NIKON NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon Z Mirrorless Cameras
Preamble: When buying this lens through 鶹, be sure to check which seller you purchase from. If you want a Canadian warranty, be sure to buy from a Nikon-Canada authorized reseller.
Having shot a variety of image formats over the course of decades, while I appreciate there's a time and a place where any camera is better than no picture at all, I have become fussy about my cameras and my choice of optics. While there are no bad cameras being made currently nor are there any bad lenses beyond a very low price point, there is still a difference between 'good' optics and exceptional ones. The Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S is one of the exceptional ones.
There are numerous reviews out there that quantify lens performance at various focal lengths and apertures. While I can't provide MTF scores, I can say this is a lens with surprisingly few weaknesses. Now, you might be surprised when I infer there are weaknesses but, before I address them, let me just say that there's no lens I know of in this category that gets more 'out of the way' in the course of shooting than this one. In other words, the lens has design features that help me get the shot I want without having to remember a sequence of steps to get there: It just does it (within its very generous design parameters).
Hits:
- Sharpness across the field of view through the focal range and range of apertures
- Weight (for this category of lens)
- Fast focus
- Constant aperture (of course)
- Flare resistant coatings
- Usable with Z teleconverters
- 77mm filter size
- Focus breathing: Not an issue
- Assignable function buttons (Fn1 & Fn2)
- Functions assignable to Control ring (default: aperture)
- Close focus distance varies with the focal length so you can get surprisingly close to your subject at the full range of focal lengths. This is fantastic!
Misses?
- Effective focal length at MFD, that is to say, at closest focus distance (aka minimum focus distance: MFD), the lens provides less magnification at a given focal length than the focal length should provide. At longer distance, the lens performs at its given focal length so no worries there. This feature plays a role in the lens not exhibiting focus breathing so the effect is for the greater good overall.
- Tripod foot: Not fully removable.
- Felt lined hood: This is a hit and a miss. Sure, it cuts down on unwanted reflections but it also gives dust and debris a place to stay put. They could have just molded little little plastic baffles instead or just left the interior of the hood 'matte'.
- No VR switch (but easy to find as a menu item)
- Focus ring is easy to turn accidentally. (Can be moved/ reassigned, however re: CSM settings)
I have a range of prime and zoom lenses. While the Z 70-200mm won't replace all of them that overlap its range -- such as my 135mm f/1.8 Art lens -- it is the most versatile 70-200mm I have ever seen. Because of that versatility, it's a lens I will use much more often.
Nikon has made many f/2.8 telephoto zooms (70/80-200mm). The current F-mount Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E is worth considering if you still have both feet firmly planted in both F and Z mounts. On the other hand, if you see yourself migrating to Z and have a Z camera, I'd recommend just going straight to this option. It's a few bucks more but you won't look back for quite a long time.
| Manufacturer | Nikon |
|---|---|
| Place of Business | Mississauga, ON L4W 1C1, CA |
| Item model number | 20091 |
| Product Dimensions | 22 x 8.89 x 8.89 cm; 1.36 kg |
| ASIN | B083K3C5P2 |
