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Archive 2022Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
p.12 #1Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
lukemeup wrote:
https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikor-z-400mm-f-4-5-vr-sI'm glad the experts agree with what was obvious from the start. 
As someone who has shot both the 500pf and this 400mm with a TC, do you feel like you get better images now or do you just enjoy the lack of ftz? I've noticed that the TC seems to stay on that lens for you which I would think would lose the advantage of the 400mm over the 500mm pf?
urbanwild wrote
My apologies for sharing a lens field test article in an image thread, but the images in this review are also gorgeous and the review aligns well with the feedback we're seeing in this thread.https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikor-z-400mm-f-4-5-vr-s
As someone who has shot both the 500pf and this 400mm with a TC, do you feel like you get better images now or do you just enjoy the lack of ftz? I've noticed that the TC seems to stay on that lens for you which I would think would lose the advantage of the 400mm over the 500mm pf?
Nov 15, 2022 at 02:07 PM
p.12 #2Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
urbanwild wrote:
As someone who has shot both the 500pf and this 400mm with a TC, do you feel like you get better images now or do you just enjoy the lack of ftz? I've noticed that the TC seems to stay on that lens for you which I would think would lose the advantage of the 400mm over the 500mm pf?
I'd say the IQ is very comparable but there's a noticeable (for me) difference in FL - so I get more pixels on the 'target' at 560mm (not sure how many more - ~20%?). The lens also handles way better (different weight distribution of the glass elements inside) & it doesn't run VR nonstop (like 500PF on Z9 does).
As someone who has shot both the 500pf and this 400mm with a TC, do you feel like you get better images now or do you just enjoy the lack of ftz? I've noticed that the TC seems to stay on that lens for you which I would think would lose the advantage of the 400mm over the 500mm pf?
I'd say the IQ is very comparable but there's a noticeable (for me) difference in FL - so I get more pixels on the 'target' at 560mm (not sure how many more - ~20%?). The lens also handles way better (different weight distribution of the glass elements inside) & it doesn't run VR nonstop (like 500PF on Z9 does).
Nov 15, 2022 at 02:22 PM
p.12 #3Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
urbanwild wrote:
https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikor-z-400mm-f-4-5-vr-sI'm glad the experts agree with what was obvious from the start. As someone who has shot both the 500pf and this 400mm with a TC, do you feel like you get better images now or do you just enjoy the lack of ftz? I've noticed that the TC seems to stay on that lens for you which I would think would lose the advantage of the 400mm over the 500mm pf?
For whatever it is worth, I have shot the 400mm f/4.5 lens bare, with the 1.4x TC, and with the 2x TC. I expect that I will largely shoot the 400mm with the 1.4x TC. However, when light is low (which is likely for the next three months in the great pacific northwet), I will shoot the 400mm without the 1.4x TC to allow me to shoot at f/4.5 (to reduce my ISO levels). If I shoot the 400mm bare, using DX crop mode on the Z9, then I have an effective focal length of 600mm at f/4.5. That (f/4.5 vs. f/5.6) is a slight benefit of the 400mm over the 500mm. Don't get me wrong, I used to own the 500mm PF lens and absolutely loved it! Optically, I don't see much difference in the 500mm PF versus the 400mm f/4.5 with 1.4x TC. However, using the 2x TC on the 400mm does slightly decrease IQ and has an impact on AF abilities (even using the Z9). It's all plusses and minuses, and each lens has its own benefits and drawbacks. We are lucky to have so many great lenses to choose from.
lukemeup wrote
urbanwild wrote
My apologies for sharing a lens field test article in an image thread, but the images in this review are also gorgeous and the review aligns well with the feedback we're seeing in this thread.https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikor-z-400mm-f-4-5-vr-s
For whatever it is worth, I have shot the 400mm f/4.5 lens bare, with the 1.4x TC, and with the 2x TC. I expect that I will largely shoot the 400mm with the 1.4x TC. However, when light is low (which is likely for the next three months in the great pacific northwet), I will shoot the 400mm without the 1.4x TC to allow me to shoot at f/4.5 (to reduce my ISO levels). If I shoot the 400mm bare, using DX crop mode on the Z9, then I have an effective focal length of 600mm at f/4.5. That (f/4.5 vs. f/5.6) is a slight benefit of the 400mm over the 500mm. Don't get me wrong, I used to own the 500mm PF lens and absolutely loved it! Optically, I don't see much difference in the 500mm PF versus the 400mm f/4.5 with 1.4x TC. However, using the 2x TC on the 400mm does slightly decrease IQ and has an impact on AF abilities (even using the Z9). It's all plusses and minuses, and each lens has its own benefits and drawbacks. We are lucky to have so many great lenses to choose from.
