Illuminations from the attic: Nikon Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S Review

Nikon has been working on expanding their lineup of professional grade lenses for their mirrorless Z system over the past few years, and the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S is a vital component of the “Holy Trinity” of professional zoom lenses. This new 70-200 both equals its illustrious predecessors and in some respects exceeds them, with the end result being a lens that not only outshines those that came before, but also perhaps its contemporaries from other brands.

Pros:

Amazing image quality with few defects

Excellent build quality

Attractive, yet unobtrusive design

Great weather sealing

Internal zoom mechanism

Cons:

No close focus AF limiter

No physical IS controls

Expensive

Image quality:

Simply put, the 70-200 S produces absolutely gorgeous images. This is a bightingly sharp lens that manages to provide the maximum amount of detail in your images. There is practically no color fringing or chromatic aberration that I have been able to spot, and distortion and vignetting have been kept to a manageable minimum that is easily corrected in post processing, though in most situations it isn’t noticeable enough to need correcting at all.

(More sample images at the end of the review)

Build quality:

The lens feels rugged and high quality with a metal body and rubberized focus and zoom rings. It’s also extensively weather sealed and in general seems to deliver a level of quality comparable to its price tag. I also appreciate the matte black finish, which is much less obtrusive than the big white lenses that Canon and Sony make. A darker lens doesn’t scream “professional photographer here - please either fear me or steal from me”, and is more practical than a flashy white lens.

Handling:

This is a large lens, but not a terribly heavy one, and I found it easy and comfortable to shoot with hand held in the field. I like having customizable control buttons on the barrel (I use them for focus settings), and the customizable control ring is useful. The little LCD screen is less useful, but still nice to have. I like the locking mechanism for the lens cap, which is secure and easy to remove and attach.

Autofocus:

Using this 70-200 with my Z6 made it feel like a brand new camera in terms of autofocus, this lens is remarkably quick and accurate. It will be even better when used with the upcoming Z6 II and Z7 II with their improved AF systems. However, I do have an issue with this lens when it comes to focusing from distant subjects to close up subjects. To do so I have to change focus settings or manual refocus the lens. This may be fixed with Nikons next generation of cameras, but with my original Z6 it is annoying. There is a focus limiting switch on the lens, but it’s only for distant subjects. A setting for limiting the lens to close focus would have been a big help.

Image stabilization:

This 70-200 is one of the few Nikon Z lenses to feature image stabilization, as most rely on IBIS alone. With the 70-200, in-lens stabilization works with IBIS to achieve remarkably hybrid results. I was able to achieve decent hand held shots without noticeable blur shooting at very slow shutters speeds, even at 200mm, and it is equally effective for shooting video. I do wish though that there was an autofocus control switch on the lens with off, normal, and sport modes - I don’t like having to change these settings in the menu.

Price/value:

At $2600 this lens is about average for modern 70-200 2.8 lenses from Nikon, Sony, and Canon. It’s expensive, but if you can afford it it’s definitely worth the money.

Competition:

Given that this is the only native lens for Nikon’s mirrorless system, the 70-200 S is certainly the best lens for Z system shooters. However, you could save a few bucks by buying an older F mount DSLR 70-200 and adapting it. The latest F mount Nikon 70-200 is almost on a par with this new Z lens, but Sigma makes an excellent budget oriented 70-200, as does Tamron.

Regarding other camera systems options, the Sony and Panasonic 70-200s are very similar in terms of form factor. However, the new Canon RF 70-200 is a different sort of beast, having gone for a retractable design that is very short when collapsed. This is attractive to me as it is much more convenient to fit in a bag. However, I would worry about such an expensive lens telescoping like that, so my conclusion was that it's worth the extra bulk to have an internal zoom instead.

Conclusion:

The Nikon Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S is without question a fantastic achievement of optical engineering. You immediately know you’re shooting with something special, and it delivers results and a shooting experience that befit its pedigree and price tag. The few minor complaints I have with it do not diminish it to any real degree, and it is easy to recommend for professional and hobbyist photographers who need the absolute best and can afford to pay for it.

Sample photos: