I have the older 70-400 Nikon. I've had it many years and use it almost every day. I mostly go out hunting birds but sometimes I'm after flowering plants and sometimes even street photography. It has progressed from the D-200, D-300, D-800E and has been on the D-850 since it first hit the market. It just gets better with every step-up in camera quality. I couldn't begin to estimate how many hundreds of thousands of images I have made with it and it still looks great with no blemishes and still makes sharp and beautiful bird pictures. If I ever replace it it will be with the Z100-400 and a new mirrorless camera. It is easy to carry, focuses fast, and had the right zoom range for hand held work.

Great view and 100% agree with your assessment. I have had mine since early July and the very first shoot I did with it was at RIAT 2022 at Fairford in the UK, one of the biggest airshows in the world. I took over 5000 images with this lens on my Z9 and was seriously impressed by how good the performance of this lens was, how easy to handhold and how many "keepers" I came away with. My previous lens had been the F-mount 200-500 and the extra size and weight of that lens had impacted on my ability to hold the lens steady throughout pans (I am 73!!) throughout a whole air-display so really pleased to have this lens. Now just longing for my Z 800 PF to arrive!!!

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have recently sold my mirror cameras and lenses to buy mirrorless Nikons. I needed a telephoto lens for sports and wildlife photography. I have been considering this lens. Your review has convinced me to purchase it.

@KnightsandWeekends

3 күн бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Great Video Dave ..you always cover all the bases

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

Thanks 👍

Great video Dave. Very nice photos.

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Fantastic review!

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

Thanks much for watching!

Excellent presentation Dave of this (almost...) every-purpose- lens! Until now I was still undecided - but after watching your plea I am conviced that it is a must-have for my nature- and landscape photography. Best regards from Switzerland.

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Yes, I went from "I don't really need that", to "I need to bring this every shoot". It ticks a lot of boxes! Give my regards to all things Swiss.... oh, and send chocolate! :-)

I thought that was a coffee mug by the way you were holding it! Hah! =)

Great video David, good info! Nice sleuthing to finds it at B&C camera. That gives people some help on how not just looking in driving distance for gear! and great examples of the sharpness of that lens

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'd love to buy local, but unless you live in a metro area that's not an option for many people. B&C really impressed me with their attitude and service, and they are now on my 'go to' list.

Thank you for putting out this video. I’m kind of paralyzed with the decision of this zoom lens or the 400mm f4.5 prime lens. I love the flexibility of the 100-400 for when I’m out hiking and do a mix of landscape and wildlife but I also really like the extra 2/3 stop of light, the smoother bokeh and sharpness of the prime. Wish I could afford both! If you have any thoughts I would be interested to hear, otherwise thanks for the great review!

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment. I don't have any experience with the 400/4.5 but I'm sure it's tack sharp. I almost never weight the pros and cons of a zoom versus a prime, because for me they are not similar. As you said, the flexibility of the zoom versus the (slightly) better sharpness of the prime - that's a fundamental decision. I will tell you that the 100-400 is extremely sharp - it is an "S" line lens.

Thanks for your detailed review of the lens... "bit above my pay grade" as they say but I do get bits of (photography) knowledge from your presentations. Those airshow pix are spot-on (excellent) and shows a steady hand. It's a fine art, photography (cameras, lens, fstop, aperture, manual, auto, etc), and you are the sensei.... Cheers

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much! Your praise is beyond that of which I am worthy, but I appreciate the confidence. I also appreciate your comment about getting some general knowledge. I might try to do more of that sort of content, but I will confess that I don't feel qualified to "teach" and would feel arrogant doing so. That said, I do like to share knowledge and help if I can... something to consider.

Very nice vlog. A lot of useful information told in a calm way. Not only the pros but also emphasizes the cons. Not ever reported. Compliments. Please go on this way.👍👍👍

@KnightsandWeekends

4 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! I'll do my best to continue.

Looking for a Z lens for aviation fast jets at low level, it’s a toss up between this lens or the 180-600mm. Great review.

Excellent commentary.

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much

Sir, Thank you for the detailed recommendation. Glad to hear you were satisfied with both the 1.4 & 2.0 TC on the 100-400, if I understood correctly. Great images of the Air Show with the lens. Please consider a video with pointers regarding how you captured the aerial images you did. Thanks!!

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

I've mostly used the 1.4 with it. I don't think the 2.0 holds up with the same quality. That should be a separate video, to show that.

