Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/2.8 VR

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NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S compared with NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/2.8 VR

	NikonNIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S	NikonNIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/2.8 VR
Overview
Released
Released	December 2021	October 2025
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	100–400 mm	16–50 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/4.5–5.6	f/2.8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32–40	f/22
Optical construction
Optical construction	Twenty-five elements in twenty groups	12 elements in 11 groups; internal focusing
Special elements
Special elements	Six ED and two Super ED elements	One ED and two aspherical elements
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	–	f/2.8–22 throughout the zoom range
Coatings
Coatings	Nano Crystal Coat and ARNEO Coat; fluorine coating on the front element	–
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades	Nine rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 24°20′–6°10′; DX 16°–4°	DX 83°–31°30′; 24–75 mm equivalent angle of view in FX format
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Nikon Z mount	Nikon Z mount
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	APS-C
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	Native Nikon Z mount; designed for DX/APS-C format
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	–
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.75 m	0.15 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.38×	0.24×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Multi-focusing system with two stepping motors	Stepping motor; automatic or manual 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	Minimum distances from focal plane are 0.15 m at 16 mm, 0.18 m at 24 mm, 0.21 m at 35 mm and 0.25 m at 50 mm
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Maximum reproduction ratio 0.38× at 400 mm; 0.16× at 100 mm, as Nikon Japan specifies	Maximum 0.24× at 50 mm; no separate AF/MF figure published
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 using voice-coil motors. UK maker states up to 4.5 stops under CIPA standards with a DX camera, Normal VR mode and maximum telephoto setting. Canada announcement gives 5 stops under CIPA2024 yaw/pitch testing with Z50II at telephoto in Normal mode; these claims use different stated test conditions
Video features
Video features	Nikon describes reduced focus breathing, quiet autofocus and smooth aperture control	Suppressed focus breathing and quiet focusing. Nikon Canada specifies Z50II Hi-Res Zoom for Full HD 30p/25p/24p only; Wide-area AF (L), no displayed focus point and electronic VR off
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	77 mm	67 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	98 mm	74.5 mm
Length
Length	222 mm	88 mm
Weight
Weight	1,355 g	330 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	Customisable control ring for focus, aperture, exposure compensation or ISO; physical zoom ring; no AF/manual switch, as confirmed by both reviews
Zoom design
Zoom design	Barrel extends towards 400 mm; Nikon's Inner Balance Technology minimises centre-of-gravity movement. Zoom ring turns through 80°	Barrel extends while zooming, as confirmed by both reviews; internal focusing does not change length. Focal-length markings 16, 24, 35 and 50 mm
Filter detail
Filter detail	77 mm screw-on filters, 0.75 mm pitch	67 mm screw-in filters, 0.75 mm pitch
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust and drip protection; complete resistance is not guaranteed in all conditions	Designed for dust and drip resistance; resistance is not guaranteed under every condition
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 98 × 222 mm; length from lens mount at 100 mm	Approximately 74.5 mm maximum diameter × 88 mm from mount flange
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 1,355 g without tripod collar; 1,435 g with it	Approximately 330 g
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Rotating collar with removable foot, as Photography Blog describes	–
Lens hood
Lens hood	HB-103 hood included	HB-118 included
In the box
In the box	LC-77B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-103 hood and CL-C3 case	LC-67B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap and HB-118 hood
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 Canada states late October 2025 availability; earliest exact retail day and first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained