Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED Review

Handling and Features
Performance
Verdict
Specification

An expensive, professional zoom lens covering a very useful focal length range of 180-400mm, made even more desirable with the addition of a built-in teleconverter that results in a range of 252-560mm. The constant aperture is a relatively fast f/4, or f/5.6 with the converter switched in, making a potentially ideal sports and wildlife lens for Nikon DSLR cameras. Here we use the Nikon D850 45MP full frame body, so let's see how this combination works out in use and how it performs technically.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED Handling and Features

It will be little surprise that the quality of construction is very, very high. Weighing in at a substantial 3500g the lens is no lightweight, but it is reasonably compact for its specification and balances well on the Nikon D850 body. It is usable handheld, but the weight means it is probably more comfortable on a tripod or monopod.

We commence our tour of the lens at the front element, fluorine coated, which is intended to repel grease and water. There is no front filter thread and the large round lens hood simply slides into position, held in place by a knurled knob that tightens onto the edge of the barrel. This method will be familiar to users of long Nikon lenses. It is simple and it works.

There are four equally spaced buttons around the front of the lens barrel. These are Focus Function buttons and will activate whatever parameter has been set on a switch near the lens mount. These options are AF-L (Focus Lock), Memory Recall (Saves a frequently used focus position) and AF-ON (Focuses using AF).

Moving towards the camera body we find a wide and comfortable zoom ring. This is clearly marked in focal lengths for the main lens alone, rather than the lens plus converter. The action is smooth and even. As we zoom, focus holds well, indicating a parfocal design. However, it is hard to break the usual habit of zooming and then focusing. Behind the zoom ring is the distance scale, located under a clear window. Indications are in feet and metres. Focusing is down to 2m or 6.6 feet, giving a maximum magnification of 0.25x, or 0.36x with the converter switched in.

Behind this is a manual focus ring, again well damped and very smooth in operation. Manual focusing is possible during AF operation, always a useful feature for a final tweak of the focusing position, or perhaps when the subject is unsuitable for AF.

Continuing, we have a ring that contains the tripod foot. The ring can be easily turned to provide for vertical and well as horizontal shots. There are no click stops in this, so the range of adjustment is continuous. The ring is locked by a knurled knob. Also, at this point, we find two tethering points where the lens can be attached to a tether or tethers for security.

Further back again, a series of switches control various options. The first sets AF/MF options, A/M (AF with manual override but AF priority), M/A (AF with manual override but Manual priority) and M (Manual focus with electronic rangefinder). The difference between A/M and M/A is that with the former it takes a longer turn of the focusing ring for manual focus to be engaged during AF operation. With M/A the effect is immediate.

The second switch is the focus range limiter. This can be set to Full or limited to between infinity and 6m. The limiter will speed up AF where longer focus distances only are being used.

The third switch controls the VR (Vibration Reduction) system and has options Off, Normal and Sport. The Sport setting may be more suitable when panning. Four stops advantage is claimed.

The fourth switch controls the settings of the Memory Recall system. AF-L locks focus, Memory Recall is a saved distance setting and AF-ON activates AF.

There is a fifth switch that switches a beep on and off. This applies to the Memory Recall functions.

On the opposite side of the barrel is the Memory Set button.

At the closest point to the lens mount, we have a filter slot that enables 40.5mm filters to be employed. A clear filter is supplied that must be used if no filters are needed.

Finally, on the right side, there is a substantial switch that can be thrown to either enable or disable use of the built-in teleconverter, engaging either option with a satisfyingly heavy clunk. There is also a firm locking catch so the setting cannot be accidentally changed.

Optical construction is a massive 27 elements in 19 groups, having 8 ED (Extra Low Dispersion) and 1 Fluorite element, plus Nano Crystal coatings. The 1.4x teleconverter adds in another 8 elements in 5 groups. The E diaphragm (electronically operated) has 9 rounded blades to enhance the bokeh, although long lenses, in any event, tend to throw the background out of focus very effectively. Only camera bodies that support use of the E diaphragm can be used, all others will shoot with the lens always wide open. The E diaphragm is accurate and silent in operation.

With the teleconverter switched in cameras that enable f/8 AF support will be needed to ensure the AF system continues to operate. Compatibility can be checked on the Nikon website, but the following are listed in the instruction leaflet as being incompatible: D2-series, D1-series, D200, D100, D90, D80, D70-series, D60, D50, D40-series, D3000 and all film SLR bodies.

