I wouldn’t put too much stock in reviews based on pre-production lenses.
I might wait a bit and not be an early adopter of this lens for macro use (also why I’m looking at it) but I don’t think anyone outside of Nikon has had an actual production version to review so I’d wait a bit before making a purchasing decision.
Sorry - the gremlins got at my original message - perhaps not old age.
The comment to look 7 mins 50 seconds into the video got missed
The caution is from Nikon
Screen grab from a small segment of the screen belowthe video below
I have already found the 100-400 at 400mm with a 1.4 TC can make a very good job thanks to AF and in lens VR of insects from 4-5 feet distance with as little as a 3 inch wide subject.
Cropping 45 MP can get a very usable 1:1 equivalent.
I am expecting the 70-180 at 180 with a TC will get me more magnification with an angle of view equivalent to 250mm with the 1.4 TC or 360mm with the 2x.
Lack of in lens VR in the 70-180 may not be a major issue as IBIS of 5 stops at 70mm might work out at 3.66 stops at 180mm.
Although the 100-400 has 5.5 stops at 400mm the extra camera shake at 400mm should be comparable to 4.3 stops at 180mm.
The 100-400 VR prior to testing has a performance advantage.
I am aware the benefit of VR reduces in close up using the F mount VR 105 macro and more recently the 105 S macro though providing extra steps to reduce camera shake can be taken I have found VR a definite advantage.
If Nikon introduce an around 200mm S macro with V R that takes TC - for my work I would instantly pre-order.
