Great view and 100% agree with your assessment. I have had mine since early July and the very first shoot I did with it was at RIAT 2022 at Fairford in the UK, one of the biggest airshows in the world. I took over 5000 images with this lens on my Z9 and was seriously impressed by how good the performance of this lens was, how easy to handhold and how many "keepers" I came away with. My previous lens had been the F-mount 200-500 and the extra size and weight of that lens had impacted on my ability to hold the lens steady throughout pans (I am 73!!) throughout a whole air-display so really pleased to have this lens. Now just longing for my Z 800 PF to arrive!!!

I have the older 70-400 Nikon. I've had it many years and use it almost every day. I mostly go out hunting birds but sometimes I'm after flowering plants and sometimes even street photography. It has progressed from the D-200, D-300, D-800E and has been on the D-850 since it first hit the market. It just gets better with every step-up in camera quality. I couldn't begin to estimate how many hundreds of thousands of images I have made with it and it still looks great with no blemishes and still makes sharp and beautiful bird pictures. If I ever replace it it will be with the Z100-400 and a new mirrorless camera. It is easy to carry, focuses fast, and had the right zoom range for hand held work.

Great Video Dave ..you always cover all the bases

Excellent presentation Dave of this (almost...) every-purpose- lens! Until now I was still undecided - but after watching your plea I am conviced that it is a must-have for my nature- and landscape photography. Best regards from Switzerland.

Great video Dave. Very nice photos.

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have recently sold my mirror cameras and lenses to buy mirrorless Nikons. I needed a telephoto lens for sports and wildlife photography. I have been considering this lens. Your review has convinced me to purchase it.

Great video David, good info! Nice sleuthing to finds it at B&C camera. That gives people some help on how not just looking in driving distance for gear! and great examples of the sharpness of that lens

Fantastic review!

Thanks for your detailed review of the lens... "bit above my pay grade" as they say but I do get bits of (photography) knowledge from your presentations. Those airshow pix are spot-on (excellent) and shows a steady hand. It's a fine art, photography (cameras, lens, fstop, aperture, manual, auto, etc), and you are the sensei.... Cheers

Very nice vlog. A lot of useful information told in a calm way. Not only the pros but also emphasizes the cons. Not ever reported. Compliments. Please go on this way.👍👍👍

Sir, Thank you for the detailed recommendation. Glad to hear you were satisfied with both the 1.4 & 2.0 TC on the 100-400, if I understood correctly. Great images of the Air Show with the lens. Please consider a video with pointers regarding how you captured the aerial images you did. Thanks!!

Thank you for sharing your thought on this lens. I did finally get my copy after waiting three and a half month for it. Also interested in comparing this to the F mount adapted AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR if your inclined. I’m trying to do that now as well.

I have been going back and forth about getting this lens and 1.4 TC for airshow as well so thank you for the review. I love my 80-400 but the Z lens are just so much better its hard not to jump in and get one.

Hey Dave, thanks for the review! I have both the 70-200 and the 100-400 and the two TC but still I can't decide if I will keep one of them or both.... Decisions - decisions... 😉😁 The 560mm FL and the f2.8 Aperture are both so much enricing!!!

Good review because it had best pictures 🙂

Thank you for putting out this video. I’m kind of paralyzed with the decision of this zoom lens or the 400mm f4.5 prime lens. I love the flexibility of the 100-400 for when I’m out hiking and do a mix of landscape and wildlife but I also really like the extra 2/3 stop of light, the smoother bokeh and sharpness of the prime. Wish I could afford both! If you have any thoughts I would be interested to hear, otherwise thanks for the great review!

Excellent commentary.

I received mine in December, and I haven’t left the house without it. My favorite Z lens so far.

Looking for a Z lens for aviation fast jets at low level, it’s a toss up between this lens or the 180-600mm. Great review.

Great to hear your thoughts on the lense. I'll be ordering soon. BTW, where can I get a lense coffee cup like that?

I thought that was a coffee mug by the way you were holding it! Hah! =)

Haha the coffee !

Im waiting for the 400mm f4.5 to go with my 70-200S plus 1.4 c Z convertor for my African Wild Life >> this 100 - 400 Z is way better than my old DSLR 80-400 which I loved

Have you sold your 70-200? Do you use this one only with 1.4 X TC? I own the 70-200, the 2x TC And Z9…and hesitate between this one and the 500pf…

Thanks Dave! I saw another youtuber who said his copy was soft at distances...can you confirm or deny please? Thanks.

Who's new lens bracket did you install?

Is this lens work Nikon 810 or it only for mirror less camera thanks

Gear aside, those air show photos were fantastic. The comment about changing balance is not accurate according to Nikon's information: the movement of the internals counteract the movement and changing center of gravity due to barrel extension. Otherwise I also wish it was an internal zoom; the dust/moisture ingress is not to be underestimated.

Great video but is it me or do I hear a constant high pitched noise in the background? Sounds a bit like a faint wind blowing through a narrow opening..

I think that every photographer should run out and buy the 100-400mm f4-f5.6 before (following the current trend) they become a 100-400mm f11-f32! I give it another 3-5 years before this happens though. ;D

I’d love to see what 800mm looks like at the minimum focus distance 😂😂😂