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Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S Lens

BH #NIZ10040045 • MFR #20106
Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S Lens
Key Features
  • Z-Mount Lens/FX Format
  • Aperture Range: f/4.5 to f/40
  • Six Super ED and Two ED Glass Elements
  • ARNEO and Nano Crystal Coatings
Offering super-telephoto reach in a portable design, the NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S, from Nikon, is a versatile zoom well-suited for sports and wildlife applications. Covering a broad telephoto range, the lens manages to remain relatively lightweight and compact, making it ideal for travel as well, and it incorporates Inner Balance technology that maintains stability when tracking moving subjects and shooting atop a gimbal head.
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Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S Overview

  • 1Description
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4Optical Design
  • 5Autofocus and Vibration Reduction
  • 6Handling and Design
  • 7
By B&H Photo's
Offering super-telephoto reach in a portable design, the NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S, from Nikon, is a versatile zoom well-suited for sports and wildlife applications. Covering a broad telephoto range, the lens manages to remain relatively lightweight and compact, making it ideal for travel as well, and it incorporates Inner Balance technology that maintains stability when tracking moving subjects and shooting atop a gimbal head.
Optical Design
  • Featuring a combination of two Super ED and six ED glass elements, chromatic aberrations and color fringing is effectively eliminated throughout the zoom range for notable clarity and color accuracy.
  • ARNEO and Nano Crystal Coats are used to prevent ghosting, reflections, and flare in order to realize improved contrast and clarity when working in strong lighting and backlit conditions. The Nano Crystal Coat controls incidental light from a diagonal direction while the ARNEO Coat controls incidental light from a vertical direction.
Autofocus and Vibration Reduction
  • Multi-focus system incorporates two separate AF drive units, which are synchronized, to deliver especially fast and accurate focusing throughout the zoom range. This system uses stepping motors, which offer impressively smooth and quiet autofocus performance that is well-suited to both stills and video applications.
  • Full-time manual focus override is also possible and an internal focusing design is used, where only the internal lens groups are moved during focusing, to maintain the overall length of the lens during use and to promote faster focusing speeds.
  • Minimum focusing distance of 2.5', along with a maximum magnification of 0.38x, benefits working with close-up subjects.
  • Vibration Reduction image stabilization helps to reduce the appearance of camera shake by approximately 5.5 stops to better enable handheld shooting in low-light situations.
Handling and Design
  • Short zoom throw rotation of just 80° permits quick changing between the 100mm to the 400mm positions.
  • Updated zoom design prevents lens creep, regardless if the lens is pointing straight up or down, without having to adjust torque or tension settings.
  • Programmable Control Ring is, by default, set to adjust manual focus, but can also be used to control aperture or exposure compensation.
  • Integrated OLED lens information panel allows you to quickly confirm aperture setting, focus distance, and depth of field figures right on the lens in both bright and dark situations.
  • Two assignable L.Fn buttons work in conjunction with camera-based Fn buttons to provide seamless points for quickly changing exposure settings and other functions.
  • Dust- and moisture-resistant lens barrel, along with a front fluorine coating, benefits the lens' use in inclement conditions.
  • Inner Balance technology helps maintain a consistent center of gravity when shifting the zoom position, offering greater stability when tracking moving subjects using a gimbal head.
  • Rotating tripod collar offers mounting stability when shooting atop a monopod or tripod.
  • Compatible with optional Z-Teleconverter TC-1.4x and TC-2x to further extend the reach of this lens.

Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S Specs

Key Specs
Focal Length
100 to 400mm
Maximum Aperture
f/4.5 to 5.6
Lens Mount
Nikon Z
Lens Format Coverage
Full-Frame
Focus Type
Autofocus
Image Stabilization
Yes
Filter Size
77 mm (Front)
Maximum Aperture
f/4.5 to 5.6
Minimum Aperture
f/32 to 40
Lens Mount
Nikon Z
Lens Format Coverage
Full-Frame
Angle of View
24° 20' to 6° 10'
Minimum Focus Distance
2.5' / 75 cm
Maximum Magnification
0.38x
Optical Design
25 Elements in 20 Groups
Diaphragm Blades
9, Rounded
Focus Type
Autofocus
Image Stabilization
Yes
Tripod Collar
Fixed and Rotating
Filter Size
77 mm (Front)
Dimensions (ø x L)
3.9 x 8.7" / 98 x 222 mm
Weight
3.2 lb / 1435 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight
4.305 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
14.9 x 7 x 6.3"

Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S Reviews

Amazing Light Versatile Lens

By Paul
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-08-20

Great range with closeups available and weight is fantastic. Like all the Nikon Nikkor Z S lenses clarity and focus is amazing.

The champion of all my lenses

By Colin
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-07-26

Well worth the price-tag. This is a professional lens. I have done portraits, I have done nature photography, I have done it all with this lens. It's heavy and large but you get an amazing lens for that added space and weight. It's really worth it.

Love this lens!

By Sonya
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-07-20

It's a great wildlife walk around lens. This is the lens I grab when I want the flexibility of a zoom lens. The image quality is excellent for a telephoto zoom and I plan to take it to the Smokies to photograph the elk in the fall. I really enjoy using it with my Z8.

Best Telephoto Ever

By Gerald
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-07-13

Is this lens sharp? Is the Pope Catholic? This lens is incredible. Relatively short, light and quick focusing and sharp as a tack. The sample images I have included also had the Nikon 2X Teleconverter attached and still images were oh so sharp. There is also one other bonus in using the teleconverter. The minimum focusing distance does not change so this lens can be used as a macro lens. I do have one criticism. For the price I paid for this lens, you'd think Nikon would include a hard shell case with the lens instead of the pathetic cloth pouch. You can do better, Nikon.

Love this lens

By David
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-07-11

I purchased a Nikon Z8 and Nikkor Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S lens as my primary setup for an upcoming trip to Antarctica. I have been testing the new equipment on flowers and birds in my backyard and absolutely love the combination. I have been shooting hand held at 800th zoomed to 400mm most of the time. The images are very sharp and the auto focus is fast. I am very happy I made this choice.

Good image quality, flexible zoom range

By Damon
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-06-30

I've been using this lens for a year and a half, and it's my most-used lens now. Image quality is outstanding at 100mm and very good at 400mm (it softens up a little as the focal length increases). It's light enough to be readily portable, though its size presents issues unless I separate it from my camera to store in my backpack. The weather sealing held up to a week in the desert, including a day in moderately high winds blowing sand all over my gear (Z7ii). I have no concerns on that front. The narrow maximum aperture contributes to its light weight, but presents issues as you get into deep twilight. You'll have to increase your ISO quite a bit to compensate. It works decently well with the Z 1.4x TC, but unlike what you might hear on Youtube, the 1.4x TC does noticeably reduce sharpness. It's still better than cropping, but the magnification doesn't come for free, even aside from increasing the maximum aperture to a marginal f/8. Focusing is slower but still effective at f/8 however with both the Z9 and the Z7ii. Overall it's my favorite lens. I've got a preorder in for the 180-600mm, but I expect this lens to continue to be a staple lens for my wildlife and landscape photography.

Outstanding image quality with zoom flexibility

By Steve
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-08-08

I needed and S quality lens to fill the gap between my 24-120 mm and my z800 6.3. I have been using the 400mm f4.5 with both 1.4 and 2.0 teleconverters with grate results. I did allot of testing comparing the 100-400 against the 400mm prime including using the teleconverters on both. I shoot mainly wildlife and the zoom lens was easily equal in image quality to the 400mm. So i sold the 400 which easily covered the cost of the zoom lens with the added flexibility it was seeking

Excited about this lens!

By George
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-08-04

I have not had a chance to use this lens yet. From what I read, there are many applications I wish to explore and then give my thoughts about the lens. As always, thank you B&H for providing a wide variety of quality products for the photographer and in a timely manner.

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