Summary
Without a doubt, the Nikon 400mm f/2.8G VR is a superb piece of engineering art. While it does have its own inconveniences like heavy weight and bulky construction, it sits in the same class of top Nikon lenses like the Nikon 200mm f/2G VR II and the Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II, with an exceptional optical design that yields sharp images, beautiful bokeh and colors. Its performance from large to small apertures is outstanding – the lens is designed to be used at largest apertures between f/2.8 and f/5.6.
As I have shown in my sharpness tests and explained in comparison sections, it works very well with the Nikon TC-14E II and TC-17E II teleconverters, providing great results even at largest apertures. Its low light AF capabilities are certainly affected with teleconverters, especially with the TC-17E II and TC-20E III, but once you get used to working with teleconverters, you will know how to use them to get the best results. The Nikon TC-20E III negatively impacts both sharpness and contrast at large apertures, but stopping down between f/8 and f/11 yields surprisingly good images. I would say that the Nikon 400mm f/2.8G VR behaves very similarly as the Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II with teleconverters.
Now for those who are trying to decide which one of the super telephoto lenses to buy, there are too many choices: Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon 200-400mm f/4G VR II, Nikon 400mm f/2.8G VR, Nikon 500mm f/4G VR and Nikon 600mm f/4G VR. When talking about the reach, the Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II and Nikon 200-400mm f/4G VR II are out of the mix, because they are shorter in comparison (600mm and 560mm max with usable AF). So the choice is then between the Nikon 400mm, 500mm and 600mm lenses. Which one should you get?
As I have shown in this review, the Nikon 400mm f/2.8G VR is a better choice than the Nikon 500mm f/4G VR, because it gives you more options and better reach (800mm with usable AF). What about the heaviest and the bulkiest of the bunch, the Nikon 600mm f/4G VR? Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to test the Nikon 600mm f/4G VR, because I was not able to obtain it on time for my review. One thing I know for sure though – the Nikon 600mm f/4 is a very sharp lens. This means that its performance with the Nikon TC-14E II is very good and you can get very good sharpness with working AF at 840mm. Except for the new Nikon 800mm f/5.6 VR, none of the other Nikon super telephotos can do that. Hence, if you need to get close to your subjects, the Nikon 600mm f/4 is the obvious choice, unless you feel like spending $18K on the 800mm.
However, the weight, bulk and price are again the issue here – the Nikon 600mm f/4 weighs 5 kilos! At the end of the day, no matter which one of these lenses you get, you will have to invest in a good and stable tripod system. Out of the three heavy super telephotos, the Nikon 500mm f/4 is the only lens that I could hand-hold when photographing little birds. My arm hurt like hell later, but if you have enough muscle and a strong back, you could do it for a short period of time. If you find yourself chasing after little birds on your feet, you might want to look into the 500mm instead.
Overall, I am very impressed with the Nikon 400mm f/2.8G VR, most notably with its performance with the Nikon 1.4x, 1.7x and 2.0x teleconverters. During the time of testing, I shot primarily with teleconverters and I really liked the fact that the lens focused fast and accurately on my subjects.
Where to Buy
This lens is no longer sold new, but you can find it used quite easily on sites like eBay and Fred Miranda. The newer version is the Nikon 400mm f/2.8E FL (see our review).
Nikon 400mm f/2.8G VR
- Optical Performance
- Features
- Bokeh Quality
- Build Quality
- Focus Speed and Accuracy
- Handling
- Image Stabilization
- Value
- Size and Weight
Photography Life Overall Rating
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