Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR lens - a Wildlife Marvel
Shot handheld with internal TC engaged at 560mm @ f/4, 1/3200s, ISO 400
It has been a year since I acquired Nikon’s new Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR lens. It was an emotional moment. It is not cheap. Although I traded in all, bar one*, remaining Nikon F lenses (including my beloved 500m f/4) as well as getting the 400mm second hand, it was still quite an investment. Any regrets 10 months on … absolutely none! This lens will last me for at least a decade and more, and it is just a marvel.
Shot with internal TC engaged. 560mm @ f/4, 1/500s, ISO 180
Let me attempt a bit of post-purchase rationalisation. It is at least two lenses in one, and I would claim almost three! As such it is arguably reasonable value for money. Combine this versatility with its superb image quality and it has been a joy to use. I have now shot around 20,000 images with it across UK, Uganda, Kenya and Canada. It has seen action in heat, dust, endless rain as well as been treated to a degree of rough handling in the wilderness on multiple occasions. I love it … as I will explain further!
Shot at 400mm @ f/11, 1/160s, ISO 100
But first, this is not a technical review. There are plenty of those on the internet – some better than others. This is not about pixel-peeping or comparisons. Can I see much of a difference in terms of image quality between this lens and my trusted (now gone) Nikon F 500mm E f/4? Not much – not in practical terms anyway. This post is more about my practical experience of using this lens in anger for wildlife photography.
Shot with internal TC engaged at 560mm @ f/4, 1/1250s, ISO 1100
Before I started using it, I had to spend a bit more money making it ready for action. This really grates when you buy such an expensive lens. Firstly, I purchased a replacement foot. Why Nikon cannot provide an Arca-Swiss compatible foot is beyond me. Everyone will either replace the foot or will need an Arca-Swiss plate to put onto Nikon’s proprietary foot. I have yet to see a Nikon long telephoto lens used in the field without an Arca-Swiss solution. A replacement foot ensures that the lens is compatible with my existing mono/tripod heads and gimbals. I got mine from Hejnar Photo (www.hejnarphotostore.com).
The 400mm lens ready for action with new foot, new cap and protective cover
Secondly, I needed to obtain a lens cap. The lens ships with a big cumbersome pouch which takes up too much space (the lens doesn’t fit in my backpack with it). The pouch now sits in a cupboard never to be used again. Zemlin Photo (www.zemlinphoto.com) provides a great lens cap which is much neater, sturdier, lightweight and simpler to use. Come on Nikon! Finally, I bought a lens cover for protection. I got mine from outdoorphotographygear.co.uk as I have good experience with these covers in the past. A lens cover was a no-brainer for my Nikon F mount long glass, as the protection is worth it, particularly to assist with re-sale value. However, with all the configurable buttons and rings on the new Nikon Z mount lenses this may no longer be so straight forward. More of which later.
A pitch black night apart from dim torch light from the 4×4. Shot with internal TC engaged at 560mm @ f/4, 1/6s (yes that’s correct!), at ISO 2000. Top of truck door used as support.
One big selling point for the Z 400mm f/2.8 lens is the built-in 1.4 teleconverter. You flip as switch on the side of the lens, easily accessible with your finger, and a 400mm f/2.8 lens becomes a 560mm f/4 lens. That is incredibly useful in the field. Much more than I thought it would be. For wildlife photography trips before, with my now departed F mount telephoto lenses, I would typically choose the 70-200mm f/2.8 and the 500mm f/4, or if weight/space was a key consideration, the 500mm f/5.6 PF. This was a good 2 lens combo for wildlife shooting. However, there is quite a gap between 200mm and 500mm. On some occasions, particularly if birds were the target, I would add / or replace those lenses with the new Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 lens for much more reach. That lens has been a favourite of mine, and I use it extensively. See my thoughts on the Z 800mm lens here.