Nov 15, 2022 at 02:46 PM
p.12 #5Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
Just received my lens late this afternoon so no chance to chase birds or wildlife. Handles amazingly well--light and balanced.
I only have a Z6 and I do have a 500 PF which I occasionally mount on it though it lives on my D500 as it is the only F mount glass I have anymore. The balance of this 400 is noticeably different. I wanted a native Z mount tele to try. And will probably pick up the Z 1.4 TC.
The VR seems very good.
1600 ISO, 1/8s, f4.5
I only have a Z6 and I do have a 500 PF which I occasionally mount on it though it lives on my D500 as it is the only F mount glass I have anymore. The balance of this 400 is noticeably different. I wanted a native Z mount tele to try. And will probably pick up the Z 1.4 TC.
The VR seems very good.
© chloesview 2022
1600 ISO, 1/8s, f4.5
Nov 15, 2022 at 07:21 PM
p.12 #6Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
chloesview wrote:
Just received my lens late this afternoon so no chance to chase birds or wildlife. Handles amazingly well--light and balanced.
I only have a Z6 and I do have a 500 PF which I occasionally mount on it though it lives on my D500 as it is the only F mount glass I have anymore. The balance of this 400 is noticeably different. I wanted a native Z mount tele to try. And will probably pick up the Z 1.4 TC.
The VR seems very good.
Congrats on the new lens.
Just received my lens late this afternoon so no chance to chase birds or wildlife. Handles amazingly well--light and balanced.
I only have a Z6 and I do have a 500 PF which I occasionally mount on it though it lives on my D500 as it is the only F mount glass I have anymore. The balance of this 400 is noticeably different. I wanted a native Z mount tele to try. And will probably pick up the Z 1.4 TC.
The VR seems very good.
Congrats on the new lens.
Nov 15, 2022 at 09:09 PM
p.12 #7Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
A question for Z 400mm f4.5 lens owners. I just received one and it feels a bit loose in the mount on my Z9. None of my other lenses are like this. It seems to work OK but it feels loose both in rotation and in the front to back rocking. Is anyone else's lens like this?
Nov 17, 2022 at 02:26 PM
p.12 #8Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
bcaslis wrote:
A question for Z 400mm f4.5 lens owners. I just received one and it feels a bit loose in the mount on my Z9. None of my other lenses are like this. It seems to work OK but it feels loose both in rotation and in the front to back rocking. Is anyone else's lens like this?
Brian, no, mine is not like that. I just mounted my 400mm f/4.5 Z lens on my Z9, and then mounted my 70-200mm f/2.8 Z lens on my Z9. While there is a very slight rotational movement with both lenses on my Z9, there was no appreciable difference between these two lenses on my Z9. There is no movement front to back with either lens on my Z9.
Keith W.
A question for Z 400mm f4.5 lens owners. I just received one and it feels a bit loose in the mount on my Z9. None of my other lenses are like this. It seems to work OK but it feels loose both in rotation and in the front to back rocking. Is anyone else's lens like this?
Brian, no, mine is not like that. I just mounted my 400mm f/4.5 Z lens on my Z9, and then mounted my 70-200mm f/2.8 Z lens on my Z9. While there is a very slight rotational movement with both lenses on my Z9, there was no appreciable difference between these two lenses on my Z9. There is no movement front to back with either lens on my Z9.
Keith W.
