When Nikon announced the development of the NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f2.8 TC VR S, it was easily one of the most exciting pieces of news all year for us telephoto fans! But true to form, Nikon kept things pretty quiet regarding the exact specs, finer details, and the price tag. We are still waiting for more official info, but I got a bit impatient and decided to do some investigating of my own.
Nikon NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f2.8 TC VR S with 1.4x Teleconverter in Development
To get a solid idea of what to expect, I used the existing Z 400mm F2.8 TC VR S and Z 600mm F4 TC VR S lenses as a baseline. By scaling the 120-300mm f2.8 against those two powerhouses, I was able to estimate its external dimensions. Below, you will find a scaled real life size comparison to give you a much better feel for what is coming our way when the lens actually drops.
(click on the image for a larger version)
Nikon Z 120-300mm F2.8 TC VR S vs Z 400mm F2.8 TC and Z 600mm F4 TC Lenses
Based on my scaling, it looks like the new lens will have a top width of about 128mm, ignoring the extra bits around the lugs and bottom controls. Interestingly, this puts it at the exact same width as Canon's similar RF 100-300mm f2.8 L IS USM lens. As for the length, we are looking at roughly 153mm. It is a bit longer than the Canon option (353mm vs 323mm), which makes total sense given that Nikon is packing a built in teleconverter inside!
Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8L IS USM Lens
All things considered, especially with that incredibly handy 1.4x teleconverter built right in, the size is not scary at all. This is shaping up to be an absolute dream lens for sports and large wildlife photography. We absolutely cannot wait to get our hands on a copy here at the Camera Decision headquarters and put it to the test!
Price and Availability
Because this is currently just a development announcement, Nikon has not yet shared the official price or release date for the NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f2.8 TC VR S. We will keep an eye out and update you the moment those details go public!
