Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 S Zoom Lens For Z Mount
Key Features
- Sharp even when wide open
- High-quality S-Line optics with 6 ED elements and 2 super-ED elements
- 9 rounded diaphragm blades
- Maintains its centre of gravity when zoomed
- 5.5 stops of optical vibration reduction (VR)
- Minimum focus of 0.75m (wide) and 0.98m (tele)
- Well controlled flare and ghosting from anti-reflective ARNEO and Nano Crystal coatings
- Customisable control ring and two programmable Fn buttons
- Video ready thanks to well controlled focus breathing
- Fluorine coat repels dust and moisture
- 80° zoom ring rotation
- Practical 77mm filter thread
- Weighs approximately 1.35kg
Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S Zoom Lens Summary
The Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S Zoom Lens is a fast, sharp and versatile companion to Nikon Z cameras. The telephoto zoom focuses quickly and quietly to track fast-moving subjects with absolute precision, even if they’re moving erratically. Its 100-400mm telephoto zoom range and superior optical performance deliver exceptional results across a huge range of situations, whether the subject is relatively close or far away.
Additionally the powerful VR performance is equivalent to 5.5 stops, which lets photographers shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds without sacrificing sharpness. The minimum focus distance is just 0.75m at the wide-angle end of the zoom range, and 0.98m at full extension, with a large 0.38x magnficiation ratio for tele-macro style close-up images.

Sample image with Nikon Z6. 400mm 1/400 sec. f/5.6. ISO 320
Whether you capture wildlife, sports, aircraft, portraits or landscapes this Nikon mirrorless lens redefines versatility with customisable controls, effective stabilisation and outstanding S-Line image quality.
Nikon’s optical design for the Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S lens includes 6 ED elements and 2 super-ED elements, ensuring results are sharp across the zoom range, even when you’re shooting wide open. Chromatic aberrations are also extremely well controlled, and creators who record video benefit from all but eliminated focus breathing.
Read our Nikon Z 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VR S Review
Learn more about the lens features which can help elevate your photography in our review. Read the Review
Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S in More Detail
Fast, accurate, and quiet AF performance
Whether capturing subjects from near to far, birds, wildlife or sporting events this lens’ AF performance is fast, accurate, and exceptionally quiet. Tracking performance is exceptional when combined with Nikon cameras which offer Animal,Vehicleand other subject detection modes such as the Z8 and Z9.
Sharp and detailed results
Sharpness is noticeably high throughout the frame when capturing images with the Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S lens. Nikon’s ED and Super ED glass effectively minimise chromatic aberration across the entire image, from centre to edge, ensuring clarity and colour accuracy even when shooting at the widest aperture or in close-range photography.

Sample bird photo with Nikon Z6. 400mm 1/3200 sec. f/14. ISO 1800
Resolution remains outstanding even when using either the Nikon Z 1.4x Teleconverter or the Z 2.0x Teleconverter, which extend the lens’ reach to 560mm and 800mm respectively. Image quality is further maintained by Nikon’s proprietary anti-reflective ARNEO and Nano Crystal coatings. These virtually eliminate flare, ghosting and coma by suppressing incidental light coming from any direction and results are exceptionally clear, with high contrast, even in backlit situations.
Powerful VR performance
With 5.5-stops of vibration reduction you can shoot handheld at far slower shutter speeds without sacrificing image sharpness. This enables you to capture images both indoors at events and outside during low light situations.
For outdoor photographers Nikon has utilised comprehensive weather sealing in order to keep out dust and moisture, especially around the lens mount and all moving parts. The front element is coated in a non-stick fluorine coat, which repels dust and moisture and wipes clean for maintenance.

Intuitive and customisable
A compact zoom-ring rotation angle of only 80° allows for quick zooming from wide-angle to full telephoto without needing to adjust your grip, ensuring you capture every shot without delay. The zoom and focus rings of this lens are also engineered with an optimal level of torque, ensuring precise adjustments. Further enhancing ergonomics, the slim and unobtrusive control ring is conveniently positioned for one-finger operation, providing versatility when controlling aperture, exposure compensation, or ISO settings, all while maintaining silent operation.
What’s more, the lens design ensures it remains securely extended after zooming in, eliminating any retraction or lens creep. There’s no need for a lock it in place, simply point it upwards and you’re ready to shoot!
You can assign a huge number of different functions to the lens’ two Fn buttons, in order to experience a professional level of operational versatility familiar to Nikon DLSR users.
Video ready features
The Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S virtually eradicates focus breathing, allowing for focus adjustments without altering the shot’s angle of view and it offers smooth and stable aperture control, ensuring seamless and natural exposure transitions throughout any scene.
Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 S Zoom Lens For Z Mount Specifications
| Mount | Nikon Z mount |
| Focal length | 100 - 400 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/4.5 - 5.6 |
| Lens construction | 25 elements in 20 groups (including 6 ED glass elements, 2 Super ED glass elements, elements with Nano Crystal Coat and ARNEO Coat, and a fluorine-coated front lens element) |
| Angle of view | FX format: 24°20’-6°10’ DX format: 16°00’-4°00’ |
| Focusing system | Multi-focusing system, Internal focusing system, manual focus can be used. |
| Vibration reduction mechanism (lens-shift system w/ voice coil motor) | |
| Vibration reduction (VR) | Yes (OFF / NORMAL / SPORT) *Switch with camera body |
| When a tripod is used | Enabling the VR function is recommended (OFF is recommended when shooting with a fixed composition) |
| Diaphragm blades | 9 (rounded diaphragm opening) |
| Aperture system | Automatic aperture with electro-magnetic diaphragm mechanism |
| Aperture range | • At a focus distance of 100 mm: f/4.5 - f/32 • At a focus distance of 400 mm: f/5.6 - f/40 |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.75 m from focal plane (at wide-angle position, 0.98 m at telephoto position) |
| Maximum reproduction ratio | 0.38× |
| Weight | Approx. 1,355 g (excluding a tripod mount), approx. 1,435 g (including a tripod mount) |
| Maximum diameter x length (distance to end of lens from camera lens mount flange) | Approx. 98 × 222 mm (measured in accordance with CIPA Guidelines) |
| Filter-attachment size | 77 mm |
| Colour | Black |
| AF drive motor | STM (stepping motor) × 2 |
| Nano Crystal Coat | Yes |
| ARNEO Coat | Yes |
| Focus-mode switch | Yes (A/M) |
| Front lens cap | LC-77B Lens Cap (supplied, 77mm snap-on) |
| Rear lens cap | LF-N1 Lens Cap (supplied) |
| Lens case | CL-C3 Lens Case (supplied) |
| Lens hood | HB-103 Lens Hood (supplied, bayonet type) NEW |
| Lens only | ? |
| With hood | ? |
| Compatable accessories | 77 mm screw-on filters 77 mm Neutral Color (NC) Filter 77 mm New Soft-Focus Filter 77 mm Circular Polarizing Filter II |
What's in the Box
- Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S Lens for mirrorless Z mount
- LC-77B Lens Cap (front cap)
- LF-N1 Lens Cap (rear cap)
- HB-103 Lens Hood
- CL-C3 Lens Case
Specifications
| Offers: Price Drop |
| Autofocus: Yes |
| Diameter (mm): 98 |
| Length (mm): 222 |
| Weight (g): 1355 |
| Elements: 25 |
| Focus distance limiter: Yes |
| Focal length: 100 - 400 mm |
| Groups: 20 |
| Hood supplied: Yes |
| Maximum focal length: 400 |
| Maximum magnification: 0.38 |
| Maximum aperture (number): 4.5 |
| Minimum focal length: 100 |
| Lens Minimum focus distance (m): 0.75 |
| Minimum aperture (number): 40 |
| Number of diaphragm blades: 9 |
| Special elements / coatings: 6 ED elements, 2 Super ED elements |
| Tripod collar: Yes |
| Best For Astro: Yes |
| Best For Wildlife and Sport: Yes |