Nikon Introduces Nikkor Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S: A Versatile Telephoto Zoom with Built-in Teleconverter Nikon has unveiled the Nikkor Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S, a professional telephoto zoom lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras. This S-Line lens features a built-in 1.4x teleconverter, extending its reach to an effective 420mm while maintaining image quality and fast autofocus performance. Nikon has fully unveiled the Nikkor Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S, a new professional telephoto zoom lens for full-frame Nikon mirrorless cameras. Nikon first announced the lens in May, and it is now ready for pre-order. A member of Nikon's S-Line series of Nikkor Z lenses, the new 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S promises exceptional image quality, performance, and build quality. Although not unique in terms of its focal length and maximum aperture, the inclusion of the built-in 1.4x teleconverter, activated via a switch on the body, makes it a unique lens. No other 120-300mm f/2.8 telephoto zoom lens has a teleconverter.1.4x Teleconverter Enhances VersatilityAs Nikon explains, the 1.4x teleconverter significantly boosts the lens's versatility, making it ideal for indoor sports like basketball and hockey, where the 120-300mm range and f/2.8 aperture excel, as well as for longer-range situations like baseball, soccer, and football. The lens also suits wildlife, particularly large mammals. With the 1.4x teleconverter engaged, the lens becomes the equivalent of a 168-400mm f/4, very similar to Nikon's classic and beloved 200-400mm f/4 F-mount lens."Despite being a zoom lens, it delivers outstanding rendering performance comparable to that of a prime lens across the entire frame," Nikon promises. "With superior resolution and large, natural bokeh, the lens captures athletes' facial expressions and movements in fine detail, creating immersive images that make viewers feel as if they were part of the action. " The lens incorporates a whopping 30 elements arranged across 24 groups and has a nine-bladed aperture diaphragm.It features Nikon's ARNEO coat to suppress ghosting and flare and the company's Meso Amorphous Coat, which Nikon says offers its best anti-reflection performance in history. The lens includes one ED element, one fluorite element, a short-wavelength refractive (SR) element, a piece of Super ED glass, and one aspherical element. Speaking of Nikon's history, this isn't the company's first attempt at a full-frame 120-300mm f/2.8 zoom lens. Nikon's AF-S 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is legendary.Comparison With Legacy F-Mount LensCoincidentally, that lens also had a development announcement before it was fully unveiled in early 2020. The now-discontinued lens featured 25 elements across 19 groups and weighs 3,250 grams (over 1.5 Nocts / nearly 7.2 pounds). The lens is approximately 353.5 millimeters (13.9 inches) long with a maximum diameter of 128 millimeters (5.1 inches). The lens has a front 112mm filter thread.It also accepts 46mm drop-in filters. Nikon's new Nikkor Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S weighs 2,735 grams (just over six pounds), about 515 grams (1.1 pounds) lighter despite the added 1.4x teleconverter. Nikon achieved this in much the same way it significantly lightened its Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II lens, using thinner lens elements and lighter autofocus motors.Weight Savings And Build FeaturesAlso like the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II, the Nikkor Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S has an Arca Swiss-compatible tripod foot, eliminating the need for a separate plate to attach the lens to most standard tripods. The tripod collar also has a rubber cushion and integrated finger grip. The lens includes Nikon's Silky Swift VCM (SSVCM) autofocus system, promising extremely rapid, accurate focusing.The internally focusing lens can focus as close as 0.98 meters (3.22 feet) at 120mm and two meters (6.6 feet) at 300mm. Without the teleconverter engaged, the best reproduction ratio is 0.18x at 150mm. With the teleconverter enabled, that goes to 0.25x at an equivalent focal length of 210mm.Price And Availability DetailsThe VR-equipped lens promises up to 6.5 stops of shake correction at the center and edges of the frame when used with a Nikon body that supports Synchro VR, which includes the Z9, Z8, Z6 III, Z5 II, Z5 IIC, Zf, and ZR at the time of writing. The Nikon Nikkor Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens will be available in mid-November for a suggested retail price of $13,999.95.