Nov 17, 2022 at 02:44 PM
p.12 #9Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
kwilliam8 wrote:
Brian, no, mine is not like that. I just mounted my 400mm f/4.5 Z lens on my Z9, and then mounted my 70-200mm f/2.8 Z lens on my Z9. While there is a very slight rotational movement with both lenses on my Z9, there was no appreciable difference between these two lenses on my Z9. There is no movement front to back with either lens on my Z9.
Keith W.
Same. Slight rotational play. Zero wobble. Same with 70-200mm. 14-24mm less rotational play. 50 1.8 - zero play.
bcaslis wrote
A question for Z 400mm f4.5 lens owners. I just received one and it feels a bit loose in the mount on my Z9. None of my other lenses are like this. It seems to work OK but it feels loose both in rotation and in the front to back rocking. Is anyone else's lens like this?Keith W.
Same. Slight rotational play. Zero wobble. Same with 70-200mm. 14-24mm less rotational play. 50 1.8 - zero play.
Nov 17, 2022 at 03:57 PM
p.12 #10Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
My companion tags along for those walks that are not 100% about birds.
Nov 17, 2022 at 03:59 PM
p.12 #11Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
bcaslis wrote:
A question for Z 400mm f4.5 lens owners. I just received one and it feels a bit loose in the mount on my Z9. None of my other lenses are like this. It seems to work OK but it feels loose both in rotation and in the front to back rocking. Is anyone else's lens like this?
I started a new thread, I experienced the same issue as you described.
Rotational was noticed on 100-400mm, and every other z lens I owed, but not back and forth until I received 400f4.5.
To make the story short, my lens is back at Nikon, they were supposed to check it out yesterday, but I still don't have any results reported.
This is the thread I wrote about.
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1778439
P.S. I did an experiment, I even showed it to my dealer.
If I hold camera grip, then I drop my hand down with lens pointing to the ground, I can easily feel the clank, it can be heard too.
Then, I put a small piece of masking tape, 3/4" long 1/8-1/4" wide on camera mount towards grip.
Once I mounted lens, it felt rock solid, as it should be.
A question for Z 400mm f4.5 lens owners. I just received one and it feels a bit loose in the mount on my Z9. None of my other lenses are like this. It seems to work OK but it feels loose both in rotation and in the front to back rocking. Is anyone else's lens like this?
I started a new thread, I experienced the same issue as you described.
Rotational was noticed on 100-400mm, and every other z lens I owed, but not back and forth until I received 400f4.5.
To make the story short, my lens is back at Nikon, they were supposed to check it out yesterday, but I still don't have any results reported.
This is the thread I wrote about.
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1778439
P.S. I did an experiment, I even showed it to my dealer.
If I hold camera grip, then I drop my hand down with lens pointing to the ground, I can easily feel the clank, it can be heard too.
Then, I put a small piece of masking tape, 3/4" long 1/8-1/4" wide on camera mount towards grip.
Once I mounted lens, it felt rock solid, as it should be.
Nov 17, 2022 at 04:38 PM
p.12 #12Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
Thanks for the feedback on the lens mount movement everyone. I experimented with a Z 100-400mm lens and found it has the same movement but a bit less. So it might be normal but I have never seen this before on the Z lens. All my smaller Z lenses have either much reduced or no movement compared to the 400mm lenses. I don't have a 70-200mm at the moment to test.
Nov 17, 2022 at 06:15 PM
p.12 #13Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
bcaslis wrote:
Thanks for the feedback on the lens mount movement everyone. I experimented with a Z 100-400mm lens and found it has the same movement but a bit less. So it might be normal but I have never seen this before on the Z lens. All my smaller Z lenses have either much reduced or no movement compared to the 400mm lenses. I don't have a 70-200mm at the moment to test.
Yes, all of them have a bit play, but 400f4.5 was beyond acceptable.
The clank, when I drop my hand down with camera and lens, bothered me the most, it became anoing.
Beside that, lens is amazing, I love it.
Nov 17, 2022 at 06:41 PM
p.12 #14Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
cvrle59 wrote:
Yes, all of them have a bit play, but 400f4.5 was beyond acceptable.
The clank, when I drop my hand down with camera and lens, bothered me the most, it became anoing.
Beside that, lens is amazing, I love it.
