Nikon finalises NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S with built‑in 1.4x teleconverter and full specs

Nikon has completed the specification sheet for its long-telephoto S-Line zoom, the NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S. The company has confirmed details that were left open when it first announced the lens was in development, and the finished product combines a constant f/2.8 speed with an internal 1.4x teleconverter and an internal zoom and focus mechanism.

Engaging the built-in converter lengthens the focal range to 168-420mm and reduces the maximum aperture by one stop to f/4. Nikon describes the converter as integrated into the lens barrel so photographers do not need to mount an external accessory; the switch to deploy it requires only “a single action”. The converter is therefore always available without removing the lens or exposing the mount to the elements.

The company highlights the optical pedigree of the design: the lens contains 30 elements arranged in 24 groups, including ED, Super ED, fluorite, SR (Short-Wavelength Refractive) and aspherical elements. Nikon says the rendering across the zoom is intended to be close to the quality of prime lenses at each focal length, and the optical construction supports the lens’s constant-aperture behaviour from f/2.8 down to f/32 via an electromagnetic diaphragm.

Mechanically the new Z zoom is built to keep the front element stationary while zooming and focusing, with both actions handled internally. Minimum focus distances are 0.98m / 3.22ft at 120mm, 1.38m / 4.53ft at 200mm and 2m / 6.57ft at 300mm.

Autofocus and drive handling use Nikon’s Silky Swift VCM (SSVCM) motor. Nikon says the SSVCM drive sound is suppressed “to an almost-silent level”, which the company points to as an advantage for recording video. The lens also uses an electromagnetic diaphragm and is specified to work across its full f/2.8 aperture range through to f/32.

On the stabilization front, Nikon quotes a Synchro VR figure of up to 6.5 stops of correction. That value is given with the lens at 300mm, without the converter engaged, measured to CIPA 2024 standards on a camera that supports Synchro VR — Nikon used the Z6III for that measurement.

Physically the NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S measures approximately 128 x 353.5mm / 5.1 x 14in and weighs approximately 2,735g, a specification Nikon contrasts with the older F-mount 120-300mm design. According to Nikon the Z version is about 515g / 18.16oz lighter than the F-mount lens, while noting that the earlier F-mount model does not include an internal teleconverter.

Nikon also calls the new lens the first interchangeable zoom to pair a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture with an internal 1.4x converter, based on the company’s research as of October 29, 2026. The company positions the optical formula and internal mechanisms as delivering performance that approaches prime-lens character across the zoom range.

The firm has provided a US suggested retail price of $13,999.95 and opened pre-orders through retailers; Nikon expects the lens to ship in mid-November 2026. Nikon’s announcement gives photographers and rental houses lead time to plan for the arrival of a large, feature‑rich telephoto zoom that integrates a converter rather than relying on detachable barrels.

Technical choices in the design reflect the demands of long-telephoto work: a broad optical block with multiple specialised glass types to control aberrations, an internal zoom architecture to preserve balance and sealing, and an SSVCM focus drive tuned for quiet operation while recording. The converter’s internal placement eliminates the need to remove the lens to add reach, and the single-action deployment avoids tools or mount changes when switching between ranges.

The new NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S joins Nikon’s expanding S-Line Z catalog and represents a continuation of the company’s effort to translate professional telephoto capability into the Z mount ecosystem. Nikon’s published measurements and descriptions include specific CIPA VR testing conditions and the camera model used, and the company provides its own comparison against the legacy F-mount version when discussing mass.

Photographers interested in the lens will find the published minimum focus distances, dimensions and optical element count useful for planning, and the inclusion of a factory-fitted 1.4x converter is a notable mechanical convenience that Nikon emphasises. The quieter SSVCM drive is also highlighted as useful for video capture and for situations where drive noise can be a problem.

Nikon’s press information combines engineering figures with a few manufacturer claims about the lens’s uniqueness and rendering; the company’s tests and stated measurements are the basis for the performance numbers it quotes.

Specifications are detailed below so you can compare them with other telephoto options when considering purchases or rentals.