Rent the Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S in Canada — the smallest and lightest 400mm Nikon has ever made, which makes this super-telephoto prime genuinely hand-holdable for wildlife, birds and sports. Bright f/4.5, S-line sharpness and fast, quiet autofocus in a remarkably portable package. Key points:
400mm f/4.5 super-telephoto prime — sharp, bright and ideal for action and wildlife
Exceptionally light (~1,245g) — the lightest 400mm Nikon has made, easy to carry and hand-hold
VR rated to 5.5 stops (6 with Synchro VR on IBIS bodies); quiet STM autofocus
Works with Nikon Z 1.4x / 2x teleconverters (560mm f/6.3 or 800mm f/9)
Our thoughts
What makes this one special is the weight — at around 1.24kg it’s light enough to actually hand-hold a 400mm for birds in flight or sport, which you can’t really do with traditional big primes. It’s sharp, focuses fast, and takes teleconverters when you need 560mm or 800mm. It’s a prime, so you’re fixed at 400mm — if you want zoom flexibility, look at the 100-400mm or 180-600mm instead.
— Will, Founder
Key specifications
Lens mount
Nikon Z
Format
Full-frame (FX)
Focal length
400mm (prime)
Maximum aperture
f/4.5
Optical design
Super ED + ED + SR (short-wavelength refractive) elements; Nano Crystal coat; fluorine front
Autofocus
STM stepping motor, full-time manual override
Stabilisation
VR up to 5.5 stops (up to 6 stops with Synchro VR on IBIS bodies)
Minimum focus distance
2.5m (8.2')
Teleconverters
Nikon Z 1.4x (560mm f/6.3) and 2x (800mm f/9), with autofocus retained
Filter thread
95mm
Build
S-line, dust- and moisture-resistant; approx. 1,245g (the lightest 400mm Nikon has made)
Compatibility & what you might add
Fits any Nikon Z-mount body — pair it with the camera that suits your shoot.
For long sessions a monopod or tripod helps — though it’s light enough for plenty of handheld work.
Q&A
Yes — at around 1.24kg it’s the lightest 400mm Nikon has ever made, light enough to comfortably hand-hold for birds in flight and sport, which sets it apart from heavier super-telephoto primes. With VR (and Synchro VR on IBIS bodies) it’s steady too. For long static sessions a monopod still helps.
Yes — with the Nikon Z 1.4x it becomes a 560mm f/6.3, and with the 2x an 800mm f/9, both keeping autofocus on compatible bodies. That makes one lens cover a lot of wildlife and sports situations. We can add a teleconverter to your order.
The 400mm prime is brighter (f/4.5), typically sharper and quicker to focus at 400mm, and lighter than you’d expect. The zooms give you flexible focal lengths and, in the case of the 180-600mm, more reach. Choose the prime for the best image quality and speed at 400mm; a zoom for versatility and range.
Synchro VR coordinates the lens’s VR with the camera’s in-body stabilisation (IBIS) on compatible Z bodies, increasing the effective stabilisation to around 6 stops. On its own the lens VR is rated to 5.5 stops — either way it helps a lot at long focal lengths.
Wildlife, birds and sports above all — the 400mm reach and f/4.5 aperture suit subjects at a distance and in changing light, and the portability means you can carry it on a hike or hold it on the sidelines all day. Add a teleconverter when you need to reach even further.
★★★★★ Rated Excellent on Trustpilot
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Check live availability and reserve your dates — with guaranteed overnight delivery, or collect from our base in Canmore, AB.
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