The sun had just set and the light was fading rapidly. Shot at 400mm @ f/2.8, 1/640s, ISO 3200
The acquisition of the Z 400mm f/2.8 changes things a bit. On my trips with the new 400mm I still combine this lens with the excellent Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom. But now, with this combo, I can pack, air travel ready, the following focal length options:
Impressive image quality at 70mm up to 200mm at max f/2.8 – for nature scenes, environmental wildlife shots or animals close ups
Unbeatable image quality at 400mm at max f/2.8 - for bigger wildlife or smaller creatures where you can get close
Still superb image quality at 560mm at max f/4 by flipping a switch - to get more range for wildlife
More than acceptable image quality at 784mm at max f/5.6 by flipping a switch and adding an external 1.4 teleconverter to the Z 400mm f/2.8 lens - this provides equivalent reach to the Nikon Z 800mm at the weight of a Nikon Z 1.4 TC (teleconverter)!
Two lenses (and a small TC) in the backpack and I have the focal lengths for wildlife well and truly covered (70mm all the way up to ~800mm). This kit fits in my relatively modest sized MindShift BackLight 26L, which I have not encountered any issues with as a carry-on on several international and domestic flights to date.
Light was a premium commodity here! Shot at 400mm @ f/2.8, 1/125s, ISO 12800. The large aperture of this lens really comes into play
Here are a few thoughts after 10 months of in-depth use of the Z 400mm f/2.8 lens:
More light! Much wildlife activity takes place at dawn or dusk or when the sun has disappeared. These times of the day are great for wildlife observation, but also a source of frustration as the limited light available causes issues capturing images. ISO values can quickly sky rocked, particularly if a high’ish shutter speed is required to freeze movement. Being able to shoot at 400mm at f/2.8 really helps in these circumstances. Compare this to slower lenses and there is a 1 to 2 stop advantage, which can mean the difference between a keeper and an image which just cannot be salvaged in post-processing, as it is just too grainy and lacking in detail. Take a look at the image of the leopard above, even at a marginal 1/125s shutter speed, just enough to freeze the movement, the ISO is at 12800 at f/2.8. Shooting this at f/4 or a smaller aperture would result in an ISO of 25600 or more – much more limiting for a viable image. The image of a spotted hyena, below, shot after the sun had settled, demonstrates the advantages of f/2.8. Look at the crop of the face – quite amazing at such low light levels.
A curious spotted hyena after sunset. Shot at 400mm @ f/2.8, 1/125s, ISO 1800 … see crop below …
… and a tight crop of the hyena’s face in the image above. Incredible detail in such tricky conditions. The benefits of f/2.8 in low light.
Internal TC: Switching between 400mm and 560mm focal length is a breeze. The toggle sits on the right-hand side of the lens and by using the index finger a simple flick up or down will switch it. There is a lock to secure the lens at either focal length, but I have not experienced any accidental switching between the settings. Initially, I occasionally forgot which focal length I was using and shot a few images at one focal length when the other would have been a better choice. It took me some time to notice the little ‘TC’ flag in the top left corner of the viewfinder which indicates when the TC is engaged. Maybe it is because I’m left eyed, but as soon as I noticed and with some index-finger practice, the ability to almost instantaneously switch between these two highly useful focal lengths works brilliantly. To me, there is no discernible loss of image quality in deploying the built-in TC. It is engineered to work seamlessly with the rest of the lens’s optical elements.
Stacked TCs! Shot handheld with the internal TC engaged plus an external 1.4 TC. 784mm @ f/5.6, 1/1000s, ISO 6400 … see crop below …
… and a close crop of the wolf’s face. Not too shabby with two 1.4 TCs engaged! Plenty of detail and contrast.
