Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VRS User manual

©2022 Nikon Corporation
SB2A01(11)
7MMA8611-01 En
• Read this document thoroughly before using the product.
• To ensure proper use of the product, be sure to read “For Your Safety” (page 5).
• After reading this document, keep it readily accessible for future reference.
Reference Guide
NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S

Table of Contents
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
For Your Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Using the Lens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Parts of the Lens: Names and Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Attachment and Removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Attaching and Removing the Lens Hood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Attaching a Strap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Memory Recall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
The Built-in Teleconverter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Using the Tripod Collar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Vibration Reduction (VR). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Filters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Precautions for Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Lens Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Technical Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Cameras with AF-Assist Illuminators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Using the Lens on Cameras with a Built-in Flash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Table of Contents
2

Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Table of Contents
3

Introduction
Before You Begin
Before using this product, please read these instructions carefully. You will also
need to consult the documentation provided with the camera.
• This lens is intended exclusively for use with mirrorless cameras featuring a
Nikon Z mount.
• Update the camera firmware to the latest version. With earlier versions, the
camera may fail to detect the lens correctly and some features may not be
available. The latest version of the camera firmware can be downloaded from
the Nikon Download Center at the URL below.
https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/
No reproduction in any form of this document, in whole or in part (except for
brief quotation in critical articles or reviews), may be made without written
authorization from NIKON CORPORATION.
4Before You Begin

For Your Safety
To prevent damage to property or injury to yourself or to others, read “For Your
Safety” in its entirety before using this product.
After reading these safety instructions, keep them readily accessible for future
reference.
WARNING: Failure to observe the precautions marked with this icon
could result in death or severe injury.
CAUTION: Failure to observe the precautions marked with this icon
could result in injury or property damage.
WARNING
Do not disassemble or modify this product. Do not touch internal parts
that become exposed as the result of a fall or other accident.
Failure to observe these precautions could result in electric shock or other
injury.
Should you notice any abnormalities such as the product producing
smoke, heat, or unusual odors, immediately disconnect the camera power
source.
Continued operation could result in fire, burns or other injury.
5For Your Safety

WARNING
Keep dry. Do not handle with wet hands.
Failure to observe these precautions could result in fire or electric shock.
Do not use this product in the presence of flammable dust or gas such as
propane, gasoline or aerosols.
Failure to observe this precaution could result in explosion or fire.
Do not directly view the sun or other bright light source through the lens.
Failure to observe this precaution could result in visual impairment.
Keep this product out of reach of children.
Failure to observe this precaution could result in injury or product malfunction.
In addition, note that small parts constitute a choking hazard. Should a child
swallow any part of this product, seek immediate medical attention.
Do not entangle, wrap or twist the straps around your neck.
Failure to observe this precaution could result in accidents.
Do not handle with bare hands in locations exposed to extremely high or
low temperatures.
Failure to observe this precaution could result in burns or frostbite.
Do not use this product if you have a pacemaker or other medical device.
The magnet or magnets in this product could cause medical devices to
malfunction.
For Your Safety
6

CAUTION
Do not leave the lens pointed at the sun or other strong light sources.
Light focused by the lens could cause fire or damage to product’s internal parts.
When shooting backlit subjects, keep the sun well out of the frame. Sunlight
focused into the camera when the sun is close to the frame could cause fire.
Do not leave the product where it will be exposed to extremely high
temperatures, for an extended period such as in an enclosed automobile
or in direct sunlight.
Failure to observe this precaution could result in fire or product malfunction.
Do not transport cameras or lenses with tripods or similar accessories
attached.
Failure to observe this precaution could result in injury or product malfunction.
Keep the lens and speaker away from credit cards and other such
magnetic storage devices.
The data stored on the device could be corrupted.
For Your Safety
7

Using the Lens
Parts of the Lens: Names and Functions
The parts of the lens are listed below.
1 2
Fn ring
Rotate to instantly recall a stored focus position (“memory recall”).
“Memory Recall” (p.28)
Control ring
Rotate to adjust a setting such as [Aperture] or [Exposure compensation]
assigned using the camera. For more information, see the description of
[Custom control assignment], [Custom controls], or [Custom controls
(shooting)] in the documentation provided with the camera.
8Parts of the Lens: Names and Functions
1
2

