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Nikon’s new pro sports zoom ships mid-November.
120-300mm f/2.8 with a built-in 1.4× TC.
Announced October 29, 2026, the NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S is Nikon’s flagship Z-mount sports telephoto: constant f/2.8 across 120-300mm, then 168-420mm at f/4 when you flip in the built-in teleconverter. US availability is mid-November at a $13,999.95 SRP.
Direct answer: The NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S is Nikon’s new constant f/2.8 sports zoom with a built-in 1.4× teleconverter. Nikon USA lists mid-November 2026 availability and a suggested retail price of $13,999.95. Native range is 120-300mm f/2.8; with the TC engaged you get 168-420mm at f/4. Nikon calls it the world’s first constant f/2.8 zoom with a built-in 1.4× TC (as of October 29, 2026, Nikon research).
What is the NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S?
This is Nikon’s new Z-mount pro sports telephoto, announced on October 29, 2026. The headline is the built-in teleconverter: you keep a constant f/2.8 from 120 to 300mm, then engage the internal 1.4× TC for 168-420mm at f/4 without swapping glass. Nikon positions it for indoor low-light sports such as skating and basketball, plus outdoor distant sports such as tennis and soccer.
Official sources worth bookmarking:
- Nikon USA press room: NIKKOR Z 120-300mm
- Nikon Imaging product page
- Nikon corporate news (October 29, 2026)
Key specs at a glance
Optical / AF
Sports telephoto core
- Focal length
- 120-300mm f/2.8
- With TC
- 168-420mm f/4
- AF drive
- SSVCM (Silky Swift VCM)
- Coatings
- Meso Amorphous + ARNEO
- Synchro VR
- Up to 6.5 stops*
- Focus / zoom
- Internal both
Note*CIPA 2024; Z6III, NORMAL, tele end, no TC; needs a Synchro VR camera.
Build / kit
Size, weight, bundle
- Weight
- ~2,735 g
- Size
- ~128 × 353.5 mm
- Construction
- 30 / 24 groups
- Diaphragm
- 9 blades
- Tripod collar
- Arca-Swiss compatible**
- Supplied
- LC-112B, LF-N1, HB-120, LN-4, CL-L3
Note**Screw-type clamps; Nikon advises avoiding lever-type clamps.
Nikon lists construction as 30 elements in 24 groups, including 8 elements in 5 groups in the built-in teleconverter, plus ED, Super ED, aspherical, fluorite, and SR elements, with Meso Amorphous Coat and ARNEO Coat, and a fluorine-coated front element. Focus and zoom are both internal, so the barrel length stays constant while you work.
Versus the F-mount predecessor, Nikon says this Z lens is about 515 g lighter than the AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR (2020). That still puts it around 6 lb 0.5 oz, so a monopod or Arca-compatible support remains smart for long sideline days.
Filters: 112 mm front, 46 mm slip-in
Nikon specifies two filter points on this lens:
- Front screw-on: 112 mm (P = 1.0 mm)
- Rear slip-in holder: 46 mm (P = 0.75 mm)
Honest filter note: Freewell Real Locking and magnetic filter systems are built for common smaller threads (about 49-82 mm). They do not fit this lens’s 112 mm front or 46 mm slip-in mounts. For daylight sports video on other kit lenses on the same Z body, outdoor glare control (CPL) and ND still matter. For this sports zoom, use Nikon’s specified 112 mm front or 46 mm slip-in filters from makers that sell those sizes.
Who should buy, and who should wait
Buy it if you shoot Z-mount sports or events and want one lens that covers bright indoor arenas at f/2.8 and outdoor reach to 420mm without packing a separate teleconverter. The built-in TC, Synchro VR path, and Arca-compatible collar are aimed squarely at working pros who already live on a monopod or tripod.
Wait or look elsewhere if $13,999.95 is outside the brief, you do not need constant f/2.8 in the 120-300mm band, or a lighter / cheaper prime-plus-TC kit already covers your sports days. Mid-November US availability also means early stock can be tight; confirm dealer ETAs before locking a shoot around day-one delivery.
Frequently asked questions
