My good friend Andrew received his Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S yesterday but has too many commitments over the next few days and wouldn't be able to take advantage of the lens. So, he told me to take it and get some photos to share with everyone. After some very minor arm twisting, I relented and begrudgingly took it off his hands.
I did take a few shot yesterday when he got it, but it was very late in the afternoon and the BIF shots were a little noisy due to high ISO and took the edge of the shots. The Z9 + 400 tracked the sea gulls very well, AF was fast and accurate.
Taronga Zoo is the easiest place to guarantee a variety and in order to get close enough so not much cropping would be required. It is a sharp lens, very nice bokeh and lovely overall IQ.
Some are with the 1.4x TC.
1) Silver Gull - yesterday afternoon
Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/320s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso180
2) Great Egret - Yesterday afternoon.
Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/400s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso1800
3) Superb Fairywren, non breeding male - yesterday afternoon
Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/320s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso3600
4) Scaly-breasted Lorikeet - zoo
Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/60s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso450
5) Scaly-breasted Lorikeet having a bath - zoo
Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S + 1.4x TC, 1/80s f/6.3 at 560.0mm iso720
6) Zebra Finch - zoo
Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S + 1.4x TC, 1/80s f/6.3 at 560.0mm iso140
7) White-browed Woodswallow - zoo
Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S + 1.4x TC, 1/160s f/6.3 at 560.0mm iso560
8) Regent Honeyeater, and endangered bird and under a breeding program at the zoo - zoo
Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S + 1.4x TC, 1/100s f/6.3 at 560.0mm iso450
9) Java Finch - zoo
Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/125s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso1100
10) White-rumped Shama - zoo
Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/125s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso6400
11) Wandering Whistling Duck - zoo
Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/80s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso2800
12) Koala - zoo
Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/100s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso200
Thanks for posting Lance....one quick question. Is it possible to make a comparison of the 400 with the 1.4x against a 500 PF? If you own one that is of course.
Really trying to figure out my way forward with these lenses now...thanks
Beautiful Lance. This lens won't be released here until July 19th so I guess we don't always get everything first After 400/2.8 and 800PF, I think I am done with supertele for a good long while
Looks to be a great lens. I would be very much interested in your evaluation of the lens with the Z1.4tc in comparison to the 500PF.
I really like the clarity and colors it produces, it is starting to look very much like Nikon is claiming this territory of affordable high end lenses for itself. I do hope they take the Z400s design philosophy and scale it up to a 500mm f4.5 lens. That would be an insane lens with the Z1.4tc in the bag.
Lance,... these are beautiful.
You definitely have demonstrated that the 400 f4.5 is an optically strong lens. It is clear that the bokeh is clean and soft (as advertised) so long as the background isn't too close (like image 2). The first image produces a creamy bokeh akin to a 500mm f4 or even 400 f2.8.
Now for the million dollar questions (or $3300 question),... if you need 500mm, what produces a better mix of image sharpness and soft background... 400mm f4.5 + 1.4x (Z), or adapted 500mm PF?
ChrisMak wrote:
Looks to be a great lens. I would be very much interested in your evaluation of the lens with the Z1.4tc in comparison to the 500PF.
I really like the clarity and colors it produces, it is starting to look very much like Nikon is claiming this territory of affordable high end lenses for itself. I do hope they take the Z400s design philosophy and scale it up to a 500mm f4.5 lens. That would be an insane lens with the Z1.4tc in the bag.
What Nikon has done with this lens has me wondering if they could make a 500 f/4 and keep it around or under 5 pounds. If the 600 f/4 is stratospherically expensive, that 500 would make me dip into my pockets. Although a less expensive 500 f/4.5 sounds good, too.
Oh, and great pics, Lance. I’m sure you’re making a bunch of people think they need a 400 f/4.5 for themselves.
Archerscreek wrote:
What Nikon has done with this lens has me wondering if they could make a 500 f/4 and keep it around or under 5 pounds. If the 600 f/4 is stratospherically expensive, that 500 would make me dip into my pockets. Although a less expensive 500 f/4.5 sounds good, too....
The optics of the Z400/4.5 appear to be something entirely different than the optics from the long superzoom lenses, and even a bit better than the optics of the PF lenses, smoother bokeh and richer colors and a bit better contrast.
