The AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR is a professional-grade super-telephoto prime for Nikon F-mount DSLRs, delivering f/2.8 aperture at 400mm with built-in Vibration Reduction, a Silent Wave Motor, and a drop-in filter slot — all in a 3.8 kg fluorite-element construction aimed at sports and wildlife photographers.
Key Specifications
- Focal Length: 400mm (prime)
- Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
- Minimum Aperture: f/22
- Aperture Blades: 9 (rounded)
- Minimum Focus Distance: 2.6 m
- Image Stabilisation: Yes (Vibration Reduction)
- AF Motor: Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
- Lens Mount: Nikon F
- Drop-In Filter Diameter: 40.5 mm
- Weight: 3,800 g
Who is the Nikon AF-S 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR for?
This lens is built for professional sports and wildlife photographers who need fast autofocus, a wide f/2.8 aperture for subject isolation, and reliable stabilisation in unpredictable lighting. At 400mm and f/2.8, you get enough reach to fill the frame with distant action — think sideline football, athletics track, or safari game drives — while the shallow depth of field separates your subject cleanly from the background. The Silent Wave Motor drives AF quickly and quietly, which matters when you're tracking erratic movement or working near skittish animals. Paired with a Nikon F-mount body like the Nikon D6 or D850, or via the FTZ adapter on the Nikon Z9 or Nikon Z8, this lens still performs at a very high level. Photographers who shoot from a monopod or tripod will appreciate the built-in foot with a detachable tripod collar. For Z-mount shooters thinking native glass, the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S is the full-native upgrade path.
Buying a used Nikon AF-S 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR
Buying a pre-owned super-telephoto like this one makes a lot of sense: these lenses are built to last decades, and professional bodies take the heavy use — the glass itself rarely shows wear unless it's been dropped. Every second-hand AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR on Camera-tweedehands.nl is individually inspected, photographed, and sold with a minimum 12 months warranty, so you know exactly what you're getting and you're covered if anything isn't right. A 14-day return window gives you time to field-test the lens properly before committing.
