Wildlife for $2,500 v $4,000: Nikon Edition
Tony & Chelsea Northrup
Expert Pick #07
Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S.
S-line super-telephoto with VR and weather sealing. Pairs naturally with the Z9 for stadium sports and field wildlife.
The Verdict.
8.8/ 10
Gavler Meta-Score
“Nikon's best native Z super-telephoto zoom: best-in-class build, very strong optics wide open to 400mm, effective 5.5-stop VR, and 0.38x close-focus versatility. The knocks are price and an external-zoom design — Digital Camera World notes a 70-200 f/2.8 S plus a 2x TC costs little more with greater range. Buy it for a weather-sealed Z8/Z9 wildlife lens; skip it if value is the priority.”
The Gavler Verdict
Where to Buy.
Prices checked regularly
Best price$2,696
90-day price history
Price History
Steady at $2,696 for the entire 90-day tracking window — no increases, no discounts, across 67 tracked days.
Tracked daily across retailers. Vote Want itabove and we’ll alert you the moment the price drops.
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Precision Engineering
Best-in-Class S-Line Build
Photography Life rated the build "best in class" — fully weather-sealed with a fluorine-coated front element, using a 25-element/20-group design (6 ED + 2 Super ED).
5.5-Stop VR
Nikon-rated 5.5 stops of stabilization (VR plus IBIS) that Digital Camera World found delivered "an excellent hit rate in demanding shooting scenarios" for action and wildlife.
0.38x Close-Focus Versatility
A 0.75m minimum focus at 100mm and 0.38x (1:2.6) maximum magnification let it double as a close-up lens — unusually versatile for a super-telephoto.
Technical Specifications
Focal Length100-400mm
Max Aperturef/4.5-5.6
Filter Thread77mm
Min. Focus Distance0.75 m (100mm) / 0.98 m (400mm), 0.38x
Optical Design25 elements / 20 groups (6 ED, 2 Super ED)
Aperture Blades9 (rounded)
StabilizationVR, 5.5 stops (with IBIS)
TeleconvertersZ 1.4x and 2x compatible
Weight1,355 g (1,435 g with collar)
MountNikon Z (full-frame)
The Scoreboard
Expert Consensus90%
Community Rating89%
Expert 90 and community 89 land within a point: reviewers and owners agree the optics and build are class-leading, and both dock it the same modest amount for the high price and the external-zoom design that cheaper reach paths (70-200 + TC, or F-mount on FTZ) undercut on value.
Cast Your Vote
Do you think Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S deserves the #7 spot in Best Telephoto Zoom Lenses?
Global Critique
“the Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 S is an excellent lens with very strong optics across the board. Few lenses have such a useful combination of build quality, image quality, and focal length, making this lens one of the best telephotos for Nikon mirrorless shooters today.”
Photography Life
“All in all, the build quality of the Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 S is best in class. I still wish it had been an internally zooming lens like the Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S, but I admit that the external zoom hasn't caused any issues in my extensive field testing.”
Photography Life
“The Z 100-400mm performs superbly well in this respect, while sharpness in practical terms is boosted by the highly effective VR system. The net result is that you can expect an excellent hit rate in demanding shooting scenarios.”
Digital Camera World
“buying a Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S 'trinity' zoom plus a Z 2x tele-converter isn't much more expensive than buying the Z 100-400mm on its own, and gives greater shooting versatility.”
Digital Camera World
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