This lens is starting to look like the true high end prime lenses, and in a weight and price class that might make them accessible to a broad audience. I would jump on a 500/4.5 with the dna of the Z400/4.5. Seeing how well the Z400/4.5 takes the 1.4TC, a 500/4.5 would be hugely versatile if weight and size can be kept down. 700mm f6.3 with the 1.4TC, if with the same optical quality as shown here, than I would prefer it to the 800PF even, purely for the sake of size and versatility.
Luftwalk wrote:
Thanks for posting Lance....one quick question. Is it possible to make a comparison of the 400 with the 1.4x against a 500 PF? If you own one that is of course.
Really trying to figure out my way forward with these lenses now...thanks
Thank you very much, Luftwalk. Much appreciated!
I hope I can get out and shoot more with the 400 and 1.4x TC this week, or until Andrew wants his lens back, as this how I would shoot it most of the time if I actually owned it. Four of above the images are with the TC, 5, 6, 7, & 8. However, these are in a confined space and some in low light and I was trying to keep shutter speeds very low to keep ISO very low so we could see the lens's sharpness best. I didn't want to have high ISO taking the edge off things.
I also have the 400 f2.8E FL VR and shoot with it mostly with the 1.4x TCIII also but can also revert back to the idiotically great lens bare. The trouble is, it is big and heavy and I because of this, I don't use it as much as I should. If I take it out on a shoot, it is this lens only and as I also have the 500 PF and 100-400 so, the 400 f4.5 is not on my radar unless I decide to sell off my 400 f2.8E FL VR. The trouble is, the 500 PF is so good and works with the 1.4x TC so well that I may forego this lens. However, this lens does look the goods also and I may buckle if I do sell off my 400 f2.8E FL VR.
suteetat wrote:
Beautiful Lance. This lens won't be released here until July 19th so I guess we don't always get everything first After 400/2.8 and 800PF, I think I am done with supertele for a good long while
Thank you very much, Suteetat. Much appreciated!
As I have the 400 f2.8E FL VR, 500 PF, 100-400 and the 800 PF on order, I don't think this lens is for me yet either. I am just thankful that Andrew lent me his lens while he has other commitments.
ChrisMak wrote:
Looks to be a great lens. I would be very much interested in your evaluation of the lens with the Z1.4tc in comparison to the 500PF.
I really like the clarity and colors it produces, it is starting to look very much like Nikon is claiming this territory of affordable high end lenses for itself. I do hope they take the Z400s design philosophy and scale it up to a 500mm f4.5 lens. That would be an insane lens with the Z1.4tc in the bag.
Thank you very much, Chris. Much aprpeciated!
As I responded to other's, I hope to get out in the real world with the 400 + Z 1.4x TC and put it through it's paces until Andrew wants his lens back. Like all the Z lenses, it has that Z lens look - sharp, great colour and contrast and great bokeh.
OwlsEyes wrote:
Lance,... these are beautiful.
You definitely have demonstrated that the 400 f4.5 is an optically strong lens. It is clear that the bokeh is clean and soft (as advertised) so long as the background isn't too close (like image 2). The first image produces a creamy bokeh akin to a 500mm f4 or even 400 f2.8.
Now for the million dollar questions (or $3300 question),... if you need 500mm, what produces a better mix of image sharpness and soft background... 400mm f4.5 + 1.4x (Z), or adapted 500mm PF?
interested in your thoughts...
bruce
ps... love pictures 4 & 5...
Thank you very much, Bruce. Much appreciated!
As for image 2, I think that would have posed a bit of a problem for all but the greatest bokeh lenses.
As for the million $ question. I need to do much more evaluation as to which is best, the 500 f5.6 PF or the 400 f4.5 + Z1.4x TC. I hope I can get out and test it more until Andrew wants his lens back. The trouble with lenses these days is that they are all so bloody good that the differences are minimal at best. In this case, it might come down to something as which has the best bokeh, or contrast or AF or whatever. The 400 f4.5's MTF's look as though the lens was designed for good bokeh with slightly undercorrected spherical aberration if I am reading it right. This may mean that in a pinch, people looking for the bokeh of say a 400 f2.8 might like this lens as a light, small, cheaper alternative. Sort of makes sense and so far the bokeh looks excellent in most situations.
Apparently I'm 'near the top of the list'. uh huh. 