Comparing the new Nikon NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens with the 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S and 600mm f/4 TC VR S:
| Specification | 120-300mm f/2.8 | 400mm f/2.8 | 600mm f/4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lens type | Pro zoom | Pro prime | Pro prime |
| Focal length | 120–300mm | 400mm | 600mm |
| With built-in TC | 168–420mm | 560mm | 840mm |
| Built-in teleconverter | 1.4× | 1.4× | 1.4× |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/4 |
| Maximum aperture with TC | f/4 | f/4 | f/5.6 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 (no TC) / f/32 (with TC) 400: f/22 (no TC) / f/32 (with TC) 600: f/32 (no TC) f/45 (with TC) | f/22 | f/22 |
| Lens elements/groups | 30 / 24 | 25 / 19 | 26 / 20 |
| Special optical elements |
3 ED, 1 Super ED, 2 fluorite, 2 SR, 1 HRI (High Refractive Index) element |
2 ED, 1 Super ED, 2 fluorite, 1 SR | 3 ED, 1 Super ED, 2 fluorite, 2 SR |
| Autofocus | Silky Swift VCM | Silky Swift VCM | Silky Swift VCM |
| Image stabilization | up to 6.5 stops with compatible Synchro VR system | up to 5.5 stops |
5.0 stops (CIPA); up to ~5.5 stops with Synchro VR on compatible bodies (e.g. Z9) |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.98m at 120mm to 2.0m at 300mm | 2.5m | 4.3m |
| Maximum reproduction ratio |
0.18× (at 150 mm, no TC) 0.25× (at 210 mm, with TC) |
0.17× / 0.23× with TC | 0.14× / 0.20× with TC |
| Diaphragm blades | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Filter system | 112mm front screw-in + 46mm rear slip-in | 46mm rear slip-in | 46mm rear slip-in |
| Dimensions (diameter × length) | 128 × 353.5mm | 156 × 380mm | 165 × 437mm |
| Weight | 2,735g (6.03 lb) | 2,950g (6.50 lb) | 3,260g (7.19 lb) |
| Internal focusing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Internal zoom | Yes | N/A | N/A |
| S-Line | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $13,996.95 | $12,696.95 | $14,696.95 |
In simple terms: the 120-300mm prioritizes flexibility, the 400mm f/2.8 prioritizes a balance of speed and reach, and the 600mm f/4 is the choice when maximum reach is the priority.