Does Nikon have a professional line of lenses like Canon has the L-lenses?

Question

I haven't seen anything about professional line of lenses for Nikon. I didn't know if they have anything like the L-Series lenses.

What do your friends think that own Nikons and Canons?

Answer 1

Nikon doesn't label their pro lenses as such.
Nikon's pro lenses are pretty much all of their f/1.4 (and under) primes, and their constant f/2.8 zooms.
With their fixed focal length lenses, the 85mm f/1.4 is a fantastic portrait lens. With zooms, the Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 is the best landscape lens by any brand. The Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 is a great choice for journalism. The 70-200mm f/2.8 and the 200-400mm f/4 are great for sports and wildlife. The 500mm f/4 is even better and they have plenty of other options. As you'd expect, all of these lenses cost over $1,000.
I personally use a Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 and the build quality, AF speed, and image quality just keep amazing me.
P.S. The 'ED' coating is not reserved for Nikon's pro lenses. Even the cheap 18-55mm kit lens for the D40 is an ED lens.

Answer 2

Great answers from everyone! The first thing that occurred to me was that Nikon has finally gotten smart about alienating certain segments of the market by NOT trying to create a "pro" line of lenses - unlike Canon. With Nikon, all you do is set your budget and then spend 20-30% more than you planned on spending and you have a "pro" lens.

We don't need no steenkin' "L" series!

I'd agree with OMG's criteria, though. The really top quality lenses that pros seek and use are the huge fixed aperture lenses and they don't have a specific designation.

Answer 3

Don't fall for Canon's advertising ploy: Nikon makes professional lenses, but they don't feel the need to label them as such. Are Canon's cheaper lenses "amateur lenses?"

Answer 4

They don't market a specific "Pro Line" of lenses. They consider all of their lenses to be Professional.