Our Recommendation
As I hope this review demonstrates, the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S is nearly a perfect lens. It’s optically flawless and mechanically excellent, with blazing autofocus and any feature you could ask for. Even the weight, though not trivial, is on par with today’s lightest 400mm f/2.8 lenses – and this one has a built-in teleconverter, so it’s practically two lenses in one!
Considering everything, this is perhaps the best supertelephoto lens that you could get right now. A few others may be tied with it (like Nikon’s 600mm f/4 TC VR S) but I can’t think of one that is ahead.
Of course, the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S is not a cheap lens. It is not even an expensive lens. For the price of $14,000, this is a could-have-bought-a-car lens. Only one other Nikon Z lens is more expensive – the Nikon Z 600mm f/4, for which you’ll pay an astronomical $15,500. (Nikon’s most expensive lens remains the Nikon AF-S 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR for DSLRs, with a price tag of $16,300, although it sells for about half that on the used market these days.)
So, is the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC a good value? Is it a lens I can recommend? That’s relative. Any lens that earns its keep – or that brings its user so much joy that they forget how much it cost – can be considered a good value.
Then again, if you don’t need the fast speed of f/2.8 or the built-in teleconverter, you can save many thousands of dollars with a different Nikon lens. The Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 is excellent in its own right. So are other alternatives like the Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6, the Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3, and the Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF. All of these lenses are slower than the 400mm f/2.8 by more than a stop of light, but they are all impeccably sharp, fast to focus, and much less expensive. You can also save a lot of money if you go with the F-mount 400mm f/2.8 (especially buying used) as long as you don’t mind the extra weight and lack of a built-in teleconverter.
But let’s look at it from a different angle. Compared to 400mm f/2.8 lenses from other companies, the Nikon Z version is more expensive. Canon’s and Sony’s are both $12,000 rather than $14,000. But those lenses don’t have built-in teleconverters, at least not in their current iterations (maybe a new version will in the future). For many wildlife photographers, that difference alone will be worth the extra price for the Nikon.
Ultimately, the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S is the premium option. This is reflected in both its features and its price. While you can’t go wrong with any of the lenses that I’ve been mentioning, the king of 400mm lenses today is without a doubt the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S.
Pros:
- Though still heavy, dramatically lighter than previous 400mm f/2.8 lenses
- Excellent build quality with tight tolerances and high-quality materials
- Nikon’s most advanced lens handling features and controls
- Advanced weather sealing that should survive anything other than a dunking
- Remarkable autofocus with excellent low-light focusing capabilities
- Best-in-class optical performance in almost every regard, especially sharpness
- Built-in teleconverter brings unprecedented versatility to such a lens
- Pairs extremely well with external teleconverters
Cons:
- Very expensive at $14,000
- A few minor construction details could be improved, such as the tripod foot and its locking knob
Conclusion
With the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens, Nikon has taken another big step in the progress of supertelephoto lenses. It’s professional in every way, with no serious flaws after you deal with the price.
I expect that most Nikon photographers will go with a less expensive option at the end of the day, because $14,000 can buy quite a lot more than lenses – including some wildlife photography trips to incredible destinations. And you’re still getting best-in-class image quality with a lens like the Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 or Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 if you choose to go that route.
Just be warned, if you’re on the fence, don’t ever rent the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8. In many ways, especially the built-in teleconverter, it is a damn addictive thing.
The Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S is available for $14,000 through any of our affiliates, or less if purchased used:
- Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S at B&H
- Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S at Adorama
- Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S at Amazon
- Used/International: Check prices on eBay
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The final page of this review has reader comments. Use the Table of Contents below the star rating to jump to the section you want.
Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S
- Build Quality and Handling
- Size and Weight
- Sharpness Performance
- Other Image Quality
- Value
Photography Life Overall Rating
Table of Contents