Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S vs Nikon NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II

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NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S compared with NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II

	NikonNIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S	NikonNIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II
Overview
Released
Released	July 2022	March 2026
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Prime	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	400 mm	70–200 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/4.5	f/2.8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32	f/22
Optical construction
Optical construction	Nineteen elements in thirteen groups	18 elements in 16 groups; internal focusing
Special elements
Special elements	One ED, two Super ED and one SR element	One ED, one Super ED, two aspherical, one aspherical ED, one fluorite and one SR element
Coatings
Coatings	Nano Crystal Coat and fluorine-coated front element	Meso Amorphous Coat and ARNEO Coat; front-element fluorine coating
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	–	f/2.8–22 throughout zoom range
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades	11 blades with rounded aperture
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 6°10′; DX 4°	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	At launch, memory recall supported Z9, Z7II, Z6II and Z30 with updated firmware; Nikon stated other models would follow through firmware updates	Native Nikon Z mount; full-frame FX image circle, also usable on DX cameras
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	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	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	0.16×	0.3×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	STM stepping-motor autofocus; internal focusing	Silky Swift VCM multi-focusing drive
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	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	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 0.3× at 70 mm or 0.25× at 200 mm; no separate AF/MF distinction published
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	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	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	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	95 mm	77 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	104 mm	90 mm
Length
Length	234.5 mm	208 mm
Weight
Weight	1,160 g	998 g (better)
Controls
Controls	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	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
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Weather sealing and mount gasket; Nikon does not guarantee dust and drip protection in all conditions	Dust and drip resistance is not guaranteed in every situation
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 104 mm maximum diameter × 234.5 mm from mount flange	Approximately 90 mm maximum diameter × 208 mm from mount flange
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 1160 g without tripod collar, 1245 g with it	Approximately 998 g without tripod collar ring or 1180 g with it
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Removable tripod foot; Camera Labs reports no Arca-Swiss groove	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-95B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-105 hood and CL-C5 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 gives 15 July 2022; Nikon USA announced July 2022 availability	US maker states late March 2026; exact earliest retail day or first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained