For Nikon shooters looking to lighten their load without sacrificing reach, Nikon has just announced the release of the Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR full frame superzoom.
I remember when I was first learning photography, and I would tote my crop sensor Nikon D200 pretty much everywhere I went. Okay, definitely everywhere I went. Always attached to it was a trusty kit zoom lens that seemed to reach from near to infinity. It was variable aperture. It wasn’t part of the vaunted trilogy. But it was small, lightweight, and perfect for my needs as I began traveling the globe in search of great images. The kind of lens that wouldn’t break my back, yet wouldn’t limit the type of shots I could get when on the road.
As my career progressed and I moved to larger full frame cameras with full frame lenses, I never quite had the same type of eternal reach. Meaning that when I did want to be prepared on a road trip, it meant carrying several heavy pieces of glass just to make sure I wouldn’t miss out.
Apparently, Nikon is aware of the utility of such a lens, as today they introduced a 28-400mm full frame superzoom. It is variable aperture, f/4 to f/8. So, you will need to account for changes in exposure and/or depth of field as you zoom through the range. But, while that will require an extra consideration, for the type of photography this lens is best suited for, travel photography or lightweight walkabout shooting, that is a small price to pay for having to only bring one lens with you in your kit. Add to that the fact that this lens only comes in at approximately 1.6 lbs (725 g) while providing you 14.2x zooming capabilities, and the upsides to your imagery, and your back, are clear.
The minimum focus distance is 7.8 inches at the widest end and 3.9 feet at the long end. It has a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.35x. The lens uses an STM motor for fast, quiet autofocus and offers vibration reduction up to 5 stops.
The lens is expected to retail for $1,299.95 and hit store shelves mid-April.
So, what do you think? Will you be adding this superzoom to your kit?
I had the F-mount 28-300 3.5-5.6 and carried it everywhere. Since I've changed to Nikon Z, I've used the 24-200 and have missed the 300mm reach. Looks like there's a solution for the lost 100mm, now I'll try to figure out what to do with the newly found additional 100mm!!
The superzoom range is really impressive, but that F/8 is really rough. Especially when you consider the F/8 starts at 200mm, its not like it is only at the 400 end. I think for some people this is the perfect walk around lens but, for me, I look at this with 0 interest. I don't want to live at 3000+ ISO.
I agree that f/8 seems pretty harsh, but, that's pretty much the sweet spot for the excellent 180-600. Usually in the shade at f/8 and 1/500 I'm around 1600 ISO. Going to 1/1000 would put me at 3200 ISO but, with the Z9, that's not an issue; I can't speak to the other full-frame Zs.
If it delivers on image quality, I can see its utility as a walking-around or travel lens.
Well, I am a LOT more tolerant of f/8 at like 800mm than I am at 200mm. I get that fast apertures at extreme tele ranges are very expensive but f/8 at 200mm is really rough.
This lens is not designed/intended for Z9 shooters. This is a hobbyist lens designed for the Z6 or at most Z7 world. Where I think even ISO performance aside, Autofocus is really going to struggle at f/8.
Christopher Malcolm wrote:
"The minimum focus distance is 7.8 inches at the widest end and 3.9 feet at the long end. It has a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.35x"
Oh man ..... if that those numbers were 5.0 inches, 2.8 feet, and 0.45x, respectively, then I would literally sell my Canon and Sony gear and buy a Nikon body and this lens.
But, unfortunately, at 7.8 inches, 3.9 feet, and 0.35x, this lens falls short of the versatility I need for herpetology photos. Bummer. Manufacturers are still not prioritizing close focus and near-macro capabilities to the extent that they should be, for photographers such as myself. Well, at least they are not prioritizing these things in zoom lenses with a very broad range.
In herpetoloty photography, we need a lens that has a really wide range of focal length, such as this 14x zoom. But we also need the lens to be able to focus very close up and record very tiny critters at a big size on the sensor. As far as I know, no such lens exists, so we need to carry a bunch of lenses around instead of having the convenience of an all-in-one zoom. And that sucks when you're hiking all day or all night long, often in extreme heat and in windy, dusty conditions that are not good for frequent lens changes.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing in a zoom lens of this range is a super-short minimum focus distance and extreme magnification ratio, yet the lensmakers just don't seem to realize this. Probably because they are designing lenses for the masses, and not prioritizing very small niche photographers such as myself. It's really hard for someone like me because the things I want and need in a lens are so different than the things that 99% of the other photographers want and need. I really want it to be all about me and it isn't, and sometimes that sucks!