Adding an external TC: I have not tried the lens with the Nikon Z 2.0 TC, only the 1.4 TC. Adding an external 1.4 TC makes this a lens that toggles between 560mm f/4 and 784mm f/5.6. The ability to reach nearly 800mm at f/5.6 with an additional TC is very handy, particularly when encountering skittish or small animals at a distance. Being able to extend the working range between 400mm and 800mm has been a great bonus. I used the external 1.4 TC effectively in both Africa and Canada recently. The image quality at 784mm is very good indeed, as long as the lens is handled with good stability. See the full image above of a wolf and the close crop of its face – more than ample detail! To my naked eye this setup is a little less optically strong as the Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 but highly acceptable in terms of image quality. I have no hesitation using both the internal and external TCs in combination. There are mixed opinions on the internet around which option is the best for 784mm: 1) Stacked 1.4 TCs or only the 2.0 TC. I would assume the latter would be marginally better, but I don’t have the 2.0 TC. Additionally, the 2.0 TC can also be used with the internal 1.4 TC producing a whopping 1120mm focal length at f/8.
Shot handheld from a moving rib with the help of the impressive VR feature. 400mm @ f/2.8, 1/160s, ISO 72 … see crop below …
… and a very tight crop of the immature bald eagle in the above image. Impressive detail in the pouring rain.
Handholding: Recently in the wilderness of BC, Canada (see post here) I used the Z 400mm f/2.8 extensively and purely by handholding it. No tripod or monopod was deployed. At 2950 grams this lens is very light for the amount of glass it contains. For comparison, the Nikon F-mount 400mm E f/2.8 (without a built in TC) is 3800 grams – a significant 850 grams (30%) more. My old go-to wildlife lens, the F-mount 500mm E f/4 with the FTZ adapter is 3215 grams in comparison. So, the new 400mm is impressively light for such a wide aperture lens. However, it is still a heavy lens. Compare it to the feather-weight F-mount 500mm f/5.6 PF at 1480g or the Z mount 400mm f/4.5 at 1245g and it is more than twice as heavy. Can I handhold the Z 400m f/2.8? Yes, it is hand-holdable, the even weight distribution assists handholding as it balances well in my arms, much more so than my old F mount 500mm. The impressive image stabilisation features also help when handholding. For me, it is on the margins of extensive handheld use (clearly this will depend on your strength). Can I hold it for several minutes in shooting position without support waiting for wildlife action … yes, but not without occasionally lowering the lens to rest my arms. The weight is noticeable and takes some getting used. A gimbal head on a monopod can be useful if you are waiting for action over an extended period of time, and do not want to lower the lens to relieve your arms occasionally. In Canada I used it handheld the whole time, but often found support by resting it on the side of the rib (zodiac) we frequently shot from or by leaning against something. I also used a Rapid strap which can add support. In Africa, this was less of an issue as most of the shooting took place from a 4x4 with options for support. Although, in Uganda I carried it in a Rapid strap on steep mountain trekking in pursuit of primates and used it handheld with success. See posts here.
Shot handheld with both the external and internal 1.4 TCs engaged. 784mm @ f/5.6, 1/3200s, ISO 25600. Note the very high ISO and shutter speed in anticipation of take off … but this Black Oystercatcher didn’t bother moving ;-)
Do I need the Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 anymore? As I now can get to near 800mm with the 400mm f/2.8 lens with an external 1.4 TC at f/5.6 one consideration is to trade in the 800mm lens as I cannot easily get both these lenses in a carry-on for long-haul trips, so ultimately the 800mm is left behind. It is a tough call, particularly as I use the 800mm extensively locally when photographing birdlife. At 2385g the 800mm lens is 785g (33%) lighter than the 400mm lens with an external 1.4 TC attached, and that is noticeable when handholding which is how I mostly use it whilst trekking in the woods and hills. So, for now I will keep the 800mm, it is a gem for birdlife.
