Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S vs Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S

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NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S compared with NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S

	NikonNIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S	NikonNIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S
Overview
Released
Released	December 2021	July 2022
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	100–400 mm	400 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/4.5–5.6	f/4.5
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32–40	f/32
Optical construction
Optical construction	Twenty-five elements in twenty groups	Nineteen elements in thirteen groups
Special elements
Special elements	Six ED and two Super ED elements	One ED, two Super ED and one SR element
Coatings
Coatings	Nano Crystal Coat and ARNEO Coat; fluorine coating on the front element	Nano Crystal Coat and fluorine-coated front element
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades	Nine rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 24°20′–6°10′; DX 16°–4°	FX 6°10′; DX 4°
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Nikon Z mount	Nikon Z mount
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Nikon Z full-frame and DX cameras. Nikon Japan says mounting this lens disables selection of the mechanical-shutter setting, leaving Auto or electronic front-curtain options; use the latest camera firmware	At launch, memory recall supported Z9, Z7II, Z6II and Z30 with updated firmware; Nikon stated other models would follow through firmware updates
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	Z TELECONVERTER TC-1.4x and TC-2.0x supported; maximum focal length becomes 560 or 800 mm. Nikon warns focusing can take longer or become less reliable depending on subject, brightness and focus point	Nikon Z TC-1.4× and TC-2.0× provide 560 mm and 800 mm focal lengths respectively; Nikon warns AF performance can deteriorate with subject, brightness and focus position
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.75 m	2.5 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.38×	0.16×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Multi-focusing system with two stepping motors	STM stepping-motor autofocus; internal focusing
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Internal focusing; minimum distances from focal plane 0.75 m at 100 mm, 0.78 m at 135 mm, 0.8 m at 200 mm, 0.87 m at 300 mm and 0.98 m at 400 mm	Nikon specifies a 2.5 m minimum distance and 0.16× maximum reproduction ratio. Camera Labs measured 2.36 m and 1:5.6 on its sample; main figures retain maker specifications
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Maximum reproduction ratio 0.38× at 400 mm; 0.16× at 100 mm, as Nikon Japan specifies	–
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Lens-shift VR with voice-coil motors. Nikon rates 5.5 stops under CIPA conditions in NORMAL mode on a full-frame camera at maximum telephoto	Lens-shift VR with voice-coil motors; 5.5 stops CIPA on an FX camera in Normal mode, or 6 stops with Z9 Synchro VR
Video features
Video features	Nikon describes reduced focus breathing, quiet autofocus and smooth aperture control	Nikon describes suppressed focus breathing and smooth exposure changes; Camera Labs measured a visible 9% magnification change from infinity to 4.1 m
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	77 mm	95 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	98 mm	104 mm
Length
Length	222 mm	234.5 mm
Weight
Weight	1,355 g	1,160 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Focus-mode and FULL/infinity–3 m limiter switches; zoom and focus rings, assignable control ring, L-Fn controls and display button. Photography Blog identifies aperture, focus-distance and focal-length display options	L-Fn and L-Fn2 buttons, silent control ring and memory-set button; focus limiter selects Full (infinity–2.5 m) or infinity–6 m
Zoom design
Zoom design	Barrel extends towards 400 mm; Nikon's Inner Balance Technology minimises centre-of-gravity movement. Zoom ring turns through 80°	–
Filter detail
Filter detail	77 mm screw-on filters, 0.75 mm pitch	–
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust and drip protection; complete resistance is not guaranteed in all conditions	Weather sealing and mount gasket; Nikon does not guarantee dust and drip protection in all conditions
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 98 × 222 mm; length from lens mount at 100 mm	Approximately 104 mm maximum diameter × 234.5 mm from mount flange
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 1,355 g without tripod collar; 1,435 g with it	Approximately 1160 g without tripod collar, 1245 g with it
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Rotating collar with removable foot, as Photography Blog describes	Removable tripod foot; Camera Labs reports no Arca-Swiss groove
Lens hood
Lens hood	HB-103 hood included	–
In the box
In the box	LC-77B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-103 hood and CL-C3 case	LC-95B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-105 hood and CL-C5 case
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon Korea explicitly gives 16 December 2021 as the release and promotion start date; Nikon USA announced availability within 2021. Nikon Japan's regional on-sale date was later, 4 February 2022	Nikon Japan gives 15 July 2022; Nikon USA announced July 2022 availability