Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S vs Nikon NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II

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NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S compared with NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II

	NikonNIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S	NikonNIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II
Overview
Released
Released	February 2022	March 2026
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Prime	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	400 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	25 elements in 19 groups, including seven elements in four groups in the built-in teleconverter	18 elements in 16 groups; internal focusing
Special elements
Special elements	Two ED elements, two fluorite elements, one super-ED element and one SR element	One ED, one Super ED, two aspherical, one aspherical ED, one fluorite and one SR element
Coatings
Coatings	Meso Amorphous Coat, ARNEO Coat and fluorine coating on the front element	Meso Amorphous Coat and ARNEO Coat; front-element fluorine coating
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	f/2.8–22 without the built-in teleconverter; f/4–32 with it engaged	f/2.8–22 throughout zoom range
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades; electromagnetic aperture control	11 blades with rounded aperture
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 6°10′ at 400 mm and 4°30′ at 560 mm; DX 4° and 2°50′ respectively	FX 34°20′–12°20′; DX 22°50′–8°
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Nikon Z mount	Nikon Z mount
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	–	Native Nikon Z mount; full-frame FX image circle, also usable on DX cameras
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	Built-in 1.4× converter selects 400 mm or 560 mm; also compatible with Nikon Z TC-1.4x and TC-2.0x converters	Compatible with Z TELECONVERTER TC-1.4× and TC-2.0×
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	2.5 m	0.38 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.17×	0.3×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Silky Swift VCM autofocus with internal focusing; FULL and infinity–6 m focus limiter positions	Silky Swift VCM multi-focusing drive
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Maker minimum focus 2.5 m; Cameralabs measured approximately 2.41 m, retained separately from the maker figure	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	Maker maximum reproduction ratio 0.17×; Cameralabs measured approximately 1:3.9 with the built-in converter engaged	Maximum 0.3× at 70 mm or 0.25× at 200 mm; no separate AF/MF distinction published
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Lens-shift VR rated 5.5 stops under CIPA conditions on an FX camera in NORMAL mode, with or without the built-in converter; Synchro VR supported on Z9	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
Video features
Video features	Maker focus-breathing compensation claim; Cameralabs nevertheless observes visible breathing on the Z7	–
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	46 mm	77 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	156 mm	90 mm
Length
Length	380 mm	208 mm
Weight
Weight	2,950 g	998 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Configurable control ring, L-Fn controls, Memory Set button and Fn ring for focus recall, A–M switch and lockable built-in converter lever	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 zoom maintains barrel length and balance
Filter detail
Filter detail	46 mm drop-in filter system, not a front screw-in thread	–
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Maker sealing around movable barrel parts and mount gasket; dust and drip resistance is not guaranteed under all conditions	Dust and drip resistance is not guaranteed in every situation
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 156 mm maximum diameter × 380 mm from the mount flange	Approximately 90 mm maximum diameter × 208 mm from mount flange
Weight detail
Weight detail	Maker approximately 2,950 g; Cameralabs measured 2,936 g including tripod foot, plus 232 g for the hood	Approximately 998 g without tripod collar ring or 1180 g with it
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Rotating tripod collar and foot; Cameralabs notes that the standard foot lacks an Arca-Swiss profile	Removable collar with Arca-Swiss screw-clamp foot; maker advises against lever clamps. Protective collar cover included.
Lens hood
Lens hood	–	HB-119 with filter-adjustment window
In the box
In the box	LC-K105 front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HK-42 hood, LN-3 strap and CL-L3 case as listed by Nikon UK; Japan lists LN-3 or LN-4 strap	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 Canada specified late February 2022 retail availability; January's announcement date is not used as the on-sale date	US maker states late March 2026; exact earliest retail day or first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained