Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S Lens

2025-04-11T10:44:38

This is a lens I wanted a long time. It handles beautifully and is amazingly light. Resolution and either color or BW pics come across as I love. Great for lugging around the back country or a race course. The use of a 2X or a 1.4X work well and extends my reach over 400mm, like 560 or 800. Compare the costs of a Z600 to a Z800, doing work in bright lighting is sweet. If this is what you can use or really want, this is the one for you.

Barry L.

2024-01-17T16:01:55

This lens produces gorgeous, sharp images. Works flawlessly with the 1.4x t.c. It's one of my favorite lenses.

Jeannie S.

2023-11-02T10:59:32

This lens is the ideal combination. Compact size, light weight, with superb prime lens optical quality. I know what quality optics looks like and this lens delivers. Can work it handheld all day on a Z9. I do a lot of hiking and this lens is very packable. Autofocus is crisp and quick. Good for spotting and following birds. The lens also works well with a 1.4 teleconverter and the images are completely satisfactory at this level. In addition, working with a 47 megapixel sensor I have been able to either crop significantly or switch to DX to get longer reach and still have quality images. I would suggest that if you are looking to frequently work with subjects at 800mm you may want to add another lens (such as the Z 800 f/6.3) to maintain top quality.

GEORGE T.

2023-10-29T22:23:17

IVE BEEN USING THE NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S, FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS NOW, AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE. THE WIEGHT, BALANCE, AND FEEL, NEED TO BE EXPIERINECED PERSONALLY, THE SHARPNESS, EVEN WIDE OPEN, IS PHENOMINAL. I SHHOT A GOOD DEAL OF BIRDS, AND GETTING THAT FEATHER DETAIL, COLOR RENDITION, AND SHARP EYE IS SO, SO, MUCH EASIER. THE LENSE IS NOT INEXPENSIVE, BUT INDESPENSABLE FOR ME. ALSO, I USE IT WITH THE TC 1.4 MOST OF THE TIME, AND IT HAS ALMOST ZERO EFFECT ON SHARPNESS. I HAVE NOT HAD MY TC 2.0 ON IT YET. I HAVE THE Z 24-70 2.8 S, Z 70-200 2.8 S, THE 400MM 4.5, AND THE AF-S 200-500 5.6, AND THIS IS MY SHARPEST LENS, AND IS A BREEZE TO HAND HOLD, AND GET QUALITY SHOTS. IM SO GLAD I HAVE THIS LENS, TO HOLD ME OVER UNTIL I CAN GET THE 600MM f/6.3

Craig N.

Originally posted at

2023-10-28T16:58:10

Love this lens, light weight, fast, sharp.

Linda S.

Originally posted at

2023-09-08T12:01:06

Started out with the 100-400mm lens, but we quickly realized we only ever used it on max zoom. This lens is noticeably lighter and the auto-focus feels faster and smoother than on the 100-400. Definitely worth the higher price.

chouck

Originally posted at

2023-08-26T06:24:22

As a package, really unprecedented in combination of price, performance/sharpness, size, and weight. Clarity is crisp, rendering is faithful and not overly digital. Colors are sharp. Size is amazing, and you'll love the weight 2 hours into your shoot. Takes a TC well. All in all, 100% satisfied.

Preston T.

Originally posted at

2023-08-07T18:34:22

I would love to see some other reviews on this lens. I bought one and it made me crazy. I used it with my Z5 and the results were excellent inconsistent. I could shot my dog in the back yard and the shots were razor sharp and crystal clear. Most of the wildlife shots were soft focus in the field. I used both with and without the 1.4 teleconverter. Same results. Did firmware update on the camera and it actually seemed worse. Loved the weight and size of the lens, but the inconsistency finally drove me to return it.

Dan Y.

Originally posted at

2023-07-29T17:02:51

I love this lens. Primarily shoot wildlife and so far this lens has exceeded all expectations on my z8. Using the 1.4x TC shows zero loss of image quality. I am practicing with hummingbirds at my feeder and it isolates the birds. I debated between this and the 100-400 landing on this lens because most of my photos are in this range. I will use the 24-120 F/4 and 70-180 f2 for the other ranges I may need. So far this lens is primarily on my camera at all times. I am 5'2" and weigh about 110 lbs I could not go much higher in weight and still handhold that is why I opted not to get the new 180-600 lens. Time will tell if I made the right decision when I visit Yellowstone in the Fall.

Todd C.

2023-07-24T11:23:47

Great Nikon Z lens ! Light weight and sharp corner to corner - use with TC1.4 and you have decent 560MM. Used with Z9 andZ8 - Fantastic light combo with Z8. Some have suggested using DX mode - have not tried, but based on cropped images, it is probably reasonable 840mm image.

