NikonNIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Mirrorless Lens

After two decades of old digital cameras, I finally upgraded to a Nikon Z50 II with the kit lenses (which were a good deal that would have been twice as expensive if bought separately). But for hiking and taking everything from scenes to birds, wildlife, and near macro shots of flowers, I subsequently decided that I didn't want to either have to carry both kit lenses or frequently switch which lens was on the body. So, I took a plunge and purchased this lens (once it dropped below $1000). It is relatively LIGHT WEIGHT, has incredible range from "normal" (because of my body's 1.5X crop factor) to sizeable telephoto, will focus surprisingly close (providing ca. 1:3 I think), and its onboard VR is so good that I can hand hold it at full telephoto extension at rather low shutter speeds. Although I have heard that it may not be as sharp or "flat" (i.e., no pincushioning or barrel distortion) as a set of prime lenses, I haven't found that obvious or objectionable. Of course, at maximum telephoto, it doesn't have much depth of field unless stopped down further than its max of f/8, and then one must crank up the ISO. When rapidly changing focal length, the autofocus can sometimes "get confused" (and I haven't tried it yet on flying birds), but once locked on to a focusing point it does a good job of staying there through moderate changes in focal length. I am happy that I bought this lens, and it is the lens that I will usually keep mounted on the body.

Extremely convenient for travelling, yet the IQ is far better than I expected (as many people told me the 400mm side has poor IQ but in fact I love it). Good for telescope shooting, Best lens you can get if you want to bring only one lens with you.

This is a great lens for taking landscape photos and perhaps even for zooming in on a “surprise” bird or animal on the side of the road. I usually use long lenses on my birding trips but sometimes you end up being just a little too close. I’ve set down my long lens several times throughout the years in order to grab my 28-300 SLR lens for a Trumpeter Swan, Sandhill Crane or deer near the road and this Nikon Mirrorless lens will be used the same way. One extra plus is that it is much smaller and lighter than the SLR lens so easier to pick up faster. So far I’ve only used it for landscape but migration season has only recently started.

The lens is great. I'm happy with that! I can't give 5 stars because I never received the lens hood. That will cost me $30 to replace it.

I bought this lens wanting something I could use when traveling as I am tired of dragging a bag load of camera equipment through airport security.There are three things about this lens that make it worthy of your consideration: first, the construction quality is very good and the lens fully extended has no movement that I can detect. Secondly, the sharpness of this lens across its range is very good optically, and combined with a nice VR, pretty well assures that I can get printable photos. I purchased this intending to simplify my travel process; however, this lens has proven to be an exceptional buy in terms of image quality and value.

So far love the quality of the pictures.

Great lens, it is my first Nikkor Z mount lens.I managed to get it while on sale and before the import tariffs hit.

This lens should be the perfect lens for travel, ~740gr and ineradicable zoom 28 to 400, One lens does it all.Testing the lens in a room with outside bright light the auto focus did not work on most objects.the test was in a room, outside daylight and half open shutters, used on Nikon Z7 camera.I could not take a shot on corner of a brown box only at any zoom, besides 28. In P mode.Switching to pin focus, could take photos in 300 maximum.It happen to me to visit in museums in Guatemala, that allow photos without flash.If I had this lens I could not take even one photo.I called Nikon tech support, they send a list of limitations of this lens, and one of them is low zoom with light, could not solve the problem.In comparison, using the Z7 with Nikon 24-200 works fine, in any mode, and auto focus on any object in the room.