Everything has already been told and written (you’ll find below a list of announcement papers in other blogs), except the price: A whooping 11769 US Dollar! Even a little higher than what was expected.

The first lenses will be available at the end of May, but Canon sources confirm that the quantity will be very limited at first.

• PetaPixel
• PhotoCritic
• Canon rumors
• DPreview

And the case is 649 US dollars more…

Since then, the rumors extended beyond reason. The lens was seen several times in the hands of various photographers (in particular, during some sports events around the world). But it seems that Canon evidenced a serious issue last Summer, significantly delaying the launch. It’s impossible to know what it was, but the reality is that the lens exists and that it’s not available yet.

Despite a formidable price (forecast to be further than 11000 US dollars, or more than 10000 euros), it attracted the interest of many people because it exhibits an extraordinary set of features (extraordinary, even in the world of mega-zooms):

1. A 200-400mm zoom lens with a f/4 aperture, or a diaphragm very wide open without reaching the ridiculous price and weight of a f/2.8 aperture.
2. This combination has already been visible in the Nikon lens line for several year in the guise of the AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED VR which is already in its second generation (mainly for an upgrade of the optical image stabilization).
3. Its wide aperture allows to use a focal multiplier; but this kind of tool is often unpleasant to handle. The new Canon integrates a 1.4x multiplier in an internal mechanism that appears like a sort of side bulbous bump. The multiplier, thus, becomes always available at the minuscule cost of pushing a lever with a finger to bring it into the optical path. Nothing could be simpler!

This last item is clearly the innovation that shocked people into attention and could have a nice future if Canon learns how to handle the small associated mechanism (they do have the needed knowledge, of course).

According to Canon Rumors (which previously distinguished itself with a number of unfounded rumors about this lens and about other Canon products), the official announcement will happen in a few days (15th of May?) with full availability around Fall 2013. Nothing is certain, but if you want some more to feed your impatience, there is an Australian photographer, Joshua Holko, who has been authorized to publish a video review of a few minutes.

Thanks to Luminous Landscape.

Nikon 800mm f/5.6 E-FL-ED-VR (lens design)

Nikon has decided to start renewing some of its sports- or wildlife-oriented long lenses this year (and probably in 2014 too). Starting in January 2013, they offer a monster of a lens, the Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 E FL ED VR.

It’s a monster of price (18000 USD list price, but slightly better at B&H or Amazon), of weight (4.59 kg or 10.12 lb). But it’s also one of the longest focal you can really find on the market (older 1200mm heavy-weights are out-of-market, in all senses of the word).

The most prominent features are a dream for all photographers (in this category):

• Two ED glass elements (“fluorite” for those more used to Canon language, despite the small differences between these technologies)
• Electro-magnetically-controled diaphragm (like in the PC-E line of lenses)
• Included TC800-1.25E ED extender designed specially to create a 1000mm f/7.1 beast (the first extender ever to include an ED glass element).

Nikon 800mm f/5.6 (architecture)

Nikkor 800mm

Nikkor TC800 1.25x

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM

• Dust-proof and splash-proof construction
• High image quality close to fixed focal length lens
• Focus limiter button (to speed AF up)

Sigma also disclosed that they want this lens to be the first in a long (and new) line of “sports-oriented” lenses (read: lens line of big focal lengths, and possibly relatively inexpensive… for long lenses).

So, we will have to wait until we can see if these features are accompanied with excellent optical quality (or not) for this Sigma new 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM lens.

Source: PetaPixel.

Nikon D800

PDN found a problem with the Nikon D4 and D800 while testing these. It seems that there are situations where the camera will lock up when the camera is used with either Highlights or histogram display.

Simply disabling these features will avoid this ugly lock-up (even if it is easy to restore normal operation by removal of the battery for a couple of seconds).

Nikon is looking for a correction. Most probably a firmware upgrade.

The only batteries that may be replaced hold the letter E or the letter F in 9th position in their serial number.

EN-EL15 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Service Advisory (Nikon).

We are not alone. Plenty of people on the web have the same objective and they brought us exactly that: A wealth of comparisons, parallel tests and face-to-face reviews for the newest contenders for the title of “Most attractive enthusiast-targeting photo camera with a Full Frame sensor”.

• Low Light Comparison of the Canon 5D Mark II, 5D Mark III, and Nikon D800 from Joe Marine (via PetaPixel): It’s an impressive show of the Canon video performance (even calling the old 5D MkII in)
• DxOLabs does a number of reviews and comparisons aiming at the sensor quality (D800 & 5D MkIII): does not leave any doubt about the photo ability of the Nikon sensor (or should I say Sony sensor?).



• Nikon D800 vs. D3s and D7000 comparison by Cary Jordan: is obviously impressed by the D800 performance (as an excellent FX camera and as a very good DX/APS-C camera, too.)
• Canon EOS 5D Mk III Vs Nikon D800 at PhotoAnswers: is rather balanced but shows very nice D800 pictures.