Get the most out of the NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8 with these tips and tricks
Get the reach you need with this telephoto zoom from the affordable NIKKOR trinity
Next up in our series celebrating 90 years of NIKKOR we look at the NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8 telephoto zoom lens. Keep reading to get the most out of this affordable lens.
1. Use a teleconverter for greater reach
When you need to see even farther, the NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8 coupled with a teleconverter can give you even greater reach. With a Z Teleconverter TC-2.0x attached you can get all the way to an effective focal length of 360mm. Plus, the reproduction ratio is doubled to 0.96x, which is almost life-size 1:1 ratio, perfect for shooting macro and close-ups.
Read more: The quick guide to teleconverters
2. Put it on a Nikon DX
Like all Nikon Z mount FX lenses, the NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8 can also be used on a Nikon DX camera such as the Z 30, Z 50 or Z fc. With the smaller sensor of the DX cameras the lens will have an equivalent effective focal length of 105-270mm, opening a whole new box of creative options.
3. Practice ‘classic’ portrait focal lengths
The NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8 covers all the classic portrait lengths in one lens: try photographing the same subject at 85mm, 105mm and 135mm, moving back each time so that the subject remains the same size in the frame, to see the differences in results. You’ll see the versatility of this zoom in no time.
4. Get inside to photograph action
Using a telephoto zoom in this range is perfect for indoor sports where you are close to the participants, enabling you to bring your viewers into the scene and put them right in the middle of the action. Plus, with a weight of 795g, you can shoot when and wherever you need. Try a local basketball court or five-a-side football pitch, ask if the teams mind you taking pictures and use eye AF to lock on to the players.
5. Pick out the details
Whether you’re in a wild landscape or a busy city street, this telephoto zoom is a great tool for getting images that are different from the norm. Pick out a detail in a forest, or on a building, and experiment with framing and composition to create your own individual images or footage of a place.
Key stats: NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8
Type: Nikon Z mount
Format: FX
Focal length: 70-180mm
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Minimum aperture: f/22
No. of diaphragm blades: 9 rounded
Minimum focus distance: 0.27-0.85m
Weight: 795g
Dimensions: 83.5mm x 151mm
Check out our 90-second NIKKOR video below to see the NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8 in action.
90-Second NIKKOR: NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8
Celebrating 90 years of NIKKOR
Introducing a new video series from Nikon Europe. In each episode, we'll take a NIKKOR Z mirrorless lens and tell you everything you need to know in 90 seconds
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For limitless creativity