The new Nikkor Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR telephoto zoom boasts an abundant constant f/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range, and it’s the world’s first lens of this type to feature a built-in 1.4x teleconverter.
And, despite being a zoom lens, it’s designed to deliver a level of rendering performance comparable to that of a prime lens to boot.
Weighing in at a whopping 2,735g (that’s roughly six pounds), it’s still 515g lighter than the discontinued DSLR-era AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8 E FL ED SR VR released in 2020. It’s also considerably more expensive, even when factoring in the time difference between the launch of these two technically somewhat-distant siblings.
As the price tag attests, this is clearly a niche product, and one targeted to an exclusive audience. But for anyone with deep enough pockets, it’s also one helluva lens.
The combination of that ample constant maximum aperture and the built-in teleconverter make this lens especially useful to sports photographers who shoot at unpredictable distances from their subject, including outdoor tennis and soccer, as well as in low-light conditions like indoor figure skating and basketball.
Wildlife shooters will also be able to put this lens to good use in a wide range of tricky environments.
View Nikkor Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR Pricing and Availability at Vistek
As part of the S-Line series of Nikkor Z lenses, featuring Nikon’s highest tier of optical engineering, you can count on it to deliver superior resolution across the entire frame – picture an athlete’s intense facial expressions captured in fine detail – along with natural-looking bokeh and clear subject separation.
With the teleconverter engaged, it effectively becomes a 170-420mm f/4 super-telephoto zoom, which is where 6.5 stops of shake reduction come in especially handy.
Another secret to the success of this lens is its use of Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor (VCM) technology, which employs magnets rather than gears to move the various focusing groups. It not only achieves this at higher speed and greater accuracy but also with less noise and minimized focus breathing when shooting video.
And with an internal focusing system and an internal zoom mechanism, the lens remains fairly compact and nimble in use, not to mention nicely sealed against the elements.
Features
- Z Mount, full-frame format
- Fast, highly precise and smooth AF control with Silky Swift VCM
- Meso Amorphous Coat anti-reflection performance
- ARNEO Coat to effectively suppress ghosting and flare
- 6.5-stop vibration reduction (VR) performance
- Internal focusing system and an internal zoom mechanism
- 9 aperture blades
- 30 elements in 24 groups
- Supports Arca-Swiss tripod heads
- Tripod collar with rubber cushion and integrated finger grip
- Supports both front screw-on filters and rear slip-in filter holders
- Includes HB-120 bayonet hood
- Magnesium alloy durability and superior dust- and drip-resistance
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