GERALD C.

2023-06-30T02:39:03

The 400mm s is a great compromise for weight, reach, aperture and to be able to hand hold the lens. Love it.

BARRY B.

2023-05-19T13:42:16

Allows for very sharp images

JIM H.

2023-01-27T09:49:52

I'm a Nikon user for decades. I went mirrorless about a year ago, and I've wanted a longer lens for awhile. Just picked up this lens today, after watching other user's reviews. First impressions: It's really small and light! Should be easy to handhold. Focus is super fast, and looks extremely sharp across the whole frame. I've only had it a short time so far, but I am pleased with it, and would recommend it to anyone.

JW_Dupage

Originally posted at

2022-12-27T12:42:55

This Instrument is simply Stunning. Image Quality,AF speed, Color reproduction, Weight transfer, Camera Feel when attached. I could go on & on but this lens is truly unique and one of A Kind!!! The quality of experience could have easily been priced higher for the amount of bokeh and quality of images this lens produces!!!

RONALD P.

Originally posted at

2022-12-21T09:11:17

Great lens, very fast focus and great price. Pair this with the z9 and you have a winner.

Jeremie M.

2022-11-10T01:53:23

Compact, light weight, fast focus, sharp pictures, FANTASTIC NIKKON Prime LENS

David K.

2022-08-16T22:06:10

I was organized and got my preorder in within 10 minutes of them being opened! I got mine July 19th and it hasn?t come off my Z7II since. Opening the box it?s the same lens packaging as all Z lens. But picking this lens up for the first time I was struck my it?s weight and just how solid it feels. The 400mm weighs 10oz (283g) less than the f-mount 500mm PF but adding the FTZ adapter adds another 4.8oz (183g) bring the total up to 14.8oz (418.5g). The build quality is right in line with all the other S Line products I?ve owned. If you shake or jiggle the lens there is no sound at all. Solid. The placement of the grips & function buttons feels just like the Nikkor Z 70-200 F2.8 S which is to say perfect, for me . The lens hood is a click lock and click release type and has an excellent grippy and protecty (not a word I know) thick rubber ring on the end. I use it to hold onto when panning the lens quickly. The combination of this lenses VR with the cameras is the best I?ve I?ve taken sharp images at 1/80 of a second braced against a tree. The autofocus speed and tracking with the 400mm on my Z7Ii is better than the 500 PF and FTZ adapter on the same camera. The image quality is excellent. I love the bokeh and it is superior in every way to the bokeh of the 500mm PF IMO. The transitions from in focus to out of focus are smooth and pleasing. Get as close to your subject as possible and shoot with a distant background and all detail fades away and is left looking stunning, One last thing though I?ve got a story about the build quality of this lens and of the Z7II. I was at a local preserve looking walking into a spot carrying my Z7II with the 400mm f4.5S attached. After a few minutes of walking I felt a little heat on my hand so I looked down and I saw several hornets on my hand. Then they all stung at once I think because the pain cause me to reflexively release my grip causing my to throw the combo about 12ft from waist height. Unfortunately for my body I was stung another 7 times after the 4 on the top of my right hand. Fortunately for me the people at Nikon know how to make a gear that just keeps working even when you try to break it like me. I was walking in a pine forest in Maine that has one of those spongy soft floors that pine forests produce so that helped a little too. That being said I was convinced I?d just broken both the lens and the Clare but Once I picked up the camera I turned the power off then on and it started right up and the lens works just fine. That is impressive. Ive always had confidence in my Nikon gear but that just went up a notch. This lens is my new best friend and we are going to make a ton of great images together. My one complaint is the silly cloth they give you as a ?case?. Nikon I humbly ask you to please stop using cloth ?cases? for your stunning line of Z mount lenses. They and we your customers deserve better. Kip

SnedDog

Originally posted at

2022-07-29T14:29:27

Really lightweight ans easy to carry around, lighter than my 70-200mm Z. I have been using this for about a week now and im in love, i use it with my Z9 and Zfc, and with the last one i have the lighter 600mm f4.5 of the world i think, its great, i have done a review of image quality in my YTchannel Eliud Gil Samaniego if you like to see, i will do more. Also tested it with the 2x tc and also works great, the IQ is not that compromised as i expected.

eliud19923

Originally posted at

2022-07-26T23:09:05

Love it, i had it less than a week and already one of my favorites, really hand holdable and i may say, sharper than the 70-200mm Z wide open. I need to do more tests but it is SHARP, and the focus with the Z9 its so great. i have done some tests you can find in my YTchannel Eliud Gil Samaniego and Flickr so you can pixel peep pictures SOOC. I really like it a lot and since the 2.8 version its unavailable, this is a GREAT choice, at least for day use since its f4.5

DAVID S.