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Home → Reviews → Cameras and Lenses → Nikon Z 70-180mm f/2.8 Review

Nikon Z 70-180mm f/2.8 Review

By Spencer Cox 71 Comments
Last Updated On January 28, 2024

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71 Comments
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HD10
HD10
May 3, 2025 11:05 am

Though I already have the Z-mount 70-200mm f/2.8 S, I decided to get this lens. It’s serves primarily as a lighter and more compact telephoto zoom lens that Nikon still has not made … a Z-mount Nikkor 70-200mm f/4 or 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6.

I have used the F-mount Nikkor 70-200mm f/4.0G and 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E with an FTZ for some years. But the FTZ makes both these F-mount zooms longer and heavier. When these F-mount zooms are used with an FTZ, the Nikon/Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 is still a shorter and lighter zoom. That it is also an f/2.8 zoom and sharper than both F-mount zooms explains why I finally decided to get this.

I paid $1400 for the Nikkor 70-200mm f/4.0G VR and got the 70-180mm f/2.8 at $1,047 so the 70-180mm f/2.8 cost even less. Being one-stop brighter as well as being slightly sharper at the same aperture setting, this Nikon / Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 has found a niche in my bag.

The lack of a VR does not adversely impact my use of this lens with a Z6. That becomes even less of a concern when I use it with the much-improved IBIS and AF of my Z6 III. If I have one complaint about this lens, it would be the fit and finish of the hood and its mount which makes mounting and removal of the hood a less than straight-forward twist to lock.

I am no longer looking forward to a Z-mount Nikkor 70-200mm f/4.0 unless Nikon makes that more compact, lighter with better optics than this 70-180mm f/2.8. I will however take a serious look when Nikon finally releases a Z-mount 70-300mm.

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Philip
Philip
December 3, 2024 5:22 pm

One important point that wasn’t mentioned is that this lens has near macro ability with a 1:48 ability where the 70-200 2.8 is 1:2

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Martin
Martin
September 21, 2024 6:46 pm

At the risk of diverging: has someone tried to adapt the Sony E mount Tamron 70-180 G2 to Z mount to check how it performs?

I am interested as I have good results doing it with a Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN and like the refined optics and handling of the G2 vs. the G1 version from Tamron/ Nikon’s version.

I use the Megadap ETZ21 Pro to adapt E mount lenses.

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Patrick
Patrick
Reply to  Martin
December 2, 2024 2:52 pm

I have indeed done this. There is stabe on that lens and I find the Z8s stab does not sync with it. I have to turn off in camera stabe to get pics that I would consider OK for that lens. If you are tracking fast moving subjects coming at you this lens will NOT work well period. Better off with the gen 1 lens. I have both and the gen 1 works better in most situations.

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Robert John
Robert John
August 26, 2024 5:37 am

This lens is slighter lighter than the F-mount 70-200/f4. Good going.

Wondering if it could replace that lens – which I think has very good IQ and AF – and add a bit of the feel of a 135/f1.8?

I’ve never used a 70-200/f2.8, which is why I don’t know whether the f2.8 makes a significant difference from f4. I have found backgrounds to my f4 to be a bit on the ‘busy’ side and I find myself reducing clarity and sharpness and changing the contrast.

Thoughts anyone?

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Nick
Nick
April 27, 2024 10:31 am

CA units
Hi, Spencer. Thank you for the great, as always, review. Regarding CA: why the units are pixels? As far as I remember, the pixels are for 12 MP sensors. Even Imatest admits that measuring CA in pixels penalizes high-pixel-count cameras, and suggest using percentage of the distance from the image center to the ROI.

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Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Nick
June 17, 2024 10:39 am

They’re pixels on the 45 megapixel sensor that we use as standard. If we tested with a bunch of different resolution sensors, percentage would be better, but we don’t, so we’re not penalizing any lenses with this approach. Also, I like that pixels on a 45 MP sensor makes it easy to visualize.

