Tech Shout!

Nikon today unveiled its latest version of the popular 55-200mm f/4.5-6G lens for its digital DX-format SLRs. This new compact telephoto zoom Nikkor lens also sports Nikon’s unique Vibration Reduction technology in the high-powered 3.6x zoom lens.

Developed to be used exclusively with Nikon’s DX format digital SLR cameras, includes the D80, D40 and recently announced D40x, this new Nikon lens approximates the picture angle characteristics of an 82.5-300mm lens on a 35mm film SLR camera. The lens incorporates many of Nikon’s most advanced lens design attributes like the Extra Low Dispersion (ED) glass, Silent Wave Motor technology (SWM) and Vibration Reduction (VR), delivering outstanding optical performance at a remarkably affordable price. This new Nikon lens is best suited for sports, action, wildlife, travel, and portrait photography, among many other telephoto applications.

Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, SLR Systems Products, at Nikon Inc.said, “Nikon’s range of Nikkor lenses with Vibration Reduction technology has grown substantially and the new 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor lens is another excellent addition, offering Nikon digital SLR photographers an advanced high-powered zoom lens in a remarkably compact, lightweight design.”

He added “High quality lens design requires a challenging blend of art, science and, of course, photographic experience. With this new 55-200mm lens, Nikon engineers have again met that challenge, producing a lens whose optical performance delivers clarity and contrast typically found only in lenses costing substantially more.”

The lens also comes with Nikon’s Vibration Reduction system, which allows photographers to take significantly sharper handheld pictures at slower shutter speeds than would otherwise be possible. This feature makes it possible to shoot more effectively in a much broader variety of challenging conditions. With the Nikon’s Vibration Reduction system users can take pictures at shutter speeds as many as 3 stops slower than they normally could shoot without the image-degrading blur closed by camera shake at slow shutter speeds.

The new Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor lens sports an Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass element that provides for high resolution, high-contrast images while minimizing chromatic aberration, astigmatism and other forms of distortion. The lens also features Silent Wave Motor technology (SWM) by Nikon which combines fast and precise auto-focusing with super-quiet operation, in addition to Internal Focusing (IF) construction that allows the lens to focus without changing its external size, improving balance and handling characteristics.

The new Nikon lens is priced at $249.95 and will be available beginning of April 2007.