Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II is a Fixed aperture Auto Focus (AF)
Super Telephoto Prime lens with Optical Image stabilization and 35mm FF max sensor coverage, and it is designed to be used with
F(FX) Mount cameras.
What type of photography is the Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II lens good for?
The choice of photography type for which you intend to use the Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II is a crucial decision factor. Below, we have assessed its suitability for various photography scenarios:
There are 2 more lenses that have the same focal range and aperture values with the Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) mount, you can find the review and comparison links of these lenses below.
Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount with Same Focal and Aperture Range
Reasons to Buy the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 400mm f2.8G ED VR II Lens
Here we've included a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 400mm f2.8G ED VR II lens in a list form to assist you in determining whether it offers the features you need.
| Optical Image Stabilization |
| Weather-sealed |
| Autofocus |
| Focus Range Limiter |
| Distance Scale |
| DoF(Depth of Field) Scale |
| Compatible with Nikon Teleconverters |
| Hood supplied |
| Tripod Collar |
| Full-time Manual Focusing |
| Focus Distance Limiter |
| Internal Focusing |
| Covers Full-Frame Sensor |
| 9 Diaphragm Blades for Smooth Bokeh |
| 400mm reach great for Wildlife Photography |
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Lens Mount
Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II is compatible with cameras that have a Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Size, Weight and Filter Thread
The size and weight are crucial factors to consider when searching for your next lens. Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II has a maximum diameter of 160mm and a total length of 368mm. It weighs 4620g / 163.0 oz.
Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II has a filter thread of 52mm. Below are links to the filters that we recommend you to consider for your Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II:
You can also check All Nikon F Mount Lenses with 52mm Filter Thread Size to find the matching lenses.
Focal Range
Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II has a fixed focal length of 400mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides an 35mm (FF) equivalent of 600mm.
Teleconverter Compatibility
Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II is compatible with the Teleconverters below. With the use of these TC/extenders, you can find how the total focal reach and effective aperture of your Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II changes below:
Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II Focal Range and Aperture Change with Teleconverter
Weather Sealings
The Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II is a weather-sealed lens, which provides extra protection to prevent water and dust get inside the lens and camera body under light rain, snow and wind. In order to have effective protection, you have to pair the Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II with a weather-sealed camera body such as the Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D850.
Optical Image Stabilization
The Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II features an optical image stabilization system which helps to reduce the blur that occurs due to shaking during hand-held shooting.
Tripod Collar
With a total length of 368mm and a weight of 4620g, the Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II is a large lens. Fortunately, it comes with a tripod collar which you can use to attach the lens directly to a tripod or monopod instead of attaching the camera. This connection helps to better balance the lens/kit combination.
Zoom Method
Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II features Rotary (internal) zoom method where the length of the lens doesn't change while you are zooming in or out. Even though this design has a size disadvantage in general compared to extending designs, it has the benefits of better sealing against dust and moisture, no zoom creep and no weight balance shift while zooming.
Below are the 3 Super Telephoto Prime type Nikon F mount lens alternatives with highest max magnification ratios:
Aperture
The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 400mm f2.8G ED VR II features a maximum aperture of F2.8 and can be stopped down to a minimum aperture of F22. An aperture of F2.8 provides a solid balance, offering capable low-light performance and giving you plenty of flexibility when shooting indoors or during golden hour. The combination of a longer 400mm focal length and a bright F2.8 opening makes it incredibly easy to isolate your subject, melting away busy backgrounds into smooth, professional bokeh. The minimum setting of F22 is excellent for deep depth of field work like macro photography, though you may want to avoid the absolute smallest settings to skip the sharpness loss caused by optical diffraction.
Optical Formula
Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II's optical formula consists of 14 elements in 11 groups . The following special elements are used in this design:
- 3 ED glass elements
- 1 Nano Crystal Coat
- 1 meniscus protective glass element
Lens Hood
Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II comes with a removable lens hood which is handy to reduce lens flare and glare in your photos. The model number of the hood is HK-33.
Body Colour
Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II is available in Black color.
Popular Comparisons of Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II
Here are the 8 most popular comparisons of the Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II amongst Camera Decision readers.
Top Alternatives of Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II Lens
In addition, it would be interesting to check which lenses from other mounts are most commonly compared with the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 400mm f2.8G ED VR II.
Top Alternatives of Nikon 400mm f2.8G ED VR II in Other Lens Mounts
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