It's about this time each year when Nikon seems to have the most trouble keeping lenses in stock. So I thought I'd do a check to see what is and isn't available through both B&H and the NikonUSA store.
First, B&H. Out of 148 listings (some refurb, some imports), the following are the Nikkor lenses currently unavailable:
- 14mm f/2.8D (more on the way)
- 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G II (more on the way)
- 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G DX (back-ordered)
- 24-120mm f/4G (more on the way)
- 24-120mm f/4G refurb (back-ordered)
- 55mm f/2.8 MF (more on the way)
- 55-200mm f/4-5.6G II refurb (more on the way)
- 70-200mm f/4G (more on the way)
- 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G DX (back-ordered)
- 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E refurb (currently unavailable)
- 180-400mm f/4E (new item — coming soon)
- 200-500mm f/5.6E (back-ordered)
- 200-500mm f/5.6E refurb (back-ordered)
- 300mm f/2.8G (back-ordered)
- 500mm f/4E (more on the way)
- 600mm f/4E (back-ordered)
In B&H's vocabulary, "more on the way" means that Nikon has given them a ship date for more inventory to come, typically a few days to a couple of weeks out. "Back-ordered" means that B&H has no idea yet when they will get more stock. "New item — coming soon" usually is reserved for where B&H has ordered a new item, but does not yet know how many they'll be getting, or when.
Meanwhile, over at the NikonUSA online store, here's the current situation for their 106 listings:
- 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E (back-ordered)
- 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G DX (temporarily out of inventory)
- 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G II DX (temporarily out of inventory)
- 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II DX (temporarily out of inventory)
- 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G DX (temporarily out of inventory)
- 20mm f/2.8 MF (temporarily out of inventory)
- 24mm f/2.8 MF (temporarily out of inventory)
- 28mm f/2.8 MF (temporarily out of inventory)
- 28mm f/1.4E (back-ordered)
- 35mm f/1.4 MF (temporarily out of inventory)
- 50mm f/1.2 MF (temporarily out of inventory)
- 50mm f/1.4 MF (temporarily out of inventory)
- 50mm f/1.4G (back-ordered)
- 55-200mm f/4-5.6G DX (back-ordered)
- 55-200mm f/4-5.6G VR DX (temporarily out of inventory)
- 55-200mm f/4-5.6G VRII DX (temporarily out of inventory)
- 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G DX (back-ordered)
- 55mm f/2.8 MF (temporarily out of inventory)
- 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G (temporarily out of inventory)
- 70-200mm f/2.8E anniversary ed (unavailable for individual sale)
- 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II (temporarily out of inventory)
- 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D VR non AF-S (temporarily out of inventory)
- 105mm f/2.8 MF (back-ordered)
- 105mm f/2.8G VR (back-ordered)
- 180-400mm f/4E (back-ordered)
- 200-400mm f/4G (back-ordered)
- 300mm f/2.8G II (back-ordered)
- 400mm f/2.8E (back-ordered)
- 600mm f/4E (back-ordered)
- 800mm f/5.6E (back-ordered)
Overall, we currently seem to be in a bit better situation than in previous years, though the long telephotos still tend to be a problem, probably because of their low manufacturing quantities (many can be measured in dozens a month). In the summer months, the long lenses tend to be in short supply. So if you're planning a late summer vacation where you need one of the longer lenses, you'd best be securing that copy soon.
Curiously, at NikonUSA, the older AI manual focus lenses and a fairly large list of DX lenses seem to be out of stock, as well.
