Nikon Unveils World’s Fastest 105mm Lens, The Nikkor 105mm f/1.4E

We keep seeing crazy patents come across our desks and filing them under “never-gonna-happen.” Is that what we would have thought of Nikon’s new AF-S Nikkor 105mm f/1.4E ED ‘world’s fastest’ lens if we’d seen it as a patent? Quite possibly.

If you follow the rumor mill, you saw this one coming, but seeing it officially announced still gets our pulse racing. At f/1.4, this autofocus 105mm lens is the fastest full-frame lens of its kind… period. Here’s the description straight from Nikon:

Meet the new standard by which all short telephoto lenses will be measured against, the world’s first full-frame [autofocus] 105mm with an f/1.4 aperture. A marvel of optical precision, distortion correction and craftsmanship.

This amazing lens features 14 elements in 9 groups, 3 of which are ED elements to help control chromatic aberration, ghosting, and flare. The electronically controlled aperture boasts 9 blades.

Nikon is tagging this as a portrait (duh) and indoor sports lens that, “can defocus backgrounds with painterly finesse and isolate subjects with three-dimensional fidelity.” The so-called “Nikkor milestone” is being released in celebration of 100 million Nikkor lenses produced.

You can learn more about this lens and take a gander at some sample shots here. The AF-S 105mm f/1.4E ED will be available starting in “late August” for $2,200, and you can already pre-order it here.