First photos Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S

[Lance B]

My good friend Andrew received his Nikon Z 400 f4.5 VR S yesterday but has too many commitments over the next few days and wouldn't be able to take advantage of the lens. So, he told me to take it and get some photos to share with everyone. After some very minor arm twisting, I relented and begrudgingly took it off his hands.

I did take a few shot yesterday when he got it, but it was very late in the afternoon and the BIF shots were a little noisy due to high ISO and took the edge of the shots. The Z9 + 400 tracked the sea gulls very well, AF was fast and accurate.

Taronga Zoo is the easiest place to guarantee a variety and in order to get close enough so not much cropping would be required. It is a sharp lens, very nice bokeh and lovely overall IQ.

Some are with the 1.4x TC.

1) Silver Gull - yesterday afternoon

Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/320s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso180

2) Great Egret - Yesterday afternoon.

Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/400s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso1800

3) Superb Fairywren, non breeding male - yesterday afternoon

Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/320s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso3600

4) Scaly-breasted Lorikeet - zoo

Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/60s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso450

5) Scaly-breasted Lorikeet having a bath - zoo

Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S + 1.4x TC, 1/80s f/6.3 at 560.0mm iso720

6) Zebra Finch - zoo

Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S + 1.4x TC, 1/80s f/6.3 at 560.0mm iso140

7) White-browed Woodswallow - zoo

Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S + 1.4x TC, 1/160s f/6.3 at 560.0mm iso560

8) Regent Honeyeater, an endangered bird and under a breeding program at the zoo - zoo

Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S + 1.4x TC, 1/100s f/6.3 at 560.0mm iso450

9) Java Finch - zoo

Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/125s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso1100

10) White-rumped Shama

Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/125s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso6400

11) Wandering Whistling Duck - zoo

Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/80s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso2800

12) Koala - zoo

Z9 + Z 400 f4.5 VR S, 1/100s f/4.5 at 400.0mm iso200

 

[fcotterill]

Lovely images Lance. Thank you for sharing (and shooting in a sling for us). Hope your arm recovers soon

The sharpness and bokeh is precisely what I'd been quietly hoping for. This dinky Z400 should be the ideal lighweight prime. Now i'm waiting on my preorder.....

 

[Wink Jones]

Such shameful abuse of your friendship by Andrew, yet you weathered the storm with elegance. The pictures are magnificent and it is fun to see them.

 

[EricBowles]

Stunning detail. Looks very good with the TC as well. Thanks for sharing.

How did you feel about the overall weight and handling? Any other comments about how you plan to use the lens? Kit changes?

 

[VTRich]

Very Nice! This post may cost me money.

 

[Patrick M]

superb images

 

[harinderjaidka]

awesome images .. the combo looks so great ..thanks for sharing

 

[Andrew Lamberson]

Those were all very good! Your lens test was a success. Did you give the lens back?

 

[lukemeup]

These look really good. Thanks for posting so quickly.

 

[thelordofthelight]

Lovely set of images Lance! How do you think this lens compares vs the 500PF and also with TC? Also, do you notice any difference in the AF performance between the 400 Z and 500 PF?

 

[DRwyoming]

Thanks for sharing @Lance B great images and good demonstration of what the lens can do in capable hands.

 

[Viathelens]

I'd tell him you lost the lens.....

 

[Charles Loy]

Super photos! The lighting on all photos is amazing..

 

[Snapquacky]

Thanks for posting, await further feedback in reference to some questions and comments above.

 

[eft]

Awesome pictures and amazing subjects ! That scaly-breasted lorikeet in now on my bucket list.

 

[Kumar A]

Lovely pictures. Tack sharp and great details. How was it to hand hold for extended periods ?

 

[Lance B]

Lovely images Lance. Thank you for sharing (and shooting in a sling for us). Hope your arm recovers soon

The sharpness and bokeh is precisely what I'd been quietly hoping for. This dinky Z400 should be the ideal lighweight prime. Now i'm waiting on my preorder.....

Thank you very much, Fenton. Much appreciated!

The arm only had minor twisting, LOL.

 

[Lance B]

Such shameful abuse of your friendship by Andrew, yet you weathered the storm with elegance. The pictures are magnificent and it is fun to see them.

LOL. Yeah, Andrew is like that, generous to a T.

Thank you very much for your kind comments.

 

[Lance B]

Stunning detail. Looks very good with the TC as well. Thanks for sharing.

How did you feel about the overall weight and handling? Any other comments about how you plan to use the lens? Kit changes?

Thank you very much, Eric. Much appreciated!

It is definitely a light lens, although I didn't find it all that much different to the 100-400 or 500 PF. As this is not my lens, but borrowed from my good friend Andrew I was not planning on getting this lens...yet. I have the 100-400, 500 PF and 400 f2.8E FL VR and am amply covered for 400mm and 500 f5.6 via the 1.4x TCIII.

I don't use the 400 f2.8E FL VR as much as I should, but that is due to the weight and size as I it rerally is a lens you only take by itself and not other lenses. When I go out, I do take a few other lenses in case I want to shoot landscapes as well as birds etc. So, if I ever sell the 400 f2.8, then I may get the Z 400 f4.5 as the bokeh looks very good.

 

[Lance B]

Very Nice! This post may cost me money.

Thank you very much, VTRich. Much appreciated!

 

[Lance B]

superb images

Thank you very much, Patrick. Much appreciated!

 

[Lance B]

awesome images .. the combo looks so great ..thanks for sharing

Thank you very much, harinderjaidka. Much appreciated!

​

 

[Butlerkid]

WOW! Stunning images, Lance! The fine feathers details, even with the 1.4 tele, are incredible!!!!!

Although I must say, I'm not sure this is a fair assessment of the lens, since an accomplished photographer such as you has a great deal to do with the overall image quality.
That said, I am very impressed with the lens, also.

What about pairing this lens with the 800 PF and the 100-400? Would you consider that set up adequate for birding, safari, and wildlife in general?

 

[Lance B]

Those were all very good! Your lens test was a success. Did you give the lens back?

Thank you very much, Andrew. Much appreciated!

I still have the lens, but will be giving it back later in the week when my good friend Andrew will be able to use it after his commitments.

 

[Lance B]

These look really good. Thanks for posting so quickly.

Thank you very much, Luke. Much appreciated!

I got them out quick as I knew people wanted to see how the lens performs. I would like to do the lens more justice in the next few days, hopefully with the 1.4x TC.