Nikon 400 F/4.5 lens announced

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RichF

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Hot off the presses. 1,160 grams (about 2.55 lbs), $3.250. Not yet listed on NPS

 
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more recent EDIT - see this interview with Nikon's engineers as to why this 400 is not PF, and a f4.5 (not f4)



400 f4.5S design.JPG
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400 f4.5S MTF.JPG
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Goodness. Maybe better than the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S. No wonder Fro was unable to come up with any snarky negative comments in his preview. Will probably work very well with the 1.4 too.

Problem is the MTFs aren't directly comparable. How are the MTFs reported for internal TC lenses BTW? That is something I need to look up. All that said, the MTF of the 400 | 4.5 seems mind bogglingly good. I might consider one with a 1.4TC for my incoming Z9. Heart still wants a 500 F4 though.
 
Blows my mind that people think the price isn't great.

Canon 400DOII f/4....1/3 stop more light gathering, weighs 4.63lbs, same length.....cost $6,900.
Nikon 500PF....same sized front element to within a few tenths of a mm, weighs 3.21lbs and costs $3600....was sold out for years

Every Canon bird photographer I knew owned the 400DOII....every Nikon bird photographer I knew owned the 500PF. The 400DOII was the last Canon lens I sold off, the Nikon 500PF was the last Nikon lens I sold off.

This will be a hot seller....perfect replacement for 500PF to get to native Z mount. 2/3 stop extra light when needed and 560 f/6.3 with just 1/3 of light sacrificed over 500PF.

I'd almost put up with a Z9 just to have this lens and the 1.4TC. I'm thinking about it.
 
It's a "modern" 500 PF, that's for sure. I think the people not particularly wow'ed by the price are 500 PF owners. If you already have a 500 PF, you're looking at a roughly $900 upgrade cost, plus the cost of any TCs you need.

It looks like a great lens, for sure. I'd prefer it over my 500PF for its Z mount and its control ring. But I probably won't upgrade, because what I have right now works well enough.
 
Blows my mind that people think the price isn't great.

Canon 400DOII f/4....1/3 stop more light gathering, weighs 4.63lbs, same length.....cost $6,900.

I'd almost put up with a Z9 just to have this lens and the 1.4TC. I'm thinking about it.

I think once the fact that this isn't a PF lens sinks in, people may re adjust their thoughts on the price. I personally don't think the pricing is as good as it could have been, but, it's not a deal breaker.
There's bound to be a reason for the difference in weight and price for the Canon. Let's see what the real world performance difference is between the two to get an understanding of the best compromise.
 
I got the announcement from NPS this morning on it so ready for priority delivery requests. At this point I am waiting for the 200-600 or 600. I have the z 100-400 and it plays well with the 1.4TC and the 800pf is my most used lens since I am a birder. The 600 mm will probably be my only other long lens addition focal length.
 
I think this lens looks great, but trying to decide if it makes sense for me. I currently have the Z100-400mm and the 500mm PF. The 500mm PF is my longest lens and I have been using it some with the 1.4X TC. 400mm is a decent focal length for me, but I also need longer. I plan to purchase the 200-600mm when it is released and that would cover the 401-600mm range when needed. If I were to get the 400mm, I’d sell my 500mm PF and 1.4X TC for this, but it would leave me with 400mm + 1.4x TC as my longest focal length until the 200-600mm is available. I’m not a birder and shoot mostly larger mammals, but do shoot birds during the winter months where the longer focal length is nice to have. I think it would be useful in the future once I have the 200-600mm but not sure if it makes sense until then. The 100-400mm already covers 400mm quite well. Anyone else in a similar situation or have any thoughts on if this lens makes enough of a difference for me to add?
 
Anyone else in a similar situation or have any thoughts on if this lens makes enough of a difference for me to add?
It's up to you but honestly unless you really want to go to an all native Z mount kit I don't see a reason to swap your 500mm PF for the new 400 plus TC seeing as you already have the 400mm focal length covered with your 100-400mm. Sure if there's some other reason like you really like the programmable control ring on the S lenses or you frequently find the 500mm too long for the work you do (but again you already have a 400mm lens) then it could make sense or if you don't want to carry and use the F mount adapter.

Personally I'd probably hold tight with the kit you have and keep an eye out for the 200-600mm which sounds like the lens you really want. If nothing else the 400mm lens will probably be easier to get six months or a year from now after the initial sales demand if you decide that's what you really want. But as always I'd ask myself if this new lens solves a problem that you can't solve with your existing kit, if not I'd keep working with my existing gear.
 
I think the price is high. Many of us have the 100-400 and the 500 pf. Not sure this lens fills a niche. I won’t be a purchaser. But I will buy the 800 f6.3 when it becomes available.
 
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