Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S Lens - Field Review - SUPER SHARP!!!

[@keldmikkelsen5246]

Beautiful picture of the robin (a bird with a lifespan of only 13 months! What a fantastic creature!). And what a great lens! Excellent colours. Lovely separation of the subject in focus from the rest of the picture out of focus! Wonderful bokeh! Thanks for the review! Greetings from Denmark!

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

Excellent! 👍 Love mine. One of these days I'll get my review finished. I'm quite happy with results with the 2x TC.

[@martinsarre]

I purchased this lens from you. Absolutely love the sharpness and light weight. Highly recommended

[@nigelbramley9285]

I got one of these in the summer, primarily for shooting athletics. I was a bit worried about losing some low light capabilities over a 2.8. What I found is that the lens is so liberating. Previously if I had wanted to move around the track to shoot different events I would have been lugging the long lens with a monopod around. This is an even lighter set-up than the 70-200 and it's so easy to move around with! I would highly recommend the lens. The only issue I have found is the lens hood can be a little short, I was shooting into the rain at the weekend and it didn't offer as much protection, but you can't have everything and I probably wouldn't want more length to the lens anyway.

[@davidjohnson4451]

The lens hood is PLENTY big enough.... Any bigger and it would be an incumberance! And I am SURE the engineers made it as long as was PRACTICAL!

[@JohnStekl-kj1tf]

Thanks!

[@graysofwestminster]

Thank you very much! 😊

[@jamesnelson1443]

Outstanding video thx This is one of the best real world demonstrations of this lens in action!!!!

[@keithwilliamson6311]

Nice review, and nice images! I use this lens with my Z9, and love it. The 1.4x TC works amazingly well with this equipment. In sunny weather, the 2x TC works pretty well (image quality is surprisingly good, but autofocus takes a bit of a hit).

[@hasserharry]

Happy New Year Kon and Becky! Any rumours on the 200-600mm? Wonder if the 1.4tc would work on that one - 280-840 would be amazing!

[@jaw6651]

Great review, thanks ;-) - also, very good that you also tested on a z6ii and not only the z9

[@reginaldogarcia770]

Thank you for trying the Z400/4.5 S with the Z6. I have the 6ii and am considering buying the 400/4.5 lens. Your video increased my interest in buying it.

[@debramercaldo4945]

Thanks for the video. So glad to see Nikon coming out with great lenses, although the 100-400 is the one I have and love!

[@uhoh7541]

Have you used the 100-400 with a TC? I've heard mixed reviews in regards to it lowering image quality.

[@johnd5244]

That is a real nice lens. The images were great looking. And any softness can be corrected in post processing, but they looked pretty crisp to me. I could use that in my kit living here as the wildlife photo opportunities are good at times. I have the 70-200 and a 2x tele. Thanks for sharing with us. If I got this plus the other 4 lenses I want I would be tapped out from buying any other lenses for a while.

[@florafaunachannel]

Hi! Great video! Can you please tell what's the music name? Thanks!

[@gregcorker2193]

Very nice review! It was impressive to see how well the 400mm f4.5 worked with the Z6. Very nice images.

[@m.maclean8911]

Looks like a nice prime lens. For half the price you can get the Z 180-600mm, and on top of that you need to spend almost another $1,000 to get the TC to get the 400mm to 560mm. I was looking at getting the 600mm PF prime, but when I saw the results from the Z 180-600mm I bought that instead, and the money I saved paid for half of my Z 800mm. Love the 800mm. It is small and light and even fits in a carry-on bag. Super sharp hand held.

[@peterouden661]

Great review and I love your show, have a great New Year both of you. Pete from NZ enjoying the summer.

[@gnmurray5955]

I appreciate that IBIS is good but how can you possibly describe a lens' sharpness without using a tripod....?

[@patrickmolloy6994]

I rented one for a couple of weeks last November - on my Z6 . Not for my style as such, I prefer zooms, but more to satisfy my curiosity and to be sure I was't missing an option. Surely a wonderful lens, and I'd rent without hesitation should I need to. Thanks for this review and Happy New Year

[@vinyalonde]

Very helpful - thanks

[@LiamFyfe]

Being a d5 and a z 6/7ii owner recently i had thought about investing in one of these, but i really couldnt justify it when i still mainly use my d5… i still prefer using my d5 for wildlife and to be honest most of the time again these days…. Even after using a loaned z9 from a friend who was on honeymoon, as soon as i had given it back, the d5 still for me just owns fast moving subjects and the 500pf is still an outstanding lens, i think for me, not looking to invest in a z9 at all while my d5 still works i will wait for the f 600/800 to come down in price as folks trade in for the mirrorless equivalents… i really love the z cameras for my paid work same as the d5. The z lenses are beautiful but for me there is no need to get rid of what i already own for now! I actually find it funny that people are saying that the z9 is so much better for birds in flight etc! If that focus point on the d5 is on that bird and you have set the correct shutter it IS going to be in focus, while with my few weeks with the z9 and how great all these new modes are, it wasnt the complete game changer i thought it was going to be! Spoiler it misses and gets confused quite alot! Im still super happy with the d5 for that and the z6ii & z7ii for most other things! Great vid by the way!

[@uhoh7541]

I wish there was a Z to F converter. Being able to use my Z lenses with my Z9 and a D5 or 6 would be best of both worlds, IMO.

[@LiamFyfe]

@@uhoh7541 its not physically possible though!

[@uhoh7541]

@Liam Fyfe it isn't? I had read somewhere (such a credible source) that it was, but there were doubts how well it'd work and that it'd go against nikon's attempt at moving everything to Z lineup. Therefore if anyone ever made one, it'd probably be a third party. If it's not physically possible, I'd prefer to accept and move on with life. If F can work with Z, what's stopping the other way around?

