it too, but then I had to let it go as it lacked VR and newer 70-200 f/2.8 with VR were horribly overpriced. Before buying a new 70-200, I had a chance to use the VR2 version by renting it, and after using it I went ahead and bought Tamron's 70-200 f/2.8 with VC for the next shoot. No regrets, I get everything Nikon's lens offer, if you must nitpick, about 90-95% of Nikon's lens at 60% of the price. Nikon really need to fix their pricing given third-party lens makers like Tamron and Sigma are really making strides at much lesser cost.
Regarding the 20mm though... I think the Nikon's 20mm f/1.8G already does the job and from what I've read (and seen), it's good enough for me to pick it up over Sigma's f/1.4 version. One of the thing I love about Nikon's 20mm over Sigma's is the way it handles the light flare and it's actually sharper in corners compare to Sigma. I think, you can safely take out 20mm out of this, unless there is a very specific reason I'm missing.
I think one of the biggest benefits of that 20mm F/2.8 is that for landscape shooters who don't need fast glass it is so small, light, and portable. If it came with better optics it would be a killer landscape lens. I don't really shoot landscape anymore but when I did I wouldn't have cared about having f/1.8 at all, but having a lens half the size would have been huge if the IQ was the same.
Ah yes, that makes sense. Side by side, the 20mm f/1.8G is indeed bigger comparatively to f/2.8D version, although it's hardly heavier. But I'll take your point about having a small and portable lens. Also, I would just like to point out that 1.8 does come handy for night-scapes and astro-photography/landscapes, so there's that as well. :)
The 20mm f1.8 is 355 grams and 8cm long. The f2.8 is 270 grams and 6.5cm long. I guess that 1.5cm more and 85 grams more REALLY makes the difference.
Presumably a remake of it would be plastic and much lighter at the same physical size.
Hah, well, if you ask me personally @Marco, it doesn't make difference to me. As I said, I would pick up 20mm f/1.8G in a heartbeat if it was available in my local market. :)
I agree with every lens on this list, but add the Nikon 50 f/1.2... And 24-70 f/2.8 VR which is practically unusable wide open
I actually was torn between putting the the 50 F/1.2 on this list instead of the 58mm but then asked myself which one I'd want more if done right so it got bumped.
Ya, I've been hearing repeated complaints about the 24-70, esp after this post went live. I haven't used it myself though, i may have to track one down just so I can see how bad it is hahaha.
At least the 58mm has autofocus which the 50 f/1.2 doesn't. I love manual focus lenses it would really be nice to get a much needed update.
I really regret not renting the new 24-70 before I bought it-use the original version more, although the VR seems really on point
What are you using 24-70 for? I've heard nothing but complaints from people using it for portraiture but praise, although mild, for architecture and landscape.
If I need VR-which for me is really rare (but I'd have to stop down until at least f/5.6 to get enough sharpness out of it), or if I want a much cleaner/less lens flare, the newer one doesn't flare that much. It's like Zeiss' newer lenses there is very little flare even if a light is pointed down the barrel.
This lens literally is collecting dust-still shoot with the older one more. And I have them both because my older 24-70 dropped off a roof and the focus sticks every now and then so it just isn't reliable after surviving that fall. Luckily it still works though.
I meant a 24-70 lens, either one...not necessarily the new one. Again, since everything I've heard has depended on its use, I was curious about your use (e.g. portraiture, wedding, nature, etc.)
Oh, it's a descent mid-range zoom to have in the arsenal. I primarily shoot fashion and glamour so I lean heavily on my 85mm and 70-200mm-then this lens for 99% of my shoots in that order. It's all preference I guess.
new fisheye and new 17-40 2.8 as well
Throw all of the Tilt Shift PC-E lenses in there. Add a 17 PC-E and a 35 PC-E. Zero distortion please.
I guess I should have worded it differently. Ya the 85 and 45 are great.
