The new Nikon Z telephoto lenses
Within 8 months Nikon launched the following four telephoto lenses:
Nikkor Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 VR S (October 2021)
Nikkor Z 400mm F2.8 TC VR S (January 2022)
Nikkor Z 800mm F6.3 VR S (April 2022)
Nikkor Z 400mm F4.5 VR S (June 2022)
All of them have their purpose and all of them bring interesting characteristics to the Z system. While the 400mm f2.8 has an in-build x1.4 converter turning it effectively into a 560mm f4.0 the 800mm f6.3 is perhaps the most compact telephoto lens in this class. With the use of a Phase Fresnel lens element Nikon was able to lower the weight to just 2.4kg and a length of just 385mm. This, combined with the lens being well balanced with the weight more to the rear, enables photographers to shoot this lens handheld for extended periods of time, something that wasn’t possible with previous 800mm lenses.
The versatile Nikkor Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S
The versatile 100-400mm zoom has magnification ratio of 1:2.6 (=0.38x) and is an interesting option for close-ups of larger insects such a certain spiders or dragonflies or other similar sized animals. There were reports saying the 100-400mm was “quite good” in terms of image quality at close focus distance, which of course turned into “not-as-good-as-possible” and consequently even into “mediocre” elsewhere. Such internet talk is best ignored, I’ve tried my friend’s Z 100-400 at its close-up distance and you will be able to get images of high quality at close up range. If you don’t it’s you, not the lens.
The new Nikkor 400mm f4.5 VR S prime
Coming in at 1245g and with a length of just 235mm the 400mm f4.5 is similar in size and weight than the Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S, another relatively compact yet high quality option to reach out beyond 200 or 300mm. Being compatible with Nikon’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters its reach can be extended further to a very usable 560mm f6.3 or even to 800mm at f9. This makes the 400mm prime more suitable for extended reach than the the slower 100-400mm zoom, albeit it is quite slow at f9 at 800mm when used with the 2x converter.
There are claims on the internet that Nikon has too many options around 400mm with all these lenses, but I don’t think this is the case. As often people only think of their very own use case to come to such conclusions. To find out which lens is right depends on the overall lens setup being used. For those, who want a single telephoto lens with a reach beyond the usual 200 or 300mm the Nikkor Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 VR S is a good solution, as long as they don’t mind the size and weight. On the other hand Nikkor Z 400mm F4.5 VR S is more suitable for those who want that longer reach – and perhaps even more with a 1.4x converter – combined with another, shorter telephoto option.
Alternatives and combinations
I’m currently using the AF-P 70-300mm VR E lens on a Ftz converter as a part of a compact and light lens setup, combined with the Z 14-30mm f4 S and the Z 50mm f2.8 MC. This is considerably smaller and lighter than carrying the 100-400mm as a single telephoto solution lens at all times – and it will be more so once Nikon gets around to add a native Z version of the AF-P 70-300mm or the AF-S 70-200mm f4.0 VR.
The Z 400mm F4.5 VR S enables such a compact setup to go beyond 200/300mm as an add-on, only to be carried when the circumstances might require it. Another option for such an “compact+extended” setup would be in combination with the Z 24-200mm f4-6.3 VR, of course.
Let’s take a quick look at the weight of such a setup:
Base setup:
Z 14-30mm f4 S – 485g
Z 50mm F2.8 MC – 260g
AF-P 70-300mm VR E – 680g
FTZ – 135g
Total: 1560g
Added:
Z 400mm F4.5 VR S – 1245g
Total: 2805g
Full monty (Base setup, with 400mm and 1.8 wide prime and body)
TC-1.4x – 220g
Nikkor Z 35mm F1.8 S – 370g
Z7 body (with battery) – 675g
Total: 4070g
The whole setup stays at a very reasonable 2605g, including the body, and is highly versatile from 14-300mm.
Add reach up to 560mm and you’re at 4070g. It’s getting heavy now, but not that much more than the three f2.8 zooms combined with a z7 body and the Z 2.0x converter – which totals at 3840g.
Most importantly, the setup with the Z 400mm F4.5 VR S as an add-on is more versatile, there are way more – lighter and smaller – combinations possible, such as my base setup, which fits into the handlebar bag of my mountain bike, including the body.
Corner sharpness is not on par with the best of the best, but not exactly bad either. It’s just good, instead of very good. AF is quick and quiet, and a close focus distance of 19cm results in a quite good magnification of 0.34x. Background blur is quite smooth, again not the best, but still very pleasant.
Overall there’s a lot to like, in particular when looking at its price. US$1200 upon launch it is often priced at a very competitive US$1000. It’s quite light as well at 565g as well, and a bit smaller than the two chunkier options above. Overall it compares more to the Z 24-70mm f4 S, and again it’s the intended use that makes up for most of the differences. The collapsible – and therefore even smaller – 24-70mm f4 S definitely has the better range and great S lens edge-to-edge image quality. Yes, those 4mm at the wide end make for much of a difference, way more than the 5mm at the long end. 24mm is definitely wide. 28mm is…not quite wide. In this sense the ‘kit zoom’ is the better all-rounder. Takes up less space and a more useful range.
However, the Z 28-75mm f2.8 does have its use. Much like the Z 24-70mm f2.8 S it is more suitable for low light work, albeit a bit more restricted when it comes to indoors and events due to the difference at the wide end. Still, there’s one task where I does really well – out in the streets when the light goes down. Street photography with one zoom instead of several primes. People, portraits, street scenes, all in one lens, and quite compact as such. Usually edge-to-edge corner sharpness doesn’t matter when shooting in such environments either.
Additionally, carrying two or more small f2.8 primes instead of this 28-75mm f2.8 won’t offer really any advantage, neither in size nor performance. Faster, high performing 1.8 primes sure will, but the size will go up in comparison to this 28-70 f2.8. So yes, this lens looks very appealing for a compact, single lens, yet high performance, street-walking setup.
Since I do shoot a lot of low light street scenes here in Bangkok the longer I look at this lens, the more I like it. Price, performance and size are very well balanced and should suit this particular of my use cases very well. Yes, it is very likely that the Z 28-75mm S will find its way into my setup at one point.
This is the one lens I’m not sure about yet. It’s tiny, yes, and I love tiny lenses. However, it’s range is very limited, to the point where I rather would go out with the Z 28mm f2.8 only. The wider aperture of f2.8 offers more for my style of shooting here than such a limited zoom range.
Perhaps the right body for this diminutive zoom hasn’t been made yet. Once Nikon puts a full frame sensor into a z50 or – even better – a z30 body that little 24-50mm would come into its own. Yes, I do like the idea of an ultra-compact Fx body, serving essentially the same purpose as the z30/50 do for now, but I think we will have to wait for a while until this will happen.
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