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Larry Dreyer
Larry Dreyer
March 11, 2024 3:48 pm

Thanks Spencer for another great review. I’m slowly migrating to mirrorless (already own the Z8 and 180-600mm lens) and did my own comparison between 70-180mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 S at a daytime lacrosse event in 38 degree sleet. The 70-180 performed so well, I ended up buying it. Not only was there no noticeable difference in photo quality, I was super impressed with the AF and the ease of use (i.e. weight and size). At f/2.8 ISO 200 and 1/1000th, I was able to get blurred backgrounds with my subject in sharp focus. My use case for the lens is day/night sports/action where I can get fairly close (i.e. lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, track & field and as a second lens for football from the 20yd line and in). And the 70-180mm fits the bill. So I agree with your review although I may rate it a little higher ;^).

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Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Larry Dreyer
April 12, 2024 11:29 pm

Glad you’re enjoying it so much!

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arunakalu
arunakalu
November 23, 2023 9:24 am

I am debating if to get the 70-200 f/2.8 or this lens. This is mostly for wildlilfe at low light hours. I have a z 100-400 and a 1.4TC and they are awesome, also I have the 24-120 f4, but sometimes in early/late hours it is hard to capture wildlife and thought this would be great due to light weight. But again, it is a mental thing, Nikon lens vs “Nikon” lens.

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Dan
Dan
Reply to  arunakalu
February 24, 2024 6:44 pm

What did you decide?

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Reply
arunakalu
arunakalu
Reply to  Dan
June 17, 2024 10:36 am

Bought the 70-180 f/2.8 and also the 400 f/4.5. I might now sell my 100-400.

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Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  arunakalu
June 17, 2024 10:40 am

That seems like a good plan! This lens plus the 400mm f/4.5 makes an excellent combo.

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Robert John
Robert John
Reply to  arunakalu
August 6, 2024 11:32 am

Thom Hogan recommends those two lenses on a Z6iii for a light-weight safari bag. Sounds like you’re onto a winner.

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Rage
Rage
Reply to  arunakalu
November 4, 2024 9:51 am

I have the same combo + 1,4TC. That gives me 100-250 f/4 + 400 f/4,5 or 70-180 f/2,8 + 560 f/6,3

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Dan Williams
Dan Williams
November 13, 2023 12:24 pm

Great Review, Spencer! I had been waiting for this one for a while and I think you have pushed me off the fence. I gotta say, your shot of Cathedral Rock in Sedona, AZ is the best capture of that location I have ever seen. Thanks for all the excellent work and if Photography Life ever offers a workshop in the Southwest I’ll be all over it!

2
Reply
Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Dan Williams
April 12, 2024 11:28 pm

I really appreciate it, thanks, Dan! We may do a workshop there at some point. I loved Sedona.

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Clemens
Clemens
November 13, 2023 7:31 am

Thanks a lot, Spencer. Did you test the impact of VR (or rather the absence of it) as compared to the 70-200? I was wondering how many stops of difference it would make on a camera with IBIS like the Z8. Best wishes, Clemens

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Reply
Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Clemens
April 12, 2024 11:28 pm

The lack of it doesn’t make a huge difference in practice – less than a stop in most instances on the Zf/Z8/Z9, I’d say about 1/2 stop.

1
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jean pierre (pete) guaron
jean pierre (pete) guaron
November 11, 2023 8:54 pm

I don’t need to cover beyond 180 with this lens – after that, I accept the extra weight & size, and shoot with my 180-600. And these days, the difference between the performance of zooms like this range of Nikon’s, and prime lenses, is mainly something for pro’s to worry about. I couldn’t print all my photos larger than A4 if I wanted to – I’d have nowhere to put them all. Below that size, and using even a reasonably high quality Epson ink jet, the differences in sharpness are inconsequential, for my work. I doubt very much whether you’d ever be able to see them! And even if it’s “possible” to, I think it’s most unlikely that you would, with smaller prints – ink jet printers (regardless of quality) have their limitations, too!

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