Nikon has announced the NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S, a full-frame Z-mount telephoto zoom with a built-in teleconverter that switches in with a single action. The company aims it at sports photographers, from figure skating in dim arenas to tennis and soccer shot from a distance. In the US, Nikon says the lens will be available in mid-November 2026 at a suggested retail price of $13,999.95.
Nikon calls the lens the first zoom with a constant f/2.8 aperture and a built-in 1.4x teleconverter, a claim it limits to interchangeable zoom lenses announced as of October 29 and bases on its own research. The f/2.8 figure applies only to the plain 120-300mm side. With the converter engaged, Nikon rates the range at 168-420mm and the maximum aperture at f/4.
Stabilization is rated at 6.5 stops under the CIPA 2024 standard, measured on a Z6III at the telephoto end in NORMAL mode with the converter off. Nikon says that rating requires a camera that supports Synchro VR. The new lens weighs about 2,735 g, which Nikon says is 515 g less than its 2020 AF-S zoom with the same range and aperture. That puts the older lens, which has no built-in teleconverter, at about 3,250 g.
| Spec | Without teleconverter | With teleconverter |
|---|---|---|
| Focal length | 120-300mm | 168-420mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 | f/4 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 | f/32 |
| Angle of view (FX) | 20°20' to 8°10' | 14°40' to 5°50' |
| Maximum reproduction ratio | 0.18x at 150mm | 0.25x at 210mm |
The optics hold 30 elements in 24 groups. The teleconverter accounts for 8 of those elements, in 5 groups. Glass includes fluorite and SR elements, and Nikon applies its Meso Amorphous Coat, which it describes as the best anti-reflection performance among interchangeable lenses for Nikon cameras, plus ARNEO Coat against ghosting and flare. Autofocus runs on the Silky Swift voice coil motor.
Focus and zoom are internal, so the barrel length stays fixed. Nikon uses magnesium alloy for durability and seals the lens against dust and drips, though it says that resistance is not guaranteed in every condition. Filters fit two ways: 112mm screw-on at the front, or a 46mm slip-in holder at the rear. Closest focus is 0.98 m at the wide end and 2 m at the long end. The tripod collar fits Arca-Swiss screw-type clamps, and Nikon warns against lever-type clamps because they may not hold the lens firmly.
