Adding More Firepower - Nikkor Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S

Shridhar Kunte takes a close look at the Nikkor Z 70–200mm f/2.8, the company’s newest addition to serious optics, and finds out what it has to offer.

- Shridhar Kunte

The Nikkor Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S is a professional telephoto zoom designed for Nikon’s Z-series mirrorless cameras, specifically for its full-frame sensors. However, the lens can also be used on DX format mirrorless cameras where it provides a 105–300mm equivalent focal length range. Till date, this is one of the most advanced lenses made for Nikon Z system cameras.

Features

The lens is very close to the AF-S 70–200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR lens for Nikon F-mount in terms of form factor and function. The optical design consists of a number of ED, fluorite, and SR elements that help in reducing colour fringing and chromatic aberrations throughout the zoom range for improved contrast and colour bandwidth, when used in bright and backlit situations. The lens elements are treated with ARNEO and Nano Crystal Coats, as well as a Super Integrated Coating to suppress flare, ghosting, and surface reflections.

The optical design of the lens is complex with 21 elements in 18 groups, including 10 special dispersion elements and 2 aspherical elements. With a total number of 36 glass/air surfaces, there are lots of chances to create internal reflections. Nano coating is used to counter this. To go hand-in-hand with this optical design, two stepping motors are used in synchronisation to achieve fast, accurate and silent autofocus performance. Full time manual focus override is possible for stills as well as video.