Nikon slashes the weight, boosts the speed: New Z 70–200mm f/2.8 S II hits Australia

Nikon has announced the local release of the new NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II, a fast telephoto zoom lens designed for the company’s full-frame Z-mount mirrorless cameras, promising major gains in portability, autofocus speed and optical performance.

Positioned within Nikon’s premium S-Line, the new lens officially becomes the lightest 70–200mm f/2.8 zoom in its class, weighing just 998 grams.

That represents a significant reduction of around 26 per cent compared with the original Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S launched in 2020, achieved through a complete redesign of the optical layout and internal mechanisms.

Nikon says the weight savings will be particularly noticeable for photographers working long days in the field, as well as for videographers using gimbals or shooting handheld.

And of course, despite the lighter build, the lens maintains a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range, covering focal lengths commonly used for sport, wildlife, portraiture and events.

Autofocus performance has also seen a substantial upgrade. The adoption of Nikon’s new Silky Swift VCM (SSVCM) motor delivers faster, quieter and more precise focusing, with autofocus speeds claimed to be approximately 3.5 times quicker than the previous model.

AF tracking while zooming has also been improved by around 40 per cent, targeting photographers who regularly shoot fast-moving subjects such as athletes.

Optically, Nikon has reduced the total number of elements by strategically incorporating Super ED, aspherical ED and aspherical elements to better control chromatic aberration while maintaining the high rendering standards expected of S-Line lenses.

Advanced coatings, including Nikon’s Meso Amorphous Coat and ARNEO Coat, are designed to further suppress flare and ghosting in challenging light.

The lens also introduces several practical refinements, including direct compatibility with Arca-Swiss tripod heads — a first for a NIKKOR lens — along with an internal zoom mechanism that keeps the lens length constant, improving balance and weather resistance.

A filter adjustment window allows polarising and variable ND filters to be rotated without removing the hood, while vibration reduction of up to 6.0 stops is available when paired with compatible cameras using Synchro VR.

The lens has a minimum focus distance of just 0.38 metres at the wide end and support for Nikon’s Z teleconverters.

And the price? Yours for $5,399, and available for pre-order now. Check it out on Nikon's website.