When traveling, choosing what gear to pack is always a balancing act between capability and convenience. A single lens that covers a wide focal range can drastically simplify your kit, but often at the cost of certain performance trade-offs.
Coming to you from Steve Mattheis, this informative video tests the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens in real-world wildlife photography conditions. Mattheis heads out early on a foggy morning in La Jolla, California, using only this versatile lens paired with the Nikon Z8. Rather than relying on specialized wildlife lenses like a 400mm f/2.8, he chooses portability over maximum aperture and ultimate sharpness. Throughout the morning, Mattheis experiments with various photographic techniques, including motion blur at lower shutter speeds to creatively tackle the lens' limited aperture in dim conditions. His strategy demonstrates how you can leverage equipment limitations to your advantage rather than fighting against them.
The lens itself offers a surprisingly flexible range, covering wide-angle at 28mm to super-telephoto at 400mm, ideal for capturing diverse subjects without needing lens swaps. Mattheis candidly discusses some trade-offs you'll face, notably the narrower maximum aperture of f/8 at 400mm, making low-light wildlife photography challenging. Autofocus speed is another point of compromise, especially noticeable when photographing fast-moving subjects like birds in flight. Mattheis emphasizes managing your expectations—understanding that this lens will not deliver the same instant, precise autofocus performance as dedicated professional wildlife lenses.
Key Specs
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Focal Length: 28-400mm
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Aperture: f/4-8 maximum, f/22-45 minimum
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Autofocus with Image Stabilization
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Minimum Focus Distance: 7.9 inches
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Magnification: 0.35x
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Optical Design: 21 elements in 15 groups
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Rounded 9-blade diaphragm
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Filter Size: 77mm front
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Weight: 1.6 pounds
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Dimensions: 3.4 x 5.6 inches
Throughout his shoot, Mattheis effectively balances the lens's strengths and weaknesses. He finds creative opportunities using the lens’s wider angle at f/4, gaining crucial stops of shutter speed in dim light. These wider shots allowed Mattheis to photograph birds in flight with better clarity, overcoming some of the autofocus limitations experienced at the longer telephoto end. The video further shows his approach to compositions, capturing everything from close-up wildlife portraits to expansive landscapes, demonstrating the lens’s impressive versatility despite its compromises.
Beyond the technical, Mattheis highlights the practicality of this lens for photographers who are on the move or traveling with family, where packing extensive gear isn't feasible. The lens’ capability to handle diverse photographic scenarios without being overly cumbersome is one of its standout advantages. While it may not replace specialized wildlife lenses in terms of absolute image quality, its value in convenience and flexibility makes it a compelling option for travel photography. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Mattheis.
