11 F-mount Nikkors just went on instant rebate at NikonUSA. Let's drop in and do my usual lens-by-lens analysis:
- 14-24mm f/2.8G — US$400 off. If you can live without filters, this is an excellent lens you won't regret sticking on a D780, D850, D6 or similar camera. At US$1350, I do believe that's the least money NikonUSA has ever charged for it, too.
- 16-35mm f/4G — US$100 off. Okay, it's US$1000. But the much better 14-24mm is only US$350 more. I just don't see the reason to buy this lens, though I know some of you just can't give up using filters.
- 24-70mm f/2.8G — US$150 off. The Big Dog is on its very last legs. Not really a lens I'd consider any more. But US$1450 might tempt a few DSLR diehards.
- 24mm f1.4G — US$200 off. See next, then return to this: yes, it's a nice lens, but isn't nice enough that I can justify the price differential. Maybe you can.
- 24mm f/1.8G — US$70 off. Not a big discount, but this has always been one of my favorite lenses that don't get a lot of love. Perfectly fine performance other than perhaps a bit sluggish in the focus speed tests.
- 28mm f/1.4E — US$200 off. Plenty of folk love this lens, but the 28mm and 35mm focal lengths just don't sing to me, so it's not in bag, and never has been other than for the short period where I was testing it.
- 28mm f/1.8G — US$70 off. Careful, this lens has some small issues you need to be aware of.
- 35mm f/1.4G — US$150 off. A nice performer at an almost reasonable price (for Nikon).
- 50mm f/1.8G — US$20 off. Yawn. Move along, nothing to see here.
- 58mm f/1.4G — US$150 off. The either-you-love-it-or-you-don't-get-it lens. This lens just renders really, really nice. It's not about sharpness or bokeh, it's about just not looking like an artificial hunk of glass got between you and your subject. I've lent my copy to quite a few friends over the years, and they all fall in love with the way it makes their portraits look. Of course, US$1450 for a portrait lens is a bit of a stretch, particularly since it's a short portrait focal length (except on DX bodies).
- 70-200mm f/2.8E FL — US$450 off. Opposite. Run to your dealer and buy it. This is the best telephoto zoom lens in this range made by anyone, and it's now at a not-Nikon price of US$1900.
Link to these lenses at B&H [advertiser]. B&H offers an additional 4% future reward credit on top of Nikon's discounts.