Of course, the built-in TC does mean that there is an overlap of options and, for example, it is possible to set say 250mm both with or without the TC. In practice, for maximum quality, it might be marginally better to use the lens without, but this is largely academic and for wildlife and sports using the TC will bring in that extra reach, still with the ability to zoom out when needed. It all works out rather well in the field and, despite the weight, the lens handles nicely on the D850. For static work, a tripod makes life easier, but for sports and wildlife handheld use is straightforward enough.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED Performance

The sharpness tests were run both with and without the TC. Starting with lens alone, at 180mm the central sharpness is simply outstanding from f/4 through to f/8, excellent from f/11 to f/22 and only at f/32 softening through diffraction. The edges are excellent at f/4 and f/5.6, outstanding at f/8, excellent at f/11, very good at f/16 and f/22 and again softening at f/32.

At 200mm centrally results are outstanding from f/4 to f/8, excellent at f/11, very good at f/16 and f/22 and soft at f/32. The edges are excellent at f/4, outstanding at f/5.6 and f/8, excellent at f/11, very good at f/16, good at f/22 and soft at f/32.

300mm maintains this well. Centrally it is outstanding from f/4 to f/8, excellent at f/11, very good at f/16, good at f/22 and soft at f/32. The edges are excellent from f/4 to f/8, very good at f/11 and f/16, good at f/22 and soft at f/32.

400mm sees sharpness very good at f/4, excellent at f/5.6, very good from f/8 to f/16, good at f/22 and soft at f/32. The edges are very good from f/4 to f/16 and soften beyond that at f/22 and f/32.
 

Now we do expect some reduction in sharpness with the TC switched in, but at 250mm (actually 252mm) it is centrally excellent from f/5.6 to f/11, very good at f/16, good at f/22 and softening beyond that at f/32 and f/45. The edges are excellent from f/5.6 to f/11, very good at f/16, good at f/22 and soft beyond that at f/32 and f/45.

At 280mm, the centre is excellent from f/5.6 to f/11, very good at f/16, good at f/22 and softening at f/32 and f/45. The edges are excellent at f/5.6 and f/8, very good at f/11 and f/16, good at f/22 and again softening at f/32 and f/45.

420mm is centrally very good at f/5.6, excellent at f/8, very good at f/11, good at f/16 and then softening from f/22 through to f/45. The edges are good from f/5.6 to f/16 and then soften from f/22 to f/45.

At 560mm the centre is good at f/5.6, very good from f/8 to f/16 and then slowly softens from f/22 through to f/45. The edges are good at f/5.6, very good from f/8 to f/11 and again softening from f/22 on to f/45.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR MTF Charts

Without the TC, the CA figures are impressive, with a very high degree of correction throughout the range. Colour fringing is unlikely to be an issue, although if desired further correction can always be made using software.

With TC engaged, the CA figures are still very low, giving a very well balanced set of figures throughout. Further correction can be made in software but is probably not necessary for most subjects.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR Chromatic Aberration Charts

Distortion measures -0.45% barrel at 180mm, -0.26% barrel at 200mm, +0.69% pincushion at 300mm and +1.12% pincushion at 400mm. A fantastic result and there are few subjects that would demand further software correction.

The distortion figures with the TC are pincushion all the way, measuring +0.94% at 252mm, +1.01% at 280mm, +1.51% at 420mm and +1.75% at 560mm.

Flare is non-existent, with no loss of contrast or created artefacts in against the light shots.

Bokeh is, of course, the smoothness of the gradation of out of focus areas and all long lenses are already ahead of the game by virtue of the reduced depth of field. The bokeh here is lovely throughout the range, with commendable smoothness in tonal transitions.

The VR system offers a realistic four stops of advantage, a very welcome bonus in a lens that is already delivering a very high standard. This does nothing to help subject movement of course, so higher shutter speeds are helped by the fast aperture.

All in all a complex set of results, but a very impressive performance.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR Sample Photos

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR Other sample images

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR Aperture range

Value For Money

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR lens is priced at £10,999, a mouth-watering amount of cash.

It is hard to relate this to any concept of VFM, but we do have a yardstick as Canon makes a similar optic, the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x at £10,089.

If we can do without the converter then there is the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 G ED VR II at £6749.

If we can do without the bright, fast f/4 aperture then there are some possibilities at far lower prices:

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, £2049
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary, £799
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sport, £1329
Sigma 100-400mm f/4-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary, £799
Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 with 1.4x Converter, £1349
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR, £1299

For more options have a look at the Top 14 Best Nikon Lenses, or the Top 25 Best Telephoto zoom lenses.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED Verdict

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED is a large and heavy lens, but it does the job and to a very high standard. It is also fast in terms of functions such as AF as well as in terms of its bright f/4 aperture. It is also very, very expensive.

Most of us will have to settle for other options, but this lens falls into that category where quality and specification will be unique to the photographer's needs. Professionals who need this lens will know they need it and why, and VFM will be in the money it earns. There may well also be some well-off amateurs who can become lucky owners of this very fine lens, but I suspect they will be few in number. In any event, it deserves to be Highly Recommended.

A powerful, fast zoom lens with innovative built-in TC, at a very high price.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR Specifications

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