Nikon’s new Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR is a full-frame zoom lens that offers up to 14.2x magnification in a lightweight package. Does it make unacceptable compromises or is the Nikon Z the perfect all-in-one lens for photographers?
Nikon is no stranger to superzoom lenses. I built a 28-300mm lens for an F-mount SLR that I found comfortable and optically decent. The DSLR era was characterized by a saturated market where almost everyone had a superzoom for every lens.
Since then, full-frame mirrorless superzoom lenses larger than 200mm have become rare. Is it due to lack of demand? Nikon makes a 24-200mm f/4-6.3 for the Z-mount, and while it’s a good lens, it still falls short in the range department. Panasonic recently released a full-frame 28-200mm L-mount lens that certainly adds versatility to this system. But now Nikon has set new standards with a super long-range 28-400mm f/4-8 zoom lens.
Can a lens with such a varied focal length range provide acceptable image quality? Will we see a superzoom lens renaissance?
The 28-400mm lens I used was a pre-production sample, but I had a chance to get at least some preliminary results on the lens’ performance. The Superzoom feels like a travel lens, so I figured a road trip was in order and headed to the beautiful town of Nanton, Alberta. For a long-range superzoom lens, Nanton had plenty of photo opportunities, from rows of grain silos to a pair of pigeons gathering in the distance.
On the road again
The Nikkor Z 28-400mm uses an STM motor to drive the glass elements, and its focusing at telephoto is smooth, though not particularly fast. Focusing up close can take a while, but in practical situations where you’re focusing at most distances it wasn’t a problem. Also, focusing speed is considerably faster when using the lens in the wide-angle to normal range.
The Nikkor 28-400mm f/4-8 is surprisingly light, weighing just 26 ounces (725 grams). Even on a light body like the Z6, the lens balances well.
Although the model 28-400mm is light, it is very large and has a filter thread diameter of 77mm, which contributes to its large size. It takes up quite a bit of space in the bag when extended to 400mm and 28mm when extended.
There is enough room in the barrel for a wide zoom ring, which makes it easy to operate even when the cap is reversed. I like the lock switch that prevents the zoom from sliding while moving. There’s also a customizable control ring, though it’s a bit weird. Focus must be controlled on the body, and although the lens has VR technology, there is no switch on the lens to control it.
Good deal
Superzoom lenses usually have a very complex optical formula that includes many glass elements. I was concerned about shooting the lens into the sun because the glass causes internal reflection. I was very surprised to see almost no ghosting and minimal ghosting. Even with the switch off, the amount of shadow is still easily controlled for excellent Nikon coverage. As expected, the sun’s stars are not particularly notable.
The 28-400mm lens can provide shallow depth of field at the long end of the range, despite an aperture as low as f/8. Unfortunately, bokeh quality isn’t the 28-400mm’s strength. There is no onion ring on the highlights, but a strange double ring on the outside. Even with the switch off, the lights have a clear polygonal shape thanks to the nine-slat bezel It makes blurry backgrounds look messy and doesn’t blend as smoothly with blur. However, given the relatively narrow maximum aperture of this lens, the disadvantages are not as noticeable.
I enjoyed using the 28-400mm lens for close-ups because it achieves a life-size reproduction ratio of about 1:3 whether it’s 28mm or 400mm. This gives the lens great versatility, allowing for wide-angle macro shots with distant backgrounds or compact close-ups at long working distances. Autofocus performance was still precise at close range and sharpness was good.
Because our sample was a pre-production lens and I only spent an afternoon with it, there wasn’t enough time to take test shots to evaluate sharpness. As I evaluated sample images over the next few days, I found that sharpness was excellent at both ends of the lens range. Angles also help well and the lens performs well even at its widest aperture. That’s a good thing, because the Nikkor 28-400mm doesn’t capture much light.
Just like old times: positive first impressions
I’m excited about the return of superzoom to more mirrorless camera systems, and Nikon has brought an exciting range of lenses to market while mitigating the flaws well.
A small aperture range will be the primary determining factor whether or not it is acceptable. While the wide aperture of f/4 is good at 28mm, the aperture drops immediately when you zoom out, and at 200mm it’s already at f/8. It’s acceptable for casual photography on sunny days or as a travel lens in nice weather, but serious nature photographers may want to look for something brighter. As light levels drop, ISO needs to be raised sooner than desired and this is the main compromise for such a large zoom range.
However, the larger size and darker apertures are acceptable compromises for such a wide zoom range. Some users may be completely satisfied with the 200mm maximum reach value on the market, but there’s no denying that 400mm can make a big difference at this range.
One should not buy lentils like this expecting to have their cake and eat it too. However, if you want a single lens, it is possible horse racing Do all of this and still produce beautiful images, and the Nikon is very successful at it.