3 4
Focus ring
Use for manual focus.
• When focusing using autofocus, you can adjust focus manually by
rotating the ring while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.
Focus
Due to the design of the focus system, shaking the lens while the camera
is off may cause it to rattle; this does not indicate a malfunction.
Tripod collar ring
“Using the Tripod Collar” (p.35)
Parts of the Lens: Names and Functions
9
3
4

5 6
Slip-in filter holder
For use with optional 46 mm screw-on filters.
“Filters” (p.38)
Slip-in filter holder tab
Use when inserting or removing the filter holder.
“Filters” (p.38)
Parts of the Lens: Names and Functions
10
5
6

7 8 9
Lens mounting mark
Use when mounting the lens on the camera.
“Attachment and Removal” (p.20)
Rubber lens-mount gasket
Helps prevent the ingress of water droplets or dust along the surfaces
where the lens and camera meet when the lens is mounted on the
camera. *
There is no guarantee that the gasket is completely proof against the
ingress of water droplets or dust in all circumstances.
CPU contacts
Used to transfer data to and from the camera.
Parts of the Lens: Names and Functions
11
7
8
*
9

10 11
Lens rotation indices
Use when rotating the camera to shoot in landscape (“wide”) or portrait
(“tall”) orientation. There are four indices positioned around the lens at 90º
intervals.
“Using the Tripod Collar” (p.35)
Tripod collar ring rotation indices
Use when rotating the camera to shoot in landscape (“wide”) or portrait
(“tall”) orientation. There are three indices positioned around the lens at
90º intervals.
“Using the Tripod Collar” (p.35)
Parts of the Lens: Names and Functions
12
10
11

12 14 13
Tripod collar ring attachment screw
Fix the tripod collar ring in place.
“Using the Tripod Collar” (p.35)
Security slot (for anti-theft cable)
Attach a third-party anti-theft cable. For more information, see the
documentation provided with the cable.
Strap eyelets
For use when attaching a strap. There are two eyelets, one on each side.
“Attaching a Strap” (p.27)
Parts of the Lens: Names and Functions
13
12
13
14

16
15
L-Fn2 buttons
Press to perform a function assigned using the camera. For more
information, see the description of [Custom control assignment],
[Custom controls], or [Custom controls (shooting)] in the documentation
provided with the camera. There are four buttons positioned around the
lens at 90º intervals.
• Should you wish to rotate the buttons, contact a Nikon-authorized
service representative.
L-Fn button
Press to perform a function assigned using the camera. For more
information, see the description of [Custom control assignment],
[Custom controls], or [Custom controls (shooting)] in the documentation
provided with the camera.
Parts of the Lens: Names and Functions
14
15
16

17 18
Focus limit switch
Choose the autofocus range.
•FULL: Choose to focus on subjects at any distance between 2.5 m
(8.21 ft) and ∞.
•∞ – 6 m: Focus is limited to distances of 6 m (19.69 ft) and more. Select
this option for faster focusing if your subject will always be at distance of
at least 6 m (19.69 ft).
Focus-mode switch
Choose a focus mode.
•A: Autofocus
•M: Manual focus
Note that regardless of the setting chosen, focus must be adjusted
manually when manual focus mode is selected using camera controls.
Parts of the Lens: Names and Functions
15
17
18

19 20 21
Teleconverter switch
Switch between focal length multipliers of 1× and 1.4×.
“The Built-in Teleconverter” (p.30)
Teleconverter switch lock
Use to lock the teleconverter switch.
“The Built-in Teleconverter” (p.30)
Memory set button
Save the current focus position.
“Memory Recall” (p.28)
Parts of the Lens: Names and Functions
16
19
20
21

22 23
Lens hood
Lens hoods block stray light that would otherwise cause flare or ghosting.
They also serve to protect the lens.
“Attaching and Removing the Lens Hood” (p.25)
Clamp knob
Use when attaching the lens hood.
“Attaching and Removing the Lens Hood” (p.25)
Parts of the Lens: Names and Functions
17
22
23

24
Slip-on lens cap (front cap)
• Be sure to reattach the cap when transporting the lens or when
transporting the camera with the lens attached.
• Reverse the lens hood before using the slip-on lens cap.
“Attaching and Removing the Lens Hood” (p.25)
Parts of the Lens: Names and Functions
18
24

25
Lens cap (rear cap)
Parts of the Lens: Names and Functions
19
25

Attachment and Removal
Attaching the Lens
Turn the camera off, remove the body cap, and detach
the rear lens cap.
20 Attachment and Removal
1.