Did you keep the lens? Or did you exchange it for another one or return it?
bcaslis wrote
Thanks for the feedback on the lens mount movement everyone. I experimented with a Z 100-400mm lens and found it has the same movement but a bit less. So it might be normal but I have never seen this before on the Z lens. All my smaller Z lenses have either much reduced or no movement compared to the 400mm lenses. I don't have a 70-200mm at the moment to test.The clank, when I drop my hand down with camera and lens, bothered me the most, it became anoing.
Beside that, lens is amazing, I love it.
Did you keep the lens? Or did you exchange it for another one or return it?
Nov 17, 2022 at 10:01 PM
p.12 #15Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
bcaslis wrote:
Yes, all of them have a bit play, but 400f4.5 was beyond acceptable.
The clank, when I drop my hand down with camera and lens, bothered me the most, it became anoing.
Beside that, lens is amazing, I love it.Did you keep the lens? Or did you exchange it for another one or return it?
I requested replacement, if I have to wait too long for part, most likely mount plate.
I should know more at the end of the day, I hope, I'll report it here.
cvrle59 wrote
bcaslis wrote
Thanks for the feedback on the lens mount movement everyone. I experimented with a Z 100-400mm lens and found it has the same movement but a bit less. So it might be normal but I have never seen this before on the Z lens. All my smaller Z lenses have either much reduced or no movement compared to the 400mm lenses. I don't have a 70-200mm at the moment to test.The clank, when I drop my hand down with camera and lens, bothered me the most, it became anoing.
Beside that, lens is amazing, I love it.
I requested replacement, if I have to wait too long for part, most likely mount plate.
I should know more at the end of the day, I hope, I'll report it here.
Nov 18, 2022 at 05:57 AM
p.12 #16Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
Just to close this off, I was able to try another 400mm lens today. It's a little better than the first one but still feels looser than all my other lens. I decided to keep the second one, hopefully I will be able to take some real pictures tomorrow instead of just test shots.
Nov 18, 2022 at 08:13 PM
p.12 #17Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
Got a bunch of more usable shots today. Ability to flip to DX mode with a single push of a button = great.
Short-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Ability to flip to DX mode with a single push of a button = great.Nov 18, 2022 at 10:51 PM
p.12 #18Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
lukemeup wrote:
Got a bunch of more usable shots today. Ability to flip to DX mode with a single push of a button = great.
Excellent set of images. Yes having DX mode programmed to a button is the way to go. Effectively a digital zoom. Now if Nikon would just put 1.2x crop mode into the Z9 like we used to have with DSLRs...
Got a bunch of more usable shots today.
Ability to flip to DX mode with a single push of a button = great.Excellent set of images. Yes having DX mode programmed to a button is the way to go. Effectively a digital zoom. Now if Nikon would just put 1.2x crop mode into the Z9 like we used to have with DSLRs...
Nov 19, 2022 at 10:29 AM
p.12 #19Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
DivineFocus wrote:
Excellent set of images. Yes having DX mode programmed to a button is the way to go. Effectively a digital zoom. Now if Nikon would just put 1.2x crop mode into the Z9 like we used to have with DSLRs...
Thank you. I'm really happy with how those worked out.
Excellent set of images. Yes having DX mode programmed to a button is the way to go. Effectively a digital zoom. Now if Nikon would just put 1.2x crop mode into the Z9 like we used to have with DSLRs...
Thank you.
I'm really happy with how those worked out. Nov 19, 2022 at 12:03 PM
p.12 #20Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S Image Thread
lukemeup wrote:
Got a bunch of more usable shots today. Ability to flip to DX mode with a single push of a button = great.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52509666220_392d537d54_h.jpg
Short-eared Owl
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52509460464_f4934f83b1_h.jpg
Short-eared Owl
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52509460459_a36d2eff94_h.jpg
Short-eared Owl
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52509460424_a2dbbed5ae_h.jpg
Short-eared Owl
These are fantastic!... Nicely done
Got a bunch of more usable shots today.
Ability to flip to DX mode with a single push of a button = great.These are fantastic!... Nicely done
Nov 19, 2022 at 12:10 PM