Chris Pearce tests out the Nikkor 28-400mm

Top photo by Chris Pierce for Huelo Bar using the 28-400mm.

We spent some time with hospitality specialist photographer Chris Pearce as he tested out the Nikkor 28-400mm lens, despite being marketed for travel photography, this versatile offering was a great choice for Chris's work.

This is because NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR is a powerful lens that combines convenience and performance, providing an exceptional focal range and usability for photographers on the move. This superzoom lens is an all-in-one solution, covering a range of scenarios from wide-angle landscapes to distant wildlife, making it an ideal travel companion. While aimed for travel, family and generalist photographer, Chris discovered its versatility, which makes it suitable for various photography needs, especially for those looking to streamline their gear without sacrificing image quality.

Weighing only 725 grams, the lens is surprisingly light for its focal reach. This makes it ideal for photographers who want to avoid heavy equipment, especially as they age and become more conscious of the weight they carry on shoots. This lens allows photographers to enjoy the benefits of a full-frame system without the bulk, which is one of its key selling points.

The lens is built with durability in mind and is designed to withstand the bumps and scrapes of regular use. Its construction feels sturdy enough for travel yet compact enough not to weigh you down. The lens is larger when extended at 141.5mm in length and with a 77mm filter thread diameter. Still, it remains well-balanced even on smaller Z-series cameras like the Z6 or Z7. Despite its size, handling is made easy with a wide zoom ring, which is smooth to operate. It also features a lock to prevent the lens from creeping when being carried, a small but valuable touch that adds to its practicality.

The NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR performs exceptionally well in image quality. The lens’s sharpness is impressive across the zoom range, maintaining clarity from 28mm to 400mm. Although the maximum aperture decreases as you zoom (dropping to f/8 at the 400mm end), the sharpness and contrast remain consistently strong. Nikon’s advanced coatings help to control flare and ghosting, even when shooting toward bright light sources like the sun. This makes the lens a good choice for outdoor and travel photographers who often face challenging lighting conditions.

The lens’s vibration reduction (VR) is a significant advantage, providing up to five stops of stabilization (5.5 stops with Synchro VR-enabled cameras like the Z9 or Z8). This is particularly beneficial when shooting handheld at the long end of the zoom, where the camera shake is more noticeable. Whether shooting landscapes, street scenes, or wildlife, the VR system ensures that your images remain sharp and blur-free, even in less-than-ideal lighting situations.

One of the standout features of this lens is its autofocus system. The stepping motor used for autofocusing is fast, accurate, and nearly silent, making it well-suited for both stills and video. While it occasionally struggles with low-contrast subjects or in dim lighting, it reliably locks focus, allowing photographers to capture crisp images even at the extreme telephoto end. This makes the lens appealing for photographers who shoot fast-moving subjects like wildlife or sports. Additionally, the lens offers macro-like capabilities with its close focusing distance, making it versatile enough for shooting details like flowers or insects.

Another helpful feature is the ability to switch to DX mode on full-frame cameras, extending the focal range to 600mm, particularly for wildlife photographers. While the resolution drops when using this mode (to 19.5MP on the Z7 II or 10.3MP on the Z6 II), it still produces images with sufficient detail for sharing online or making medium-sized prints.

Despite its many strengths, the NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR does have some trade-offs. The bokeh quality, for instance, isn’t as smooth as some might expect. Due to the design of the aperture blades, out-of-focus highlights can take on a polygonal shape, which may result in somewhat chaotic background rendering at longer focal lengths. However, for most users, this isn’t a dealbreaker, given the convenience and versatility of the lens.

In summary, the NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR is a fantastic option for photographers seeking a highly versatile, lightweight, and reliable zoom lens. Its excellent image quality and wide focal range make it an all-around performer, whether you’re shooting on a mountain, in a city, or at the beach. It’s a lens that fits comfortably into a travel photographer’s kit, and thanks to its manageable size and weight, it’s an attractive option for anyone looking to reduce the burden of heavy gear while still capturing high-quality images.