Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70–200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR vs Nikon NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II

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AF-S NIKKOR 70–200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR compared with NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II

	NikonAF-S NIKKOR 70–200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR	NikonNIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II
Overview
Released
Released	November 2016	March 2026
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	70–200 mm	70–200 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/2.8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/22
Optical construction
Optical construction	22 elements in 18 groups; internal focusing	18 elements in 16 groups; internal focusing
Special elements
Special elements	Six ED, one fluorite and one high-refractive-index element	One ED, one Super ED, two aspherical, one aspherical ED, one fluorite and one SR element
Coatings
Coatings	Nano Crystal and Super Integrated coatings; fluorine front coating	Meso Amorphous Coat and ARNEO Coat; front-element fluorine coating
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	Constant f/2.8 maximum and f/22 minimum; electromagnetic diaphragm for consistent exposure during high-speed bursts	f/2.8–22 throughout zoom range
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades	11 blades with rounded aperture
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 34°20′–12°20′; DX 22°50′–8°00′	FX 34°20′–12°20′; DX 22°50′–8°
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Nikon F mount	Nikon Z mount
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Nikon F mount with full-frame/FX coverage; also usable on DX cameras. Electronic aperture is not supported by some older Nikon DSLRs, as Digital Camera World notes; check the individual camera's support	Native Nikon Z mount; full-frame FX image circle, also usable on DX cameras
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	Nikon lists AF-I/AF-S TC-14E, TC-14E II, TC-14E III, TC-17E II, TC-20E, TC-20E II and TC-20E III as compatible accessories	Compatible with Z TELECONVERTER TC-1.4× and TC-2.0×
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	1.1 m	0.38 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.21×	0.3×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Silent Wave Motor; internal focusing with automatic and manual-priority override modes	Silky Swift VCM multi-focusing drive
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Minimum 1.1 m from focal plane; limiter selects full 1.1 m–infinity or 5 m–infinity	Distances from focal plane; 0.38 m at 70/85 mm, 0.5 m at 105 mm, 0.6 m at 135 mm and 0.8 m at 200 mm
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Maximum 0.21×	Maximum 0.3× at 70 mm or 0.25× at 200 mm; no separate AF/MF distinction published
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Four-stop CIPA claim in Normal mode on an FX DSLR at maximum telephoto; Off, Normal and Sport settings. Automatic tripod detection permits VR use with a tripod	Maker six-stop claim under CIPA2024 yaw/pitch/roll testing with Z6III, Synchro VR enabled, at telephoto end in Normal mode; support depends on camera
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	77 mm	77 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	88.5 mm	90 mm
Length
Length	202.5 mm	208 mm
Weight
Weight	1,430 g	998 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Separate zoom and focus rings, four focus-function buttons, focus-distance window, focus mode, range limiter and VR switches. The zoom ring is at the front and focus ring nearer the mount	AF/manual switch, programmable function controls and focus limiter FULL (infinity–0.38 m) or LIMIT (infinity–5 m); control-ring clicking requires compatible camera/firmware
Zoom design
Zoom design	Internal zooming, confirmed by Photography Blog	Internal zoom maintains barrel length and balance
Filter detail
Filter detail	77 mm screw-in filters, 0.75 mm pitch	–
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust and drip sealing around moving parts; fluorine front coating resists contamination. Not a waterproof rating	Dust and drip resistance is not guaranteed in every situation
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 88.5 mm maximum diameter × 202.5 mm from mount flange	Approximately 90 mm maximum diameter × 208 mm from mount flange
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 1,430 g according to Nikon's CIPA-based figure	Approximately 998 g without tripod collar ring or 1180 g with it
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Tripod collar ring with bearings for changing camera orientation	Removable collar with Arca-Swiss screw-clamp foot; maker advises against lever clamps. Protective collar cover included.
Lens hood
Lens hood	HB-78 bayonet hood included	HB-119 with filter-adjustment window
In the box
In the box	LC-77 front cap, LF-4 rear cap, HB-78 hood and CL-M2 semi-soft case	LC-77B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-119 hood and CL-C3 lens case; removable tripod collar and protective cover
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon Japan's October announcement gives 11 November 2016 local retail availability. Earliest exact global and UK day unconfirmed, so November precision retained. Photography Blog's occasional f/4G labels and 16–35mm image captions are editorial errors within its exact f/2.8E FL review and are not copied as product specifications	US maker states late March 2026; exact earliest retail day or first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained