Thom Hogan

My previous article tried to clarify my current view of the Z System telephoto options as succinctly as possible. While this seemed to help many, I received inquiries that came at the problem a different way. So let me tackle that for those folk. 

I'm going to order my choices in terms of capability—mostly image quality—at each focal length. Remember, I’m a stickler for detail and nuance and always want Optimal Capture. Most of you reading this, not so much ;~). That said, I’d be comfortable having to use any of the following, I’d just pick them in the order I list (I’ll also use colors to sort of group the choices). Note: all of the following assumes the FX frame. Some of you are going to disagree because you’re using the DX frame.

Note: I don’t have enough experience with the 180-400mm f/4, 300mm f/2.8, and 600mm f/4 on the FTZ or with teleconverters to place them reliably in these lists. I’d expect them to be similar to the other F-mount-exotic-plus-TC choices.

You need 400mm:

1. 400mm f/2.8 TC S — Nothing beats it. It even seems a bit better than my 400mm f/2.8G.
2. 400mm f/2.8G/E on FTZ adapter — These were seminal lenses, and really, really, good.
3. 400mm f/4.5 S — The lens most of you should be buying if you’re just looking for 400mm capability.
4. 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 S — Surprisingly good, plus it focuses close.
5. 120-300mm f/2.8 with 1.4x TC on FTZ — Don’t like the dual mount thing, but lens starts so sharp the TC removes little.
6. 200-500mm f/5.6E on FTZ adapter — Pretty decent at 400mm.
7. 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G on FTZ adapter — A little shorter than 400mm for most distances, center on par with #3, but not corners.
8. 300mm f/4E PF with 1.4x on FTZ adapter — Don’t like the dual mount thing, otherwise okay.
9. 70-200mm f/2.8 with 2.0x TC — Usable, but clearly behind the above options.

You need 500mm-600mm:

1. 500mm f/5.6E PF on FTZ adapter — Stunningly good for its size, but note that slower aperture.
2. 500mm f/4E on FTZ adapter — Close #2 mostly due to size. Not as good as the 400mm exotic, but still way up there in ability.
3. 400mm f/2.8 TC S with the TC engaged — Surprisingly good. Note where I slotted it.
4. 600mm f/4E on FTZ adapter — Me least favorite Nikon exotic, and it’s big and heavy, but it’s still good.
5. 400mm f/4.5 S with 1.4x TC — f/6.3, but optically still doing really well out through the DX boundary.
6. 120-300mm f/2.8 with 2x TC on FTZ adapter — The 2x drains the optical quality more, and don’t forget the dual mount.
7. 200-500mm f/5.6E on FTZ adapter — Starts to show its shortcomings, though aperture is good.
8. 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 with 1.4x TC — f/8, which is going to start to be a bit of a problem; optically okay, not great.

You need 800mm:

1. 800mm f/6.3 PF S — Exactly why it’s out of stock and on severe back-order: it tops the list.
2. 800mm f/5.6E on FTZ adapter — Maybe a bit better at some things optically than #1, but bigger, heavier, extra mount.
3. 400mm f/2.8 TC S with TC and 1.4x TC — Surprise! Double TCs definitely bring this lens down some notches, but usable.
4. 400mm f/2.8 TC S with 2x TC — Close, but I like the above rendering on my sample a bit better.
5. 400mm f/4.5 S with 2x TC — Surprisingly competent, but you’ll see issues.

Note that there are things I don’t list, such as the 100-400mm with the 2x teleconverter for 800mm. Doesn’t make it above my acceptable bar, but I suppose I might use it in a pinch. But we’d also be at f/11, which introduces additional problems.

So how do you use this list? Particularly for 400mm, which many of you already probably have some option to get to, the question is how much money (and extra carrying) are you willing to spend to move up the list. The jump from #9 to #3 is big and dramatic. The jump from #6 to #4 is smaller and less dramatic, but real. The difference between #1 and #2 boils more down to the FTZ and teleconverter use. 

The other question is how the upcoming 200-600mm and 600mm might change things. With the latter, I think we can already guess that it will slot into #1 for 500-600mm, and maybe #3 for 800mm. Indeed, if the upcoming 600mm doesn’t make it at least that high on those lists, we have something big to talk about. 

The 200-600mm is a much tougher thing to guess about. However, I don’t expect it to be an S lens, and much more a lower-priced consumer option. A wild guess would be around #5 for all three focal lengths. But I wouldn’t be surprised if it were a notch lower. I would be surprised if it was a notch higher. 

Update: fixed 100-400mm apertures.