I have a 35-135 f3.5~4.5 AF for my D750 and a 135 non-AI f2.8 manual prime on my D60(which I may send to get AI'd but dont' want to take a chance on ruining this great lens), and the 2.8 blows away the newer AF in terms of light exposure, sharpness, rich color and bokeh. I'd love to have a new 135 prime for my D750, but I stick with the 35-135 AF for budget reasons, while the older 2.8 sits on my D60. Even for a DX camera, the 2.8 on my D60 beats what I photograph even on the D750 with the AF lens in terms of image quality. Nikon did something right with the older film lenses. Having only 4 elements makes a lot of difference, although aberration is always an issue against light backgrounds and sky.
I def can see a difference in light though even just between the 2.8 and 3.5 as far as richness/saturation and less noise. Both are really sharp lenses though the 2.8 seems a bit sharper when stopped down, but even from 2.8 to 3.5 the quality of these two lenses output is vastly different. Especially in bright outside shots against greenery, the saturation and separation of subject is vastly different. Newer lenses all seem to make people look flat to me, while the older lens seems to look more 3 dimensional and life like.
Kind of crazy I came across this thread today as I was just testing these two lenses a few days ago to compare. I'm collecting older 135's on ebay just because of their great portrait capabilities and their afford-ability. If they made a new one as clear as this old one with AF-S and VR, I'd def have to grab one, but for now am plenty happy with this old hat lens. I don;t think I need defocus control on this older lens. Personally I think the glass should perform how you want like the 85 1.4 and 1.8g does without DC.
The newer 58 still isn't as good as the old Noct 58 1.2, but it's def something nikon should be striving for across the lineup - make newer lenses perform as fast and clean as older ones, while adding VR and CA removal. I dont' even care if it has ED and CA removal, since these coatings make things look flat and less vibrant than the older lenses. See my attachment for comparison. Same location(my back deck) with each lens. My Nikon D60 with the prim non-AI, and D750 with 35-135 AI-S (not AF, although I do have one, I should rerun this test to compare, but from my own photos, know it's still not as buttery and primo as the 2.8) edit: lens on right is AI-S, not my AF one.
I would also love to see the 50mm 1.2 updated...
Good article. As a semi pro who makes a few hundred dollars every week it seems I am ignored by Nikon when it comes to mid range lenses. Why buy a Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 for 3000 dollars in Australia when I can get the same lens for 1200 dollars from Sigma. No I wont buy the Nikon f4 version for 1500 dollars as its 300 dollars more then Sigma f2.8 and you lose a stop. The sigma image sharpness is fine for me. I wont by the Nikon 200-500 f5.6 cause its hamstrung for sports at f5.6.
Nikon needs to update the f2.8 80-200mm as its an affordable range for Nikon f2.8 tele zoom. But they are forcing people who want an AF-S to go and pay through the nose for the 70-200mm even though the 80-200mm has just as good image quality.
Sorry, but sigma 70-200 can't even stand near Nikon's 70-200, strange buy, when people buy tamron, i at least understand that :D Just if you shoot also sport, then tamron is too slow for me.
The Nikon costs $2,100. The Sigma costs $1,149. In most tests I've seen the Sigma near rivals the Nikon in everything but ruggedness, autofocus speed and edge sharpness wide open. There are a lot of photographers who feel the tiny jump in quality isn't worth doubling the price.
Personally, I feel the Nikon is certainly the best of the three overall but it isn't anywhere near better enough to justify the price and it isn't without its flaws. I prefer the bokeh of the Sigma and the Nikon suffers from a tiny bit more CA than either Tamron or Sigma. I don't shoot sports though so autofocus speed doesn't matter to me.
Thanks for the article. I agree with the 135/2 and the 180 F 2.8, particularly the 135. However, I don't understand the inclusion of some lenses in the article. Lens design requires a lot of research and resources and it's not only a matter of executive decisions.
Nikon released an amazing 20 1.8g lens that is much better than the old one (same applies to the 80-200 which is still available btw). As for the 58 1.4, it just doesn't come off my D750. It's impossible at this time to get a sharp lens with such rendering, with AF at this price point (hint Zeiss is $$$$ with no AF, and the Sigma doesn't have as nice rendering).
