Lets get this out of the way upfront: the Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S-Line lens is easily one of the finest lenses out there. If youre looking for a lens that gives you mid-range focal length, and you have a spare $2500 to spend, then we advise this above all else. Theres a reason its high up in our list of the best zoom lenses.
Compatibility: Nikon Z.
Focal range: 70-200mm.
Aperture range: f/2.8 – f/22.
Thread size: 77mm.
Weight: 3lb 3ozWell, in some ways there isnt one. If youre a devoted astrophotographer, committed to your art, then youre accustomed to investing countless dollars on lenses. Its expected. So the cost isnt a concern, provided you understand that youre getting what you really pay for, and with the Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 not only are you getting a flexible, versatile lens, youre also getting one that ratings remarkably on all image sharpness tests. Nikons Z lenses (particularly the S-Line series) are understood for how crisp their image quality is, right to the edge of the photo – among the reasons they include heavily in our best lenses for astrophotography guide. The catch remains in the fine details here, and this only really ends up being a concern for pure astro shooters.DesignOLED info panel on the lensWeighs over 3lbsTripod foot and lens hood consisted of( Image credit: Future) The Z 70-200mm lens isnt a little or light lens. Weighing in at over 3lbs, and determining 8.7 inches from the mount to the idea, its a substantial piece of kit, and will practically double the weight of your Nikon Z body when attached. It comes with a standard foot for fixing to a tripod (so you do not over-balance), which can be detached for handheld shooting. Far, so similar to the older Nikon DSLR 70-200mm lenses.However, the closed design is extremely sophisticated, and the system itself is well weather-proofed and incredibly strong – important for astro. The external lens element – among 21 overall aspects, in 18 groups housed inside the lens body – is fluorine-coated, inconveniencing to scratch or mark. Thats as you d anticipate for this sort of price, but when youre managing the Z 70-200m you really get a feel for how difficult it is. ( Image credit: Future) There are three focus rings, and an OLED display screen on the top of the lens, showing you current shot settings. The innermost ring handles aperture, and is most likely the least practical of the 3 if youre shooting portable, as we discovered ourselves unbalanced when moving our hand to change this ring. A very minor gripe, and something entirely negated by tripod shooting. The middle ring is for focusing, and feels extremely satisfying to use, while the frontmost/ outermost ring is for focal length. Theyre all well put, simple to utilize, and very tactile.You can move the function of the OLED display screen to determine whatever aspect of the direct exposure youre altering, and we found it most useful to show shutter speed, as this is among the important things you need to view most closely if youre portable. Again, tripod shooting is less of a concern as youre planning shots more carefully. There are an overall of four adjustable buttons about two-thirds of the way down the lens, between the focus and focal distance rings, and a second function button simply next to the display. In overall, you can assign 21 different functions to simply the lens itself, which is a substantial boon for anyone shooting by means of viewfinder, as you have tremendous control over your shot without ever searching for or moving your hands.In all, its a very elegantly developed lens – no difficulty; simply function. The only genuine problem is the weight and the size, so when youre shooting with a tripod, you will require a tough head and a strong base, even when using the lens foot provided.Performance( Image credit: Future) Frankly, the performance of the Nikkor Z 70-200mm, for all kinds of shooting, is dazzling. For beginners the autofocus is fast and peaceful, and – most importantly – the lens has integrated in stabilization, which Nikon calls Vibration Reduction. This is an essential counter to the weight of the lens, and allows you to shoot in lower lights or at slower shutter speeds without the requirement for a tripod. Yes, undoubtedly you need a tripod for stars, however its very possible to get crisp, clear pictures of the moon while shooting portable, specifically when combined with the excellent ISO abilities of the Z-series bodies. Nevertheless, perhaps one of our couple of criticisms of the 70-200mm lens is that it does not quite work if you desire comprehensive, close-up images of the moon. For that example you need a minimum of a 1.4 x teleconverter (and there are some suitable Nikon gadgets, so dont worry), or you ought to consider the newer Nikkor f/4.5 -5.6 100-400mm lens rather. Difficulty is, you lose that lower aperture with a longer lens, so theres a trade-off, especially for astro. There are 600mm and 800mm lenses on the method, but no firm release date as of.