Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 preview

Summary

The Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S is a long zoom lens with a 4x zoom range. It is the first lens for Nikon's Z-jump on mirrorless cameras reaching beyond 200mm focal length and only the second lens which can wont Nikon's Z 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters. It is rectified for full-frame cameras but lav also be used on a planted body like the Z fc or Z50 where information technology covers a field of view equivalent to 150-600m focal length. The new lens offers optical image stabilisation, autofocus, focus limiter, removable tripod foot, additional use buttons, plus an OLED display to indicate aperture, focal length, or focal point distance and depth-of-field. It is the successor to Nikon's AF-S 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR which was introduced in 2013 and still can be put-upon via FTZ adapter on Nikon's Z cameras. The Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S costs 2999 EUR / 2700 USD / 2699 GBP and should become available in December. Check back soon for my glutted reexaminatio!

Buy it now!

Check prices on the Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 at B&adenylic acid;H, Adorama, WEX UK or Calumet.de. Alternatively get yourself a copy of my In Camera book operating room treat me to a coffee! Thanks!

Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 trailer

28th October 2021

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The Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S is a long telephotograph lens with a 4x zoom range. It is the initiative lens for Nikon's Z-mount mirrorless cameras reaching beyond 200mm focal distance and only the second lens which can use Nikon's Z 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters. It is corrected for grumbling-framework cameras but can also be in use on a cropped consistency the like the Z fc or Z50 where it covers a field of view equivalent to 150-600m focal duration. The sunrise lens offers optical image stabilization, autofocus, focus limiter, removable tripod foot, additive role buttons, addition an OLED display to indicate aperture, focal length, or focalization distance and depth-of-field. IT is the successor to Nikon's AF-S 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR which was introduced in 2013 and still rump be utilized via FTZ adapter on Nikon's Z cameras.

The Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S costs 2999 EUR / 2700 USD / 2699 GBP and should become addressable in Dec.

Facts and features

Let's compare the Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S ("Z 100-400" for short) to the Nikon AF-S VR 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR ("F-Nikkor") and the Nikon Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S ("Z 70-200"). The latter privy be used with Nikon's 1.4x and 2x Z teleconverters to go a 98-280mm f4.0 or 140-400mm f5.6 telephoto lens. As was common I've rated the features with a [+] (or [++]), when it's better than medium or even state of the fine art, a [0] if it's standard or fair average, and [-] if on that point's a disadvantage.

Size (diameter x duration): 98 x 222mm (3.9 x 8.7in.). Add an estimated 60mm for the lens hood and 50mm when zoomed in to 400mm point distance. The F-Nikkor is 96 x 203 millimetre + 88mm lens hood + 57mm when zoom-in. Add 30mm for the FTZ adapter to use it on a Nikon Z photographic camera and you end up with a total maximum duration of 378mm. The Z 70-200 is 89 x 220mm + 56mm lens hood and does not extend when zoomed in. Add 19mm resp. 33mm for the TC-1.4x or TC-2.0x. [0]

Weight: 1355g (2.99 lb.). Add an estimated 70g for the plastic Lens hood and 80g for the tripod foot. The F-Nikkor is 1470 g + 95g lens hood + 92g for the tripod ring. Add some other 133g for the FTZ adaptor to use it on a Nikon Z camera. The Z 70-200 is 1359g + 63g lens hood + 82g tripod foot. Add 220g for the Trusteeship Council-1.4x, 265g for the TC-2.0x. [0]

Optics: 25 elements in 20 groups including 8 special scattering elements but nary rounded element. The lens has "ARNEO" anti-reflective coating additionally to Nikon's Nano-coating to reduce flare, glare and ghosting plus F-coating connected the front element to repel water, dust, and dirt and make cleaning easier. The F-Nikkor has 20 elements in 12 groups with no aspherical elements. The Z 70-200 has 21 elements in 18 groups including two aspherical elements and the TC-1.4x adds 6 elements, the Atomic number 43-2.0x 8. [+]

Nighest focus distance is 0.75m (2.5ft.) with a working length of 0.51m (1.7ft.) at 100mm focal length. At 400mm focal distance borderline focus distance is 0.98 (3.2ft.) which results in a temporary distance of 0.69m (2.3ft.) and a maximum magnification of 1:2.6 which is precise good. Victimization teleconverters increases maximum blowup to 1:1.9 with the Tc-1.4x or 1:1.3 with the TC-2.0x without dynamical the practical outstrip. The other lenses in this comparison also achieve their maximum magnification at their longest focal duration: This is 1:4.1 at 1.3m working distance for the F-Nikkor. The Z 70-200 achieves 1:4.6 at 0.72m working distance. Use IT with a teleconverter and uttermost magnification increases to 1:3.3 or 1:2.3. [+]

See stabilization: All three Nikkors offer optical stabilization (VR) which works in conjunction with the physical structure-founded stabilization on Nikon's full-frame Z cameras to achieve a claimed 5.5 stops of stabilisation over 5 axes for the Z 100-400 and Z 70-200. For the F-Nikkor the Z bodies single add roll out correction to pitch and yaw correction from the lens's VR. [+]

Filter-thread: All ternary lenses in that comparison utilization 77mm filters. [+]

Autofocus: Yes with inbuilt AF drive. Manual-focus override is by simply turn the dedicated focus ring at the middle of the lens. The focus ring cannot be Re-assigned another function nor keister it be switched off. The focus ring probably has a variable gearing (like all AF Z-Nikkors heretofore) which allows for very distinct blue-collar focus when turned slowly but cannot constitute switched to linear train. Which makes smooth focus pull for videographers almost impossible. On Nikon Z cameras introduced October 2020 OR later you john lift focus direction. Focus happening the F-Nikkor works differently as it has a direct linear mechanical conjugation 'tween the focus phone and the focal point carry out. [+]