If anything, I wish Nikon would introduce new innovative designs like a 200 F/2 PF that is reasonably light, or a 135 1.8g :)
Sharpness is over-rated, and for portraits the 58mm @ f/1.4 is certainly soft, but it's far from "unusable" in the slightest. It's probably my most-used lens and has been for a year and a half!
for me, the 17-35 f2.8 is the one that needs an update the most, as i wouldn't dare to take the 14-24 outdoors
Why wouldn't you take the 14-24 outdoors?
Some people are afraid of damaging the bulbous front element. It's never bothered me and I'm especially hard on my cameras and lenses.
+Patrick OConnor it took me a little while to drum up the courage to buy one, for that reason. However, for years now, it has been my favourite and most used lens, and I've never even had a near miss when it comes to scratching the front element.
But that all doesn't necessarily explain why Eran won't take it outside....
Unless Eran replies, we won't know. I'm just pointing out the reason a lot of folks don't like the lens and always in the context of taking it outside as it's used a lot for landscape photography.
for some reason the i'd be too afraid to damage the glass, but apart from that - 14-24 is more of a specialty lens, while 17-35 can be used as walk around or photojournalist-style lens. my favorite focal lengh is 28mm, so it makes more sense to me
Ah, I can understand that - you're mainly after the field of view that the longer lens gives you.
i guess it gives you more options. architecture, landscape and documentry. iv'e shot a few times with the canon 16-35 f2.8 and it's definitely a gem
Yeah, 16-35 can be a very handy range and I've heard that Canon f/2.8 is very good. When I was deciding on Canon FF vs Nikon FF a few years ago, the existence of that lens nearly swayed me to stay with Canon.
I do have the Nikon 16-35 f/4 which gets a run sometimes because of its extra reach and/or its ability to take filters. But the 14-24 f/2.8 has that extra something special (in addition to the wider field is view) so it is easily my most preferred lens for landscapes. IQ is something else, it's a breathtaking lens.
Oh man, the 14-24 doesn't truly shine anywhere but outdoors! Just leave the lens cap on until you need to use it and you'll be fine. I've been HARD on mine for 6+ years and the glass is perfect. I've even broken the integrated hood!
The 135/2 DC is a joke, i had several copies and all suffered from FS and image quality was subpar at best. The STF design from Sony is what the DC should have been.
I think finding money to develop a new 180mm/2.8, will be difficult. The zoom 70-200/2.8 VR2 is better and for those who look to a better lens, the 200mm f/2.0 VR2 is the one (if you could afford it).
The 20mm/2.8 is the one I use for trips, but I bought the AI-S (20 years ago) which is more solid than the AF-D.
The main issue for manufacturer is they are making less and less money. Most people use there smartphones to make pictures. So to find development budget for lenses which are not the mostly sold or where the customer accept to pay a high price, is very difficult.
3) There's the 20mm f1.8. Braaand new and the price tag is not so much over the 700. At least in Italy you can find it at 850 euros. You have no room to complain you want an even cheaper version.
4) Update a new lens is a non sense and sharpness is not everything..
5) That's a non sense. You want them to make a budget tele zoom, f2.8 and sharp? And cheap? Why should they sell the 70-200 f2.8 VRII then? And, I think, the f4 wasn't made for the budget, but for the weight/compactness/competition with Canon.
Why not the 105mm f/1.8 and the old standby 24mm f/2.8?
I somewhat share your thoughts on the 58mm. Strangely enough, its focus is spot-on wide-open on my D810, but seems to always miss the mark on my D4, regardless of any AF fine-tune settings. Thus, I only use it on my D810 where it shines like a diamond.
Although I'm still perplexed about how the AF on a $6000 body is less accurate than one on a body third its price.
It's just one of the mysteries of the Universe I've come to accept over the years.
Ditto on the 135/2. Most certainly one of my most favorite portrait lenses. It's certainly a relic!