[@LiamFyfe]

@@uhoh7541 no the z mount itself has the shortest flange distance of any mount in production so you can adapt any lens to z system but z lenses wont work on any other system! You could physically make an adapter but you would never be able to hit infinity focus… the biggest advantage of the z mount but only if your a z body owner!thats why the ftz adapter or any adapter are bulky on a z camera, the adapter acts a spacer to sit the f lens the same distance from the sensor as it would on an f mount camera… but as z bodys have no mirror the z lens can basically sit as close to the sensor as possible and negate alot of issues from the z mount. Plus the z lenses are optimized for the large opening on the z mount! So i would imagine that you would have horrendous vignetting from z lenses on anything but z cameras!

[@uhoh7541]

@Liam Fyfe damn, feels like i owe you money for the education 🤣 All makes sense and thanks for the info. I'll let go of my dream of having a DSLR with my Z lenses and not worry about having the cash for a D5 or 6, since the adapter i was waiting for is impossible.

[@csc-photo]

Gorgeous results! Hey the Z6 handled those action shots quite well! Curious if we'll see a similar lens in 500 or even 600.

[@57sapke]

Thanks for the review 👍 (Kon's audio sounded a bit dull)

[@ThomasSherriff]

Becky crisp and clear, Kon voice was muffled in comparison

[@Nick-13]

Massively interesting review (and confirming my choice of this lens !). Works very well on the Z6II and useful for those distant nature shots. It has been a hard choice between this and the 100-400 as my style relies more on the flexibility of zoom lenses, for my approach to framing shots (I can see photo montages as an option on occasions, to fully include content - or to just use my 70-200, although heavy to carry both). Has given me thought to consider the 2x TC (as I cannot see me looking for / justifying a longer lens). Thank you for an supportive review

[@gyalbobhutia2825]

What do you have to say against the 500 PF lens if you already have one with the z6II?

[@MrPetebuster1]

would you say the z7 be better than the z6 ?

[@susankline6156]

How would the Compare the new 400 z 4.5 lens on the Z9 versus the. 500 PF 5.6 on the Z9? Thx

[@graysofwestminster]

That video is coming soon! Watch this space :)

[@NikCan66]

Another great video review

[@alsimoncelli7313]

How does this compare to the Z70-200mm S with the 2x teleconverter

[@victorlim5077]

I predict this lens will be legendary once a Nikon Prosumer DX camera is launched.

[@Mr09260]

You can make a FX lens into a DX but you cant make a FX out of a DX >> no Brainer DX is a Temporary Gimmick D100 >> etc 10 year wonder before that it was only Full Frame >> far better option

[@victorlim5077]

@@Mr09260 It all boils down to cost. If a stacked sensor DX camera is USD2.5k like the XH2S and a stacked sensor FX camera like the Z9 is USD5.5k then as a prosumer, probably I can stretch out and get the DX stacked sensor camera. If I strike a small jackpot, probably I'll get the Z9 for Birding.

[@Razzer0693]

im still waiting for nikon to wake up and get us the 200-600 thats much needed upgrade over he good old 200-500. 400 is just not enough for wildlife

[@joebass5]

They’re awake. People buy a $1500 lens way more often than they buy a $15000 lens.

[@Razzer0693]

@@joebass5 my guess is, theyll price it at $2000 this time around and i better hope its internal zooming like the way sony is. External zooms arent so good in long term

[@uhoh7541]

@@Razzer0693 'external zooms aren't as good long term' what do you mean by this?

[@Razzer0693]

@@uhoh7541 they're more prone to dust buildup over the years and need more maintenance for cleanups as compared to internal zoom lenses.

[@uhoh7541]

@Razzer didn't know, but obvious sense after being pointed out. Thanks for the knowledge.

[@roybixby6135]

Great video - Great lens - pity the swans aren't Black The first 400mm that I feel comfortable shooting video handheld... 🦘

[@cditfurth]

Good test, great pics, thanks! 😀

[@davidjohnson4451]

I have had the Z S 400 for about half a year. I use it with the TC 1.4 and DX ALL the time. It is AWESOME, but Nikon NEEDS A SENSIBLE 600 Z S lens at f 5.6 the current 600 F 4 is ACTUALLY a BAD move for Nikon. A super expensive lens that is too damn big and the PRICE is foolish. Nikon NEEDS multiple customers not just a FEW willing to buy a HEAVY and EXPENSIVE lens. What is really needed is a Z S 600 F 5.6. OH, by the way, to Grays, Cormorants are NOT very welcome anywhere I have been!

[@KungPowEnterFist]

The Z 100-400 is just as sharp, contrasty, AF, etc., at 400mm, and the difference between f4.5 and f5.6 is just not that significant in terms of bokeh or noise. The Z 400 f4.5 seems to have a slight edge with the Z 1.4TC vs the Z 100-400 with Z 1.4TC in terms of sharpness and noise, but its not to the point where you cannot overcome that with Topaz or other post processing denoise and sharpening software. Both of them are iffy with Z 2.0TC, so that setup is more for casual birdwatchers. Which is fine; that is also a use case. The Z 100-400 is a lot more flexible and has many more use cases, however, including landscape, casual sports action wildlife, portraiture, and even macro. One should not overlook the fact that the Z 100-400 has a rather impressive 0.38x reproduction ratio, while the Z 400 f4.5 has basically unusable 0.16x. IMO, the Z 400 f4.5 would have been a lot more compelling if it were a 500mm f5, even if it were a bit bigger, heavier and cost ~$4500.

[@EugeneMaynard]

👍🏾🙏🏾