The focal length range of the brand new NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR is insane. You can shoot wide landscapes to tight distant wildlife and everything in between. As it starts at f/4 then hits f/8 by 200mm, your best results will come from shooting outdoors during the day.
But if you’re looking for an all rounder lens to rule them all, this might be the one.
“The NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens is designed to provide the freedom to capture stunning landscapes, thrilling action, and intricate close-up shots with ease,” said John Young, General Manager of International Marketing, International Business Division of the Imaging Group, Nikon.
“Being incredibly portable with a built-in vibration reduction effect of up to 5.0 stops, this lens offers exceptional versatility making it the perfect lens for anyone on the go.”
The sample shots I’ve seen so far are promising and the video looks really nice in 8K. The good news is Nikon has taken video production into account, minimising focus-breathing and offering linear manual focus for precise control during video shooting.
As a videographer gathering content for news, flexibility is vital. I currently use a Tamron 28-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD Sony E Mount. So if I were shooting Nikon Mirrorless, I would definitely give this super-telephoto zoom a go.
The minimum focusing distance is just 20 cm at the wide end and impressively, just1.2m at the long end. So background blur for subject separation should work out nicely.
The lens has a built-in optical vibration reduction (VR) mechanism, effective for up to 5.0 stops. This will help in low-light conditions and when fully extended in super-telephoto zoom. This can be further enhanced to 5.5 stops with the Synchro VR feature, combining in-camera and lens VR for even steadier shots.
The lens uses a stepping motor (STM) for autofocus and it’s also dust and drip-resistant.
Considering its focal range, the NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR is pretty compact when locked at 28mm. It doubles in size when extended to 400mm. The lens includes Zoom Lock Switch, Focal Length Scale and Control Ring.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The new NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR is available for pre-order now for around A$2,179. Shipping is expected by April 18 2024.