Nikon AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED Review

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED Performance

The sharpness tests were run both with and without the TC. Starting with lens alone, at 180mm the central sharpness is simply outstanding from f/4 through to f/8, excellent from f/11 to f/22 and only at f/32 softening through diffraction. The edges are excellent at f/4 and f/5.6, outstanding at f/8, excellent at f/11, very good at f/16 and f/22 and again softening at f/32.

At 200mm centrally results are outstanding from f/4 to f/8, excellent at f/11, very good at f/16 and f/22 and soft at f/32. The edges are excellent at f/4, outstanding at f/5.6 and f/8, excellent at f/11, very good at f/16, good at f/22 and soft at f/32.

300mm maintains this well. Centrally it is outstanding from f/4 to f/8, excellent at f/11, very good at f/16, good at f/22 and soft at f/32. The edges are excellent from f/4 to f/8, very good at f/11 and f/16, good at f/22 and soft at f/32.

400mm sees sharpness very good at f/4, excellent at f/5.6, very good from f/8 to f/16, good at f/22 and soft at f/32. The edges are very good from f/4 to f/16 and soften beyond that at f/22 and f/32.
 

Now we do expect some reduction in sharpness with the TC switched in, but at 250mm (actually 252mm) it is centrally excellent from f/5.6 to f/11, very good at f/16, good at f/22 and softening beyond that at f/32 and f/45. The edges are excellent from f/5.6 to f/11, very good at f/16, good at f/22 and soft beyond that at f/32 and f/45.

At 280mm, the centre is excellent from f/5.6 to f/11, very good at f/16, good at f/22 and softening at f/32 and f/45. The edges are excellent at f/5.6 and f/8, very good at f/11 and f/16, good at f/22 and again softening at f/32 and f/45.

420mm is centrally very good at f/5.6, excellent at f/8, very good at f/11, good at f/16 and then softening from f/22 through to f/45. The edges are good from f/5.6 to f/16 and then soften from f/22 to f/45.

At 560mm the centre is good at f/5.6, very good from f/8 to f/16 and then slowly softens from f/22 through to f/45. The edges are good at f/5.6, very good from f/8 to f/11 and again softening from f/22 on to f/45.

Without the TC, the CA figures are impressive, with a very high degree of correction throughout the range. Colour fringing is unlikely to be an issue, although if desired further correction can always be made using software.

With TC engaged, the CA figures are still very low, giving a very well balanced set of figures throughout. Further correction can be made in software but is probably not necessary for most subjects.

Distortion measures -0.45% barrel at 180mm, -0.26% barrel at 200mm, +0.69% pincushion at 300mm and +1.12% pincushion at 400mm. A fantastic result and there are few subjects that would demand further software correction.

The distortion figures with the TC are pincushion all the way, measuring +0.94% at 252mm, +1.01% at 280mm, +1.51% at 420mm and +1.75% at 560mm.

Flare is non-existent, with no loss of contrast or created artefacts in against the light shots.

Bokeh is, of course, the smoothness of the gradation of out of focus areas and all long lenses are already ahead of the game by virtue of the reduced depth of field. The bokeh here is lovely throughout the range, with commendable smoothness in tonal transitions.

The VR system offers a realistic four stops of advantage, a very welcome bonus in a lens that is already delivering a very high standard. This does nothing to help subject movement of course, so higher shutter speeds are helped by the fast aperture.

All in all a complex set of results, but a very impressive performance.

Value For Money

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR lens is priced at £10,999, a mouth-watering amount of cash.

It is hard to relate this to any concept of VFM, but we do have a yardstick as Canon makes a similar optic, the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x at £10,089.

If we can do without the converter then there is the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 G ED VR II at £6749.

If we can do without the bright, fast f/4 aperture then there are some possibilities at far lower prices:

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, £2049
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary, £799
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sport, £1329
Sigma 100-400mm f/4-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary, £799
Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 with 1.4x Converter, £1349
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR, £1299

For more options have a look at the Top 14 Best Nikon Lenses, or the Top 25 Best Telephoto zoom lenses.

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