( Image credit: Future) And that lower f-number actually is one of the main reasons you pay so much for this lens. While were pleased to see the construct quality is great, and it has all these extra functions, its the larger aperture – and the compression it offers when combined with focal length – that really raises the price. This makes the Nikkor 70-200m f/2.8 an outstanding picture lens and, integrated with something like the Z7ii, an exceptional videography lens too. In terms of landscape and astro, though, its a bit more specialized. You definitely require that f/2.8 for sharp images of stars, however does the minimum 70mm focal length make it too narrow for sweeping landscapes? Thats a question for you, however we still discovered it versatile sufficient to take some really exceptional photos of stars, provided there was some sort of good foreground topic to anchor the scene.If youre shooting daytime landscapes, its important to note that the sharpness of the image is extraordinary, right to the edge, at all focal distances. While Nikons older 70-200mm f/2.8 FX lens for the DLSR systems drops off at the 200mm range, theres almost no loss of quality or diffraction when contending the widest or narrowest aperture, at the longest focal length. The images you get are genuinely breathtaking, no matter how tough you press the lens. In terms of efficiency this is a victory – the only issue being that astrophotographers may gain from the wider view of the equally stunning 14-24mm f/2.8 and even the low f-stop of the 20mm f/1.8 prime.Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 sample imagesImage 1 of 6While itll happily choose out a supermoon, the 70-200mm most likely isnt long enough for serious moon photography (Image credit: Andy Hartup) Image 2 of 6The sharpness is unbelievable on this lens, right to the edges (Image credit: Andy Hartup) Image 3 of 6The f/2.8 aperture is good enough for severe astro (Image credit: Andy Hartup) Image 4 of 6Along with most of the Nikon Z bodies, this lens is best for low light (Image credit: Andy Hartup) Image 5 of 6We tried some night routes with the lens, and it didnt disappoint (Image credit: Andy Hartup) Image 6 of 6Its wonderful at selecting light too (Image credit: Andy Hartup) Should you buy the Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S-Line lens?This is a wonderful lens, with really couple of defects beyond that high rate. Even then, we see the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 as fantastic value for cash, considering what you actually get, even if the greater cost puts it well out of some peoples spending plan. What you get is an outstanding, versatile lens that will perform in almost all conditions and scenarios, and churn out some incredible quality pictures. Where we d advise care remains in your own specialist requirement. If youre shooting moon images, then 200mm probably wont satisfy you – so do you opt for a longer focal variety or add a 2x teleconverter? If youre attempting to get as much of the night sky as possible in your shot … well, that 70mm minimum focal distance may be too restrictive for you, long term, and you d be better thinking about something larger. Nevertheless, if you understand you require a 70-200mm, youre using it for method more than astro, and you have the cash then theres no much better Nikon lens out there.If this item isnt for youLets face it – we do not all have $2500 just sat in our savings account, waiting to be invested on photography gear. If spending plan is an issue, however you still desire an excellent 70-200mm full-frame lens, then you have two choices. Is the initial Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 ED, which is offered for less than $2000 now, if you can discover it. Ok, small saving, however remember you d require to consider the cost of a Z-mount adaptor for that too. Additionally, we really suggest taking a look at the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OSM lens for Nikons F-mount, and adding the cost of an adaptor too. You could probably find this combo for about $1600, which benefits this type of lens.If youre happy to sacrifice that f/2.8, then Nikon has an enjoyable Z 24-200mm f/4 -6.3 compact telephoto for less than $1000. Youre losing the capability to choose clear stars, but itll work just fine for standard astro and moon shots. For ultra budget, try the Nikkor Z 50-250mm DX lens for less than $500. No, it isnt a full-frame zoom, however itll produce exceptional images. Of course, our leading Nikon pick for astro is constantly going to be the 14-24mm f/2.8 S-Line lens, but thats $2400 too, so youre not precisely saving any cash there.
Lets get this out of the method upfront: the Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S-Line lens is quickly one of the best lenses out there. Nikons Z lenses (particularly the S-Line series) are known for how crisp their image quality is, best to the edge of the image – one of the reasons they include greatly in our finest lenses for astrophotography guide. The catch is in the great details here, and this just actually ends up being an issue for pure astro shooters.DesignOLED info panel on the lensWeighs over 3lbsTripod foot and lens hood consisted of( Image credit: Future) The Z 70-200mm lens isnt a little or light lens. The external lens element – one of 21 total elements, in 18 groups housed inside the lens body – is fluorine-coated, making it difficult to scratch or mark. In terms of performance this is a triumph – the only problem being that astrophotographers might benefit from the wider view of the equally magnificent 14-24mm f/2.8 or even the low f-stop of the 20mm f/1.8 prime.Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 sample imagesImage 1 of 6While itll gladly choose out a supermoon, the 70-200mm probably isnt long enough for severe moon photography (Image credit: Andy Hartup) Image 2 of 6The sharpness is extraordinary on this lens, right to the edges (Image credit: Andy Hartup) Image 3 of 6The f/2.8 aperture is great enough for serious astro (Image credit: Andy Hartup) Image 4 of 6Along with many of the Nikon Z bodies, this lens is perfect for low light (Image credit: Andy Hartup) Image 5 of 6We tried some night trails with the lens, and it didnt dissatisfy (Image credit: Andy Hartup) Image 6 of 6Its wonderful at picking out light too (Image credit: Andy Hartup) Should you purchase the Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S-Line lens?This is a wonderful lens, with really couple of flaws beyond that high cost.