Nikon NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S Hands-On Unbox (Including Size Comparisons with the Z 400mm f/2.8 & Z 600mm f/4)

Article & Photos：Gene Wang（This English version was translated with the assistance of AI）

A few days ago, I shared photos of the very first NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S in Taiwan on social media, and many of you asked for more details. Before I officially put this lens to work on assignment next week, I’ve compiled a quick breakdown for anyone considering picking one up.

First,let’s take a look at the key specs of the NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S：

Based on these specs, this lens is ideally suited for scenarios that demand rapid focal length adjustments alongside substantial telephoto reach—such as live events and sports photography. Take baseball, which I shoot most frequently: the 120–300mm range lets me capture everything from full-body shots of players to sequences of a batter running the bases, smoothly transitioning from full-body to half-body framing. Plus, the built-in 1.4x teleconverter allows instant reach extension—for instance, shooting from the first-base photo well as a runner heads to third, or from the third-base photo well over to first. Compared to a traditional 300mm f/2.8 prime, having 420mm on tap saves a massive amount of post-processing cropping time.

The 1.4x teleconverter switch is located on the right side of the barrel, allowing you to toggle effortlessly between 1x and 1.4x with a quick flick. For those wondering about the tactile feel of the switch: this is my third Nikon super-telephoto featuring a built-in 1.4x teleconverter. Based on my initial impressions—and comparing it to the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S and NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S that I’ve previously owned—the switching action is just as smooth and solid. There is also a dedicated Lock switch to keep the teleconverter engaged at either 1x or 1.4x, preventing accidental bumps while shooting.

The left side of the lens is kept clean and straightforward, housing the AF/MF switch, a focus limiter switch (FULL / ∞–6m), and a customizable L-fn button.

The NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S takes a massive 112mm front filter. Fortunately, third-party manufacturers already produce high-transmittance protective filters in this size—I personally opted for the Kase MCUV III 112mm multi-coated UV filter to protect the front element.

At the rear of the lens (just ahead of the Z-mount), there is a drop-in filter slot that accepts 46mm filters, helping keep dust from reaching the rear element when swapping lenses. Notably, the lens hood departs completely from the thumbscrew locking knob design seen on the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S, and even the older F-mount AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR. Instead, it uses a simple twist-lock mechanism. The overall hood design is significantly lighter than before and omits the traditional interior velvet flocking—a major departure from past super-telephoto hoods.

Unlike the broader industry trend of making modern super-telephotos smaller and lighter, the NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S is still a fairly hefty piece of glass and by no means lightweight. I lined up the NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S, NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, and NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S side-by-side for a size comparison. Aside from the noticeable differences in front barrel diameter, their overall lengths are surprisingly similar.

Below are hands-on product shots of the NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S both on its own and mounted on the Nikon Z9 for reference. Stay tuned for a full, in-depth field review once I put it through its paces on assignment!