The new prime, which has been designed for photojournalists and landscape photographers, has 12 elements in 10 groups with two ED glass and two aspherical lens elements to minimise distortion and aberration. It is coated with an anti-reflection Nano Crystal coat and features a nine-blade rounded diaphragm.

The lens is equipped with a Silent Wave Motor for 'smooth and discreet autofocus operation', Nikon claims, and uses magnesium in its construction with weather and dust sealing. It has a minimum focusing distance of 25cm and weighs 620g.

The lens will be released in March, priced at £1950.

Nikon has also unveiled the AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR lens, an 'ultra-wide angle zoom lens for FX-format digital SLRs. It's designed for 'general photography' and comes at an 'affordable' price, says Nikon. The lens will retail at £1050 from this month.

For more details, visit nikon.co.uk.