New gear: Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S and Z 24-120mm f/4 S

Last week, in addition to announcing the Nikon Z 9, the company’s new flagship full-frame mirrorless camera, Nikon also unveiled two new Z-series zoom lenses for its full-frame mirrorless camera systems: The Nikon Nikkor Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S, a pricey pro-level lens that’s targeted at sports and wildlife shooters, and the Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S, an all-around zoom that can be used for everything from travel to portraits to still life. Nikon also announced a redesigned Z-mount adapter, the new Mount Adapter FTZ II, more on that in a bit.

Meet the Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S zoom lens

This is Nikon’s first super-telephoto zoom lens in the Z-series lineup and the first to surpass the 200mm mark. It’s pricey but should be very well constructed. Designed for many uses, it should be particularly handy for wildlife and sports photography, or any situation in which getting close to one’s subject isn’t an option.

Nikon Z 100-400mm: Autofocus & image stabilization

The autofocus system uses two STMs (stepping motors), which should provide fast, precise and quiet AF operation, for both stills and videos. The system is also an internal focusing system, which means the lens doesn’t extend or telescope out as you focus it. 

The lens also includes a built-in optical image stabilizer, which, when combined with the Z-series sensor-shift image stabilization, should provide you with 5.5 stops of compensation (and that’s also when using a teleconverter). Note: The “VR” in the name of the lens stands for “vibration reduction,” which is Nikon’s name for its IS system.

Nikon Z 100-400mm: Build quality & features

Nikon says this 100-400mm zoom is easy to use handheld. It weighs around 3lbs and is 8.8-inches long with a diameter of 39 inches. It also has a short rotation angle (80 degrees), which means you can easily rotate the zoom ring and go from the widest wide-angle position to the longest telephoto position, all in one motion. In other words, you don’t need to adjust how you hold the lens to zoom.

Those who like to capture video will like that it has minimal focus breathing and a programmable, click-less control ring, which allows you to turn the ring without any operational sound during video recording. 

Other features and technical specifications include:

• Maximum aperture: f/4.5 to 5.6
• Minimum aperture: f/32
• Maximum reproduction ratio: 0.38x
• Minimum focusing distance: 2.46 feet
• Filter attachment size: 77mm
• Weather-sealed

Nikon Z 100-400mm: Optical construction

The lens construction of this super-telephoto consists of 25 lens elements in 20 groups, including 6 ED elements and 2 super-ED elements. Plus it has elements with Nano Crystal and ARNEO coatings, applied to reduce ghost and flare effects. And the front element has a fluorine coating, for repelling dust, water droplets, grease, and dirt. The new lens also has a 9-blade aperture, which should produce very appealing bokeh quality, according to Nikon. 

Nikon Z 100-400mm: Availability & pricing

The new Nikon Nikkor Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S zoom lens will be available later this year for $2699.95. And you can preorder it now.

Meet the Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S zoom lens

One of the standout qualities of this new Z-series zoom is that it comes with a constant, f/4 aperture. Whether you’re at 24mm or 120mm (or anywhere in between) you have the option to open the lens wide to f/4, which can be very useful in low-light settings. All in all, it’s a lens that looks like a great companion for travel or for shooting and capturing video of landscapes, events, weddings, or portraits.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm: Autofocus

Like the Z 100-400mm, the Z 24-120mm’s has an internal focusing system and uses two STMs (stepping motors), for fast, precise and quiet AF operation, for both stills and videos. 

Nikon Z 24-120mm: Build quality & features

The 24-120mm f/4 is very light, which can make it an ideal travel lens, weighing just 22.2oz and measuring 4.7-inches long and 3.4-inches in diameter. It also has a programmable, click-less control ring, which allows you to turn the ring without any operational sound during video recording. In addition, the lens includes an assignable L.Fn button, which allows you to quickly adjust exposure or other settings. 

Other features and technical specifications include:

• Maximum aperture: f/4
• Minimum aperture: f/22 
• Maximum reproduction ratio: 0.39x
• Minimum focusing distance: 1.15 feet
• Filter attachment size: 77mm

Nikon Z 24-120mm: Optical construction

The lens construction consists of 16 lens elements in 13 groups, including 3 ED elements, 3 aspherical elements, and 1 aspherical extra-low dispersion glass element. Plus, like the new Z 100-400mm lens, it has elements with Nano Crystal and ARNEO coatings, as well as a fluorine coating on the front lens element. Again, like the new Z 100-400mm lens, the Z 24-120mm has a 9-blade aperture. 

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S: Availability & pricing

The new Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S will be available later this year for $1099.95. And you can preorder it now.

Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ II

In addition to the two Z-mount lenses, Nikon announced its second adapter for Z-series cameras and lenses: the Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ II. This redesigned version of this original accessory is more streamlined so that it more seamlessly adapts F-mount lenses to the new integrated vertical grip on the new Nikon Z9. One conspicuous change is that the FTZ II no longer comes with a tripod socket like the original.

Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ II: Availability & pricing

The Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ II will be available later this year for the same prices as the previous adapter, $249.95.