Add one more to the Z line: the Nikon Z 70-180mm f2.8.
This lens completes the compact and affordable f2.8 zoom series based on Tamron lenses. Of course they are a little more expensive than their counterparts but they offer certain advantages. Being Nikon means firmware compatibility is taken care of, this alone is worth the extra money in my opinion. In the case of the Z 70-180 f2.8 there are Nikon AF stepper motors being used instead of Tamron’s and unlike the Sony E-mount version of this lens the Nikon can be used with tele converters.
A compact option
The most interesting part about this lens is its size, however. It’s hardly bigger than the AF-P 70-300mm f4. 5-5.6 VR E – just 5mm longer than that lens – and that’s without the Ftz converter for the older zoom! Weight wise it’s about 100g heavier, but overall it’s broadly the same size/weight than the AF-P 70-300mm – a much more compact solution than the top of the line Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR.
No VR inbuild
One of the downsides of this lens is not having VR in the lens. As all Nikon Fx bodies do have IBIS this is certainly not as much of an issue for the lens itself. Compared to the AF-P 70-300mm it is more than a stop faster in its native 70-180mm range, and this alone more than negates the lack of in-build VR in my opinion.
Range and teleconverters
The 70-180mm range – and the fact that the lens extends when zooming – is understandable when aiming for a compact solution. That said I do like a bit more range than 180mm. However, this lens can be used with tele converters, turning it into a 100-250mm f4 or a 140-360mm f5.6 depending on which converter is used. I would definitely add a converter to this lens to extend its range when needed.
The picture changes however when adding converters. With the same f-stop at 300mm when using the 2x converter the advantage goes to the AF-P 70-300mm with its inbuilt VR system. On the other hand the 70-180mm f2.8 now reaches out an additional 60mm when used with the 2x converter, all the way to 360mm f5.6.
Overall I don’t consider the lack of VR a deal breaker; it’s only really at some disadvantage when used with converters here. However, many subjects photographed at around 300mm need certain shutter speeds to begin with to freeze motion plus I usually carry a small tripod for long exposures, so overall it should be manageable.
On a bright day I would likely mount the 1.4x tele converter by default when carrying this lens. On dark and gloomy days or once the light goes down I would unmount the converter and carry the lens without it by default. This enables me taking advantage of the extended reach when there’s enough light and profit from the fast f2.8 as soon as there’s less light.
Close-up capability
Another important aspect is the lens’ close-up capability. It is 27cm with a magnification of 0.48x (about 1:2). At 180mm it is 85cm at about 1:4. This is quite useful for close-ups of smallish subjects, be it lizards, snakes, butterflies or other larger insects.
With the 2x tele converter close-up capability gets a boost to almost 1:1 at 140mm, and about 1:2 at 360mm. It will be interesting to try this in the field, but the 70-180mm f2.8 seems to have the potential for some decent close-up work, further adding to the versatility of this lens – in particular when used with converters.
Use case
If you need more than 200mm reach there’s the option to pair this lens with converters. 70-180mm f2.8, 180-360mm f5.6, with 1:1 or 1:2 close-up, on a body with IBIS. A very versatile, yet still fairly compact option. However, not that cheap, at a total of US$1850 with the 2x converter. That’s a lot more money that the AF-P 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 VR E on the Ftz adapter.
Another question is how well this new zoom will pair with the 2x converter. I would think it will do well enough for most, but there will be a hit in terms of sharpness. It should do better with the 1.4x converter and that’s what I would choose for this lens. Field tests will sure explore the quality of these combinations in the near future and show its usefulness for those who want to go beyond its range of 70-180mm.
If you need a comparatively compact zoom out to about 200mm at a reasonable price this lens is a great choice. The large aperture of 2.8 makes up for the lack of VR when compared to slower lenses of similar size. Added bonus is a quite decent close-up capability. The Z 70-180mm f2.8 doesn’t get the bragging rights of it’s bigger sibling, the Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S, but due to its more compact size one might carry it more often – and a lens with you will take the better images than a lens at home.
I’m sure this lens will do well as it is a very interesting and versatile option for a tele zoom at the medium price tier.
Personally, I keep this lens as an option in mind, with a converter. However, for now I will continue using the AF-P 70-300mm VR E, it still does the job for me. Who knows what will pop up in the future? I think that at one point Nikon will introduce some more budget friendly (under US$1000) lenses, and both, a tele zoom and a wide angle zoom might be among them. Z line successors to the 18-35mm and 70-300mm, sort of. As I do use the 300mm end of my 70-300mm quite often such a lens would be more suitable for me – plus quite a bit cheaper! Let’s wait and see.
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