Presentation: The Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S features the same OLED display as the Z 70-200 indicating focal length, aperture, or focusing distance (in m Beaver State ft.) and depth-of-field. This display is intemperately to read low sunny conditions in its default setting but IT can be made as bright as the top of the inning display connected the Z7. You can switch through with the different display types exploitation the DISP-button. The F-Nikkor has no more such display but sports the usual length and dof indicators on the focus ringing. [+]

Additional functions: There are 4 purpose buttons directly behind the zoom ring one of them designated L-Fn2 plus an additional L-Fn button behind the focus ring connected the lens which bathroom be allotted different functions like AE/AF lock in. That is the equivalent as with the Z 70-200. The F-Nikkor has no much function buttons. Every three lenses also sport a focus-limiter which in case of the Z 100-400 prevents the lens to search rive closer than 3m (10ft.). Interestingly the Z 100-400 does not sport a zoom lock and the marketing material claims the lens does not show zoom sneak away. [+]

Aperture: The lens has a slenderize multi-function control ring just in front of the tripod collar in improver to the consecrate focus ring. The see ring can represent assigned to operate the aperture (which is the default), exposure recompense, or ISO sensitiveness – operating theater simply switched dispatch. Position and texture of the ring has changed over previous models: It moved quite an a bit forward from the narrow throat of the lens backing to the wider part of the drum which makes it easier to get to when you grasp the lens. The F-Nikkor has no dedicated aperture environ. [+]

Lens profile: The Z-Nikkor comes with a lens visibility which can embody controlled from the camera. Sketch control offers the familiar options of High, Normal, Low and Cancelled. Diffraction compensation and Auto distortion control can be activated or deactivated. The F-Nikkor has a lens visibility in Adobe's RAW convertor. [+]

All three lenses cover full cast/FX operating theatre smaller sensors. [+]

Price: 2999 EUR (incl. 19% VAT) / 2700 USD / 2699 GBP. The Nikon AF-S 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR is 2030 EUR / 2300 USD / 2000 GBP, the Nikon Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S costs 2330 EUR / 2600 USD / 2300 GBP. The price in EUR seems too high – specially compared to the price in USD. [0]

Employment with teleconverters: Yes. Nikon offers deuce teleconverters for Z-mount: The TC-1.4x for 549 EUR (incl. 19% Tub) / 547 USD / 549 GBP and Trusteeship Council-2.0x for 660 EUR / 597 USD / 580 GBP. They terminate be used with the Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S and Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S – but no other Z-Nikkor up to now. And you cannot use the Z teleconverters with the FTZ adapter. [+]

Both Z-Nikkors come with the common flimsy pouch with nary strings to extract information technology fold. The lens hood is enclosed and locks in topographic point to avoid accidentally falling off plus it is reversible for channelize. Merely while the lens thug of the Z 70-200 is coated like black velvet along the inside to lose weight reflexes, the lens hood for the Z 100-400 has a stepped design. All three lenses have a detachable tripod foot – although the third gear-party replacements for the animal foot of the F-Nikkor will not work with the Z-Nikkors. But the good tidings is that you can swap the (replacing) foots between the Z 70-200 and Z 100-400. The F-Nikkor comes with a soft pouch and reversible lens hood. [0]

Sealing: yes. All three lenses take up a rubber grommet at the lens-mount nonnegative promote special weather-sealing throughout the construction including towards the lens cap. [+]

At a score of 0[-]/4[0]/12[+] the Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S offers a lot of useful features including optical project stabilization, full weather sealing and atomic number-coating, ARNEO plus Nano opposed-reflex coating, the nifty OLED display and the multi function ring. Addition IT whole kit with teleconverters making the combo reach to 800mm focal length – albeit at a paltry f11 focal ratio. Compared to the Nikon AF-S VR 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR the new lens is bad much the unvaried size but o'er 100g flatboat – or around 250g lighter if you count the FTZ arranger in should you use the F-Nikkor on a Z body. This does not seem much but it certainly makes it easier to carry all daytime.

Sharpness and contrast

Let's take a look at the theoretical performance of the Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S, Nikon AF-S 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR and Nikon Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S:

Above: Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S at 100mm f4.5 (left), 400mm f5.6 (right)

Above: Nikon AF-S 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G Erectile dysfunction VR at 80mm f4.5 (left), 400mm f5.6 (right field)

Above: Nikon Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S at 70mm f2.8 (left), 200mm f2.8 (right)

These MTF charts show the computed lens-performance of lenses wide open at infinity without work of diffraction at 10 melody-pairs/millimeter (red) and 30 lp/millimeter (blue/green). High values are better (more contrast) and the closer the dotted and semisolid lines are together the inferior contrast dependents on the orientation of the trial-pattern (less astigmia). The x-axis displays the distance from the optical axis (=center of the sensor) in mm.

From the charts the new Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S should be clearly sharper than its predecessor. The Nikon Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S looks even better (without teleconverters) although it is shown here at f2.8 – a disadvantage of 1.3-2 Chicago.

This each looks quite promising and I'm looking forward to thoroughly test this lens.

Check prices on the Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 at B&H, Adorama, WEX UK Beaver State Calumet.de. Alternatively get yourself a re-create of my Privately book Oregon treat me to a coffee! Thanks!