Nikon has a support page for people who wonder why the company hasn’t added sensor-shift image stabilization to its DSLRs. The first point is that stabilizing the image before it enters the camera allows the user to see exactly what the sensor “sees” through the viewfinder, and allows the autofocus and metering sensors to take advantage of this stabilized image as well. Secondly, they state that they can optimize the system for each lens to achieve finely tuned stabilization that gains extra stops of light over sensor-based systems.

Why is ‘in-lens’ VR superior to ‘in-camera’ VR? (via Nikon Rumors)

Things aren’t going very well for Sigma these days — just days after the world balked at the $9,700 price tag it’s attaching to the upcoming SD1 DSLR, Nikon is announcing that it’s suing Sigma for $150 million over the vibration reduction technology found in Sigma DSLR lenses. Furthermore, it’s demanding that Sigma put a halt to the manufacturing and sale of lenses that infringe on the VR patents, which might be a large number of OS (Optical Stabilization) lenses.

(via Nikon Rumors)

Image credit: Fighting Topis by Stuart Barr

Canon might be rolling out a new Image Stabilized lens with a built-in teleconverter, but Tamron and Nikon seem to have image-stabilization/vibration-reduction tricks up their sleeve as well. Apparently in the early 2000s both Nikon and Tamron filed patents for teleconverters with image stabilization baked right in. Tamron’s was for a standard unit that sits between the lens and the camera body, while Nikon’s was for a unit that sits in front of the lens.
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Nikonians rejoice! Nikon has just announced two new lenses: the AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED and the AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR.

The new 16-35mm is huge news for full frame Nikon users, as it is the widest FX-format focal range with VR at 16mm. 16mm without a crop factor is pretty darn wide — that’s a wide angle view of 107°!

Nikon’s 24mm is also nothing to overlook for FX and DX users. It joins Nikons array of prime lenses, but boasts the widest aperture in a wide angle lens.

Photographer Bob Krist had one of the first hands-on shooting with both lenses, and he’s got some photos with the 24mm f/1.4G ED on his site.

Both of the new lenses utilize Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (so none of that angry-robot whirring like the f/1.8 nifty 50), a Nano Crystal Coat to reduce internal “ghosting” and flaring, and ED glass. (Confused by all the numbers and letters? Here’s a helpful article: Lens names explained.)

But of course, all this fantastic gear comes at a pretty price. Nikon will release the 16-35mm f/4 later this month, with an estimated price of $1259.95. The 24mm f/1.4 will be available late March 2010 for around $2199.95.

Even if you’re not planning on dropping bills on the new lenses, keep an eye out for quality lens resells. The 24mm f/1.4 will likely effectively replace the comparatively cheap but trusty Nikon 24mm f/2.8, and it’s likely that there will be more DX lenses available on the resell market.