I have been going back and forth about getting this lens and 1.4 TC for airshow as well so thank you for the review. I love my 80-400 but the Z lens are just so much better its hard not to jump in and get one.

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you for sharing your thought on this lens. I did finally get my copy after waiting three and a half month for it. Also interested in comparing this to the F mount adapted AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR if your inclined. I’m trying to do that now as well.

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

That would be a somewhat limited comparison, but a good one. I might do that.

I received mine in December, and I haven’t left the house without it. My favorite Z lens so far.

Good review because it had best pictures 🙂

Hey Dave, thanks for the review! I have both the 70-200 and the 100-400 and the two TC but still I can't decide if I will keep one of them or both.... Decisions - decisions... 😉😁 The 560mm FL and the f2.8 Aperture are both so much enricing!!!

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

Same here, but for me there is always a place for the 70-200 f/2.8. Back when I did weddings and portraits, that was bread and butter - also for photojournalism and sports.

Great to hear your thoughts on the lense. I'll be ordering soon. BTW, where can I get a lense coffee cup like that?

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

I think I purchased the cup from Amazon. :)

Im waiting for the 400mm f4.5 to go with my 70-200S plus 1.4 c Z convertor for my African Wild Life >> this 100 - 400 Z is way better than my old DSLR 80-400 which I loved

@Mr09260

Жыл бұрын

The same Kirk foot goes on the 70-200 and 400 f4.5 as well so as I have a Kirk foot for the 70-200 I wont get another one

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

The 400/4.5 looks like a good lens. If I were shooting sports again I would be interested in that one. But I have the 500PF and the 100-400 zoom fills all the needs below that. It's very nice to see Nikon releasing a good variety of options!

Haha the coffee !

Have you sold your 70-200? Do you use this one only with 1.4 X TC? I own the 70-200, the 2x TC And Z9…and hesitate between this one and the 500pf…

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

I still have the 70-200 because there is always a place for that lens! The sharpness and speed as well as the shallow DoF make it a great portrait or still life lens. I do generally keep the Z1.4TC on the 100-400 because that is the sweet range for me, but if light becomes an issue I'll take it off and get that stop back. The 500PF is a fantastic lens, but I have to confess I don't use it since I got the 800PF. But I just can't bring myself to get rid of it, at least not yet.

Who's new lens bracket did you install?

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

The foot is ProMediaGear.

Is this lens work Nikon 810 or it only for mirror less camera thanks

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

Only for mirrorless, or Z-mount bodies. There is no adapter to fit a Z lens to an F body.

Thanks Dave! I saw another youtuber who said his copy was soft at distances...can you confirm or deny please? Thanks.

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

I have not experienced that - it's been tack sharp. I would suspect something other than the lens is his problem - like heat shimmer. 99% of photographers don't understand that situation.

@mattiasbacklund5617

Жыл бұрын

@@KnightsandWeekends great answer! Compare with under water photo, visibility is very limited even in clear waters. In the atmosphere, there is dust, smog, and as you say, heat distorsion.

Gear aside, those air show photos were fantastic. The comment about changing balance is not accurate according to Nikon's information: the movement of the internals counteract the movement and changing center of gravity due to barrel extension. Otherwise I also wish it was an internal zoom; the dust/moisture ingress is not to be underestimated.

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. It could be a misperception on my part (expecting the change, therefore feeling it). I'll have to carefully evaluate that again. Appreciate the comment.

Great video but is it me or do I hear a constant high pitched noise in the background? Sounds a bit like a faint wind blowing through a narrow opening..

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

Apologies if the audio had issues. I try to be sure it is clean and will be more careful in the future.

@royklein9206

Жыл бұрын

@@KnightsandWeekends hahah no problem! Was constructive crit.😊👍

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

@@royklein9206 Appreciated. I know how important good audio is and I try to get it right, though I'm no expert. The feedback is helpful. Get it.... audio.... feedback..... LOL.

@danb821

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for putting out this video.

I think that every photographer should run out and buy the 100-400mm f4-f5.6 before (following the current trend) they become a 100-400mm f11-f32! I give it another 3-5 years before this happens though. ;D

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

It does seem that way, but I think they are trying to satisfy different market segments. If they only release $10k and up lenses they will start losing customers.

I’d love to see what 800mm looks like at the minimum focus distance 😂😂😂

@KnightsandWeekends

Жыл бұрын

Challenge accepted!