Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| NikonNIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S | NikonNIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | December 2021 | October 2025 |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Zoom | Prime |
| Focal length | 100–400 mm | 35 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/4.5–5.6 | f/1.7 |
| Minimum aperture | f/32–40 | f/16 |
| Macro lens | – | Yes |
| Optical construction | Twenty-five elements in twenty groups | Eight elements in seven groups; internal focusing |
| Special elements | Six ED and two Super ED elements | One aspherical ED element |
| Aperture detail | – | At infinity f/1.7–16; at 0.16 m focus distance f/3.2–22 |
| Coatings | Nano Crystal Coat and ARNEO Coat; fluorine coating on the front element | – |
| Diaphragm | Nine rounded blades | Nine rounded blades |
| Angle of view | FX 24°20′–6°10′; DX 16°–4° | DX 44°; Nikon Canada gives 52.5 mm equivalent angle of view in FX format |
| Mount and compatibility | ||
| Mounts | Nikon Z mount | Nikon Z mount |
| Image circle | Full frame | APS-C |
| 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 | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.75 m | 0.16 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.38× | 0.67× |
| Optical stabilisation | Yes | No |
| Autofocus detail | Multi-focusing system with two stepping motors | Stepping motor; automatic or manual focusing |
| 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 0.16 m measured from the focal plane; UK maker states 7.2 cm working distance from the front of the lens |
| Magnification detail | Maximum reproduction ratio 0.38× at 400 mm; 0.16× at 100 mm, as Nikon Japan specifies | Actual maximum reproduction ratio 0.67×; Nikon describes this as life-size equivalent in 35 mm/FX format, rather than an actual 1× ratio |
| 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 | No optical VR, as confirmed by both reviews; camera-body stabilisation depends on the body |
| Video features | Nikon describes reduced focus breathing, quiet autofocus and smooth aperture control | Suppressed focus breathing and quiet focusing; silent control ring |
| Design | ||
| Dust and moisture resistant | Yes | Yes |
| Filter diameter | 77 mm | 52 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 98 mm | 70 mm |
| Length | 222 mm | 72 mm |
| Weight | 1,355 g | 220 g (better) |
| 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; no physical AF/manual switch, as noted by Amateur Photographer |
| Zoom design | Barrel extends towards 400 mm; Nikon's Inner Balance Technology minimises centre-of-gravity movement. Zoom ring turns through 80° | Internal focusing keeps total length unchanged |
| Filter detail | 77 mm screw-on filters, 0.75 mm pitch | 52 mm screw-in filters, 0.75 mm pitch |
| 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 | Approximately 98 × 222 mm; length from lens mount at 100 mm | Approximately 70 mm maximum diameter × 72 mm from mount flange |
| Weight detail | Approximately 1,355 g without tripod collar; 1,435 g with it | Approximately 220 g, lens only |
| Tripod mount | Rotating collar with removable foot, as Photography Blog describes | – |
| Lens hood | HB-103 hood included | Optional HN-43, sold separately |
| In the box | LC-77B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-103 hood and CL-C3 case | LC-52B front cap and LF-N1 rear cap |
| 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 |
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