The 400mm

[Jorgen Udvang]

Now I really would like to get back to sports photography. Since I would have to sell my car to buy it, this would technically then become my walkaround lens, wouldn't it?

NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S | Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens

The NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S is ideal for sports, action and wildlife, with an f/2.8 aperture, 400mm of reach and a built-in teleconverter.

www.nikonusa.com

Look at one of the rugby portraits at dpreview, the guy standing in the rain. That's just insane.

 

[Swissblad]

First lens I've seen that comes with a warning that it shouldn't be used by individuals with pacemakers....especially those who collapsed after seeing their CC bill.....

 

[MGrayson]

Oh, that seems the going rate for modern long wide aperture lenses, give or take a few thousand dollars. I think the most impressive images are those of it being hand-held .

 

[Darin Marcus]

I was looking forward to Nikon using voice coil AF motors in Z lenses after learning that they used one in the 1 Nikkor VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6. Glad to see that more of what they learned from their first mirrorless system is put to good use in the Z system. And now they have an improved version that is both silky and swift

This is the second Z lens to use an SR element (after the 70-200 f/2.8) and the first to use a new coating (Meso Amorphous) with even smaller particles than Nano / ARNEO. Some very nice samples on the Nikon USA page linked to by Jorgen.

All in all a great lens release by Nikon.

 

[glenerrolrd]

Wish I was still in Florida . Uses for a 400mm F2.8 with a tele converter .

(1) Polo at the Palm Beach Internationation Polo Club . Free on the field allowed . Season now threw April . US Open late March . Ideal lenses 400 or 600 ..must be wide aperture to isolate horse and rider .

(2) Surfing ...Use Juno Beach Pier to get out parallel to surfers . Use Surfline weather reports to know when to go . Probably only 10 really good days per season . 400 /2.8 is ideal lens . Teleconverter to get 560 useful . Surfer girls on the beach !

(3) Spring Training MLB at Roger Dean Stadium . They allowed 400 or 600 with a standing room only ticket . Shoot the batter from Right Field .. Shoot home plate for better seats which are always open after an hour because those seats are really hot . The owners leave on a sunny day .

(4) Auto Racing ....Sebring is close to most everything . 400 or 600 from plenty of spots . Go on warm up days to avoid race crowds . Porsche Club has good races but Sebring cars are better subjects . Vintage races as well . Ferrari event in January at Palm Beach International Race Track .

(5) Birds ....too many paces to list . Everglades for example .

Now in Atlanta with my three grandkids . Fewer opportunities and way more distractions .

(1) Little League Baseball ..shot 18 games last season ...

(2) Nearby Professional Race track ... Petit LeMan and the Mitty are big races .

They most important aspect of gear is matching it to its intended usage . Then I decide what aspects of the gear are important to me . All of the above require AF tracking and I can t wait to get my Z9 ..even through my D5 is quite excellent . Next I look at my prime lens for each event . The 400mm is the most versatile allow having a 600 is better for some applications . I am guessing the 1.4x dedicated to the 400/2.8 will cover me .

Add in a 70-200/2.8 and 1.4 X plus a wide angle probably a 28/1.8 and I could cover all those events to Professional standards .

YES the 400/2.8 is on order .

 

[Jan Brittenson]

Or the St Petersburg Grand Prix (on Feb 27th)... where they allow you as non-press (or press outside of designated press areas) to bring a lens of up to 10" in length. The 500 PF is... ta da, 9.4" without a hood (if anyone shows up with a measuring tape I'll just remove the hood). All the big teles will easily exceed the limit. Also, outside of press areas you can't set up a tripod, for obvious reasons. Only wish I actually had brought the 300 PF, but the 70-200 S + 1.4x is not half bad (just a bit clunky).

 

[glenerrolrd]

I understand you are near Ding Darling wildlife Preserve .. I used to shoot there years ago with manual Leica SLR and the Leica 400mm lens using K64 . Now that was a challenge . Now you can use a Z9 and this new 400mm lens .

 

[Jan Brittenson]

Yeah, don't get me wrong - sounds like a brilliant optic!

 

[aksclix]

Damn.. the price of this thing