Nikon’s latest telephoto zoom delivers impressive results

by Jeremy Gray

Posted Wed March 1, 2023 at 3:30pm EST

The Nikon Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 VR S is a highly anticipated telephoto zoom lens for the Nikon Z mirrorless system. It’s not only expected by customers. We were very interested in trying it out. While winter is a challenging time to put a telephoto lens through its paces – the animals I love to photograph seem camera-shy at this time of year – the Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 still impressed with its versatility .

With a focal length range of 100 to 400 mm, the lens is suitable for a wide range of photographic applications. The lens can capture sports, wildlife, landscapes and even portraits. I mainly focused on wildlife and landscapes. In addition to the Z 100-400mm, I’ve also worked with the new Z 400mm F4.5 telephoto prime lens. If you want to see this gallery, click here. While both lenses are impressive, the Z 100-400mm’s zoom capability has proven useful many, many times in the field.

Of course, one downside to the flexibility offered by the Zoom design is that the Z 100-400mm is relatively large and heavy, at least compared to the compact Z 400mm Prime. However, the Z 100-400mm has fantastic build quality. While it can be a little heavy to hold in hand for extended periods (the lens weighs 1,435 grams (3.2 pounds)), the Z 100-400mm’s zoom and focus rings are in convenient positions, making it easy to adjust the focal length when shooting handheld.

In terms of image quality, there’s a lot to like about the lens. It features a sophisticated optical design with 25 elements in 20 groups. Among these 25 elements are six ED and two Super ED elements. The lens is sharp across the entire focal length range, even when shooting wide open. It also does an excellent job of controlling aberrations and lens flare. The lens incorporates Nikon’s Arneo and Nano crystal coatings to ensure good image quality. While I’ll cover this in more detail in my full review, you can now check out the sharpness test images in the gallery.

Autofocus is crucial when considering a lens for sports and wildlife photography. A slow autofocus would severely limit usability. The Z 100-400mm does not have this problem. Its autofocus system is fast, quiet and accurate. The lens uses a multi-focus stepper motor AF system and can focus up to 75 centimeters (2.5 feet), resulting in an impressive 0.38x maximum magnification for full-frame cameras.

My Nikon Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 VR S hands-on review is coming soon. Until then, enjoy the latest gallery pics from the real world.

• Nikon Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 VR S Gallery • Specifications •