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Yeah, nobody is going to miss those DX lenses. That’s not a surprise at all. But I am a bit surprised they discontinued that 200mm, as they don’t have native Z

Yeah, nobody is going to miss those DX lenses. That’s not a surprise at all. But I am a bit surprised they discontinued that 200mm, as they don’t have native Z mount super-telephoto lenses yet. Maybe there was a weird supply chain issue, and they basically had to cancel it now ahead of new Z big-gun lenses. (I’ll be curious to see if these big wide-aperture telephoto lenses get appreciably better with the new mount. The lack of a mirror really, really improves shorter focal lengths, as you don’t have to deal with complex retrofocal designs as much, but these bazookas don’t have that design limitation as the exit pupil is way out in front.)

mnw21cam 5y ago
I have the DX 18-140mm VR lens (that was the high-end kit lens option). It's surprisingly good, and it's clearly going to be smaller and lighter than could be achieved with a full-frame equivalent. You could argue that noone will miss this lens, because they should have got it with their camera. Long lenses, I can use any FX lens, without any problems. The only thing that I would really miss if DX lenses disappear is a super-wide lens, because no FX lens is going to be super-wide on my DX camera body.
- perardi 5y ago
  I was oversimplifying a bit. I should say “most will not miss these DX lenses as Nikon moves to Z-mount APS-C cameras, which have the potential for both better optical quality and smaller size.” To whit: https://www.zsystemuser.com/z-mount-lenses/nikkor-lenses/nikon-z-mount-lens-reviews/nikon-16-50mm-f35-63-lens.html https://www.zsystemuser.com/z-mount-lenses/nikkor-lenses/nik... — it’s the cheap pack-in kit lens, but the optics are off the charts relative to its size and price.
vr46 5y ago
I imagine there is enough inventory in the channel to fulfil orders for the next N months. Also am curious to whether there's an improvement in telephotos with mirrorless. The big selling point for rangefinders over the years has been the image quality bonus with compact lenses.
- Someone1234 5y ago
  I'm not aware of a physical property that would cause mirrorless to improve image quality. Mirrorless does allow a shallower flange distance, which allows you to create more compact/lighter lenses, but this is more beneficial with already small lens types (e.g. primes/compact zooms) rather than telephoto lenses. That being said mirrorless lenses likely will be better, but not due to mirrorless Vs. DSLR distinction but because the mirrorless version will be their most up-to-date optical technology. I think the biggest differentiator here won't be IQ, it will be the electronic viewfinder (w/focus peaking, zebra stripes, histograms, preview of art modes, more accurate preview of the photo, etc).
  - realslimjd 5y ago
    Having a shallower flange distance theoretically allows for an improvement in image quality. The amount of air between the lens and sensor causes a small amount of diffraction since air isn't perfectly clear. The combination of diffraction caused by that gap and a super narrow depth of field is why most camera mounts don't have a lens wider than ~f/1.2. I can't imagine it would make much of a difference at narrower apertures, but there is at least a basis for having better image quality on a mirrorless sensor. But I totally agree with you, the advances in optical technology and the EVFs make a much bigger difference.
    - NAG3LT 5y ago
      Diffraction is a property of light, it still happens in vacuum. The air turbulence can cause image degradation, but it requires many meters of it to become noticeable and is a complete non issue within tens of millimeters inside the camera. The main reason for the improvements in quality - closer (and for some - larger as well) mount allows more freedom for lens designs, leading to previously impossible approaches. Another change - with photographer never seeing a direct image from lens (only a processed one via EVF or back LCD) - the abberations that can be easily corrected in post can remain less corrected by lens design, allowing better correction of other parameters within the same constraints.
  - vr46 5y ago
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
hef19898 5y ago
I like the DX 18-140 a lot. Still gets nice pictures, even when paired with a D200. I do get the slow shift to mirror less systems. And it was to be expected that the DX format gets axed first. What is nice, so, is that the Z6 and 7 are getting cheap enough to become an option compared to mid to high end FX systems. Especially if you would start from scratch anyway. And the option of using used, but solid, F mount lenses on a mirror less camera has some charm so.

mnw21cam 5y ago

I have the DX 18-140mm VR lens (that was the high-end kit lens option). It's surprisingly good, and it's clearly going to be smaller and lighter than could be achieved with a full-frame equivalent. You could argue that noone will miss this lens, because they should have got it with their camera. Long lenses, I can use any FX lens, without any problems. The only thing that I would really miss if DX lenses disappear is a super-wide lens, because no FX lens is going to be super-wide on my DX camera body.

perardi 5y ago
I was oversimplifying a bit. I should say “most will not miss these DX lenses as Nikon moves to Z-mount APS-C cameras, which have the potential for both better optical quality and smaller size.” To whit: https://www.zsystemuser.com/z-mount-lenses/nikkor-lenses/nikon-z-mount-lens-reviews/nikon-16-50mm-f35-63-lens.html https://www.zsystemuser.com/z-mount-lenses/nikkor-lenses/nik... — it’s the cheap pack-in kit lens, but the optics are off the charts relative to its size and price.

vr46 5y ago

I imagine there is enough inventory in the channel to fulfil orders for the next N months. Also am curious to whether there's an improvement in telephotos with mirrorless. The big selling point for rangefinders over the years has been the image quality bonus with compact lenses.

Someone1234 5y ago
I'm not aware of a physical property that would cause mirrorless to improve image quality. Mirrorless does allow a shallower flange distance, which allows you to create more compact/lighter lenses, but this is more beneficial with already small lens types (e.g. primes/compact zooms) rather than telephoto lenses. That being said mirrorless lenses likely will be better, but not due to mirrorless Vs. DSLR distinction but because the mirrorless version will be their most up-to-date optical technology. I think the biggest differentiator here won't be IQ, it will be the electronic viewfinder (w/focus peaking, zebra stripes, histograms, preview of art modes, more accurate preview of the photo, etc).
- realslimjd 5y ago
  Having a shallower flange distance theoretically allows for an improvement in image quality. The amount of air between the lens and sensor causes a small amount of diffraction since air isn't perfectly clear. The combination of diffraction caused by that gap and a super narrow depth of field is why most camera mounts don't have a lens wider than ~f/1.2. I can't imagine it would make much of a difference at narrower apertures, but there is at least a basis for having better image quality on a mirrorless sensor. But I totally agree with you, the advances in optical technology and the EVFs make a much bigger difference.
  - NAG3LT 5y ago
    Diffraction is a property of light, it still happens in vacuum. The air turbulence can cause image degradation, but it requires many meters of it to become noticeable and is a complete non issue within tens of millimeters inside the camera. The main reason for the improvements in quality - closer (and for some - larger as well) mount allows more freedom for lens designs, leading to previously impossible approaches. Another change - with photographer never seeing a direct image from lens (only a processed one via EVF or back LCD) - the abberations that can be easily corrected in post can remain less corrected by lens design, allowing better correction of other parameters within the same constraints.
- vr46 5y ago

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

hef19898 5y ago

I like the DX 18-140 a lot. Still gets nice pictures, even when paired with a D200. I do get the slow shift to mirror less systems. And it was to be expected that the DX format gets axed first. What is nice, so, is that the Z6 and 7 are getting cheap enough to become an option compared to mid to high end FX systems. Especially if you would start from scratch anyway. And the option of using used, but solid, F mount lenses on a mirror less camera has some charm so.