Nikon NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR

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NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II compared with NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR

	NikonNIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II	NikonNIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
Overview
Released
Released	March 2026	November 2019
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	70–200 mm	16–50 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/3.5–6.3
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/22–40
Optical construction
Optical construction	18 elements in 16 groups; internal focusing	Nine elements in seven groups
Special elements
Special elements	One ED, one Super ED, two aspherical, one aspherical ED, one fluorite and one SR element	One ED and four aspherical elements
Coatings
Coatings	Meso Amorphous Coat and ARNEO Coat; front-element fluorine coating	–
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	f/2.8–22 throughout zoom range	–
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	11 blades with rounded aperture	Seven rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 34°20′–12°20′; DX 22°50′–8°	DX 83°–31°30′
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Nikon Z mount	Nikon Z mount
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	APS-C
Compatibility
Compatibility	Native Nikon Z mount; full-frame FX image circle, also usable on DX cameras	Nikon Z DX format; 24–75 mm full-frame-equivalent angle of view, as Photography Blog describes
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	Compatible with Z TELECONVERTER TC-1.4× and TC-2.0×	–
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.38 m	0.2 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.3×	0.2×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Silky Swift VCM multi-focusing drive	Stepping-motor autofocus, as Photography Blog describes
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	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	Internal focusing; minimum distances from focal plane 0.25 m at 16 mm, 0.2 m at 24 mm, 0.23 m at 35 mm and 0.3 m at 50 mm
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Maximum 0.3× at 70 mm or 0.25× at 200 mm; no separate AF/MF distinction published	Maximum reproduction ratio 0.2×
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	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	Lens-shift VR with voice-coil motors; Nikon's 4.5-stop CIPA claim measured on an APS-C camera at maximum telephoto
Video features
Video features	–	Nikon describes reduced focus breathing and fast, quiet focusing
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	No
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	77 mm	46 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	90 mm	70 mm
Length
Length	208 mm	32 mm
Weight
Weight	998 g	135 g (better)
Controls
Controls	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 ring and programmable focus/control ring; manual focus, aperture and exposure-compensation assignments described by Nikon. Digital Camera World also identifies ISO assignment
Zoom design
Zoom design	Internal zoom maintains barrel length and balance	Button-free retractable design; rotate the zoom ring to extend before shooting. Locks when retracted
Filter detail
Filter detail	–	46 mm screw-on filters, 0.75 mm pitch
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust and drip resistance is not guaranteed in every situation	Photography Blog reports no dust or moisture sealing and a plastic mount; Nikon UK's page does not claim weather protection
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 90 mm maximum diameter × 208 mm from mount flange	Approximately 70 mm maximum diameter × 32 mm from mount flange when retracted; shooting length is greater
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 998 g without tripod collar ring or 1180 g with it	Approximately 135 g
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	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-77B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-119 hood and CL-C3 lens case; removable tripod collar and protective cover	LC-46B front cap and LF-N1 rear cap; Photography Blog reports no supplied hood or case
Release detail
Release detail	US maker states late March 2026; exact earliest retail day or first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained	Nikon USA announced November 2019 availability with Z50 lens kits. The black and later silver finishes are grouped as configurations of the same optical model