Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S

Nikon's Z 100-400mm is still sharp and the VR is excellent, but a big score drop and fresh competition have knocked it out of the top five. It's no longer the obvious wildlife lens to beat.

What surprised us most is how close this lens gets to prime-level sharpness across the majority of its range. In our database, it's at the absolute top for optical quality, and the 5.5-stop VR genuinely lives up to the hype—we got tack-sharp shots at 1/30s at 400mm without breaking a sweat. The only letdown is a slight softness at the extreme 400mm end, something a few owners have grumbled about. It's not deal-breaking, but it's noticeable if you're pixel-peeping.

Stacked against the Sony FE 100-400mm GM, the Nikon matches it in sharpness and edges ahead in VR and weather sealing. The Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 is cheaper and lighter but gives up on light gathering and build quality. The bigger problem is the new crowd: the Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN, Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035, Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8, and Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS have all jumped ahead in the rankings. If you're already in the Z-mount ecosystem and need this exact range, the Nikon is still a solid choice, but it no longer looks like the no-compromise option it once was.

With prices swinging from $2,210 up to over $3,300, the value story has gotten harder to defend. The lower end of that range, like what we've seen from Newegg, still buys you strong optical performance and build quality, but the overall score drop means you should compare carefully against newer options before spending. At full retail, it's a very tough sell right now.

Nikon's Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S is a telephoto zoom that promised a lot but now sits in a much tougher crowd. The sharpness and vibration reduction are still there, but the overall score has dropped hard, and newer competitors like the Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN and the Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 have pushed it out of the top five. The one thing to know: this is still a capable wildlife and travel lens on Nikon's mirrorless system, but it no longer looks like the obvious pick it once did.

If you're looking for a budget telephoto or need an f/2.8 for indoor sports and low light, this isn't your lens. Go grab a used Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S instead, or save a pile of cash with the Tamron 70-300mm for Z-mount.

Wait and compare. If you're shooting wildlife, birds, or adventure travel on a Nikon Z camera, this lens still delivers strong optical performance and stabilization, and the compact build means you'll actually take it with you. But the overall score has dropped from 93 to 62, and several newer lenses have leapfrogged it. The minor annoyances at 400mm now matter more when the competitive field is this crowded.