Shot handheld at 400mm @ f/5.6, 1/3200s, ISO 320
Image Stabilisation: A noticeable difference between my old set-up for wildlife (the Nikon Z9 with the FTZ adapter and the 500mm E f/4 lens) and the Z9 with the new 400mm f/2.8 TC lens is the difference in image stabilisation (VR – vibration reduction) capability. The new 400mm lens works in tandem with the Z9’s in-body stabilisation and it is in a different league to the old setup. It is truly impressive. Sharp images can be achieved at 560mm focal length down to 1/100s with good handling. As with other Z telephoto lenses, the 400mm does not have a VR switch on the body of the lens that the F-mount lenses had. Switching between VR modes now is an action done via the camera. I use the Nikon camera i-menu to access the software toggle between VR On, VR Sport or VR Off. This can be done without taking the eye from the viewfinder, but it is now a two-step action (1 - access i-menu, 2 – switch mode). On the F-mount lenses this was a single action using the lens switch. This took me a bit of getting used to when I first encountered the lack of the VR lens switch on the Nikon Z 800mm lens.
Shot handheld at 400mm @ f/5.6, 1/20s, ISO 3600. Very good VR (vibration reduction) made this shot possible at such low shutter speed.
Customisable Lens Rings and Buttons: The 400mm lens has several on-lens configuration options including Fn buttons, the control ring, the Fn ring and even the focus ring. So far, I have not set these up, and I use the controls on the camera as I mostly (apart from the VR button) did with my F-mount lenses. There are two reasons for this: 1) I have yet to find a good way to use these buttons whilst also using my left arm to steady the lens handheld, i.e. how to reach these functions easily, with minimal shifting of hand/finger positions to activate buttons/rings whilst steadying the lens handheld. The on-lens configuration options are less useful when on a tripod. 2) Using a lens cover hinders the effective use of these new control functions, and I need to consider how I might benefit from the lens configurability before I decide to remove all or parts of my lens cover. So far, I have not found a use of the buttons that I feel has significantly helped my shooting. More testing is required going forward.
A tiny Dik Dik shot at 400mm @ f/3.2, 1/2500s, ISO 500
No more FTZ: Having now moved almost entirely to Nikon Z lenses*, the FTZ adapter sees little action. That is a good thing. An extra connector between camera and lens is another potential weak point in the setup. Indeed, in the Canadian wilderness last year, in significant rain, my F-mount 500mm PF fogged up on two occasions. The rear element was affected. It seems the connection between the FTZ and the lens was the cause. Others have experienced the same problem in rainy conditions. The solution is to use insulating tape over the joint. But, removing the FTZ altogether is clearly better now I’ve sold most of my F-mount glass.
Highly pleasing out-of-focus rendering. Shot at 400mm @ f/2.8, 1/4000s, ISO 72
Otherwise, I could go on about auto focus speed and image quality … but as you would expect from a Nikon top-level telephoto prime lens, there is nothing to fault here. AF lock-on is very fast, images are sharp edge to edge, with lovely rendering and contrast, and the out-of-focus areas look smooth and pleasing … with our without the internal TC engaged.
Well, maybe I am just too busy justifying to myself the purchase of this new lens. But, it is undoubtedly the best lens I have ever owned in terms of image quality and flexibility. The only downside with this lens is its weight as discussed above. But that for me is manageable. Others may consider it more of a problem. Otherwise, it is a stunning piece of kit for wildlife photography. It is a lens I will enjoy for many years to come.
Shot handheld from a dinghy on the river with the internal TC engaged at 560mm @ f/7.1, 1/1600s, ISO 500
*) I have only kept one Nikon F-mount lens. To part finance the Z 400mm f/2.8 I sold the rest: The beloved 500mm f/4 has gone, ditto the 300mm f/4 PF and the 58mm f/1.4 bokeh maestro, plus all the others, bar one! I have kept the 500mm f/5.6 PF. It is still highly useful as a very sharp and unbelievably lightweight option when space/weight and/or ultimate tricky handheld shooting over long timeframes is required. It comes along with me on family (non-photo specific) trips with the Z8 as it just disappears in my carry on. See below for an image caught with this combo on a recent family trip to Greece:
I’m not letting go of my trusted Nikon F-mount 500mm f/5.6 PF. Shot at 700mm (with 1.4 TC) @ f/8, 1/200s, ISO 800