Beyond the Sidelines: Action-packed Sports Photography with NIKKOR Z Super Telephoto Lenses

In the art of sports photography, every split-second counts. The ability to freeze action at its peak is what sets great sports photographers apart, demonstrating a fine balance of technical skill, composition, and sense of timing. Whether you’re on the sidelines filming a rugby match, courtside capturing playoff basketball highlights, or taking once-in-a-lifetime shots at major global sporting events — NIKKOR Z super telephoto lenses are made to catch the action of the game your way. 

With a rich catalogue of focal lengths and capabilities to choose from for the best telephoto lens to suit every sporting occasion, photographers are spoiled for choice as they gear up to capture thrilling moments with unparalleled clarity and detail. Built with a weather-sealed designed to meet the rigorous demands of sports photography and video, NIKKOR Z super telephoto lenses come with dust- and drip-resistance¹ on top of its advanced specifications. Rapid autofocusing, superb image stabilisation, and exceptional low-light performance are just a few of the many features empowering photographers to immortalise the heart-pounding excitement and raw emotion of sports.

When you’re tracking athletes on the field, every ounce matters. NIKKOR Z super telephoto lenses are engineered with both performance and portability in mind. Their agile designs come packed with all the features you would expect of a full-frame super telephoto lens and more while keeping portability in consideration. Take for example, the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S that weighs in at approximately 3260g yet featuring an expansive zoom range while offering balanced handheld shooting when tilting — all without necessitating a tripod. Designed with a built-in 1.4x teleconverter, users can easily flick and switch between focal lengths of 600mm to 840mm, and still experience stability while panning on a monopod or when handheld.

Photoshoot fatigue is also minimised with these super telephoto lenses – contrary to the perception that these lenses are bulky and heavy. The ultra-lightweight NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S, at approximately 1390g, and a compact length of 278mm, is designed with its centre of gravity positioned closer to the body so a user has better control and balance. SPORT mode from the built-in Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, further complements the control and minimises camera shakes when capturing unpredictable and fast-moving subjects, even during continuous shooting.

To capture the intricate nuances of fast-moving athletic interchanges, a rapid shutter speed is also an absolute must. This requires a lens that allows a lot of light in and a fast maximum aperture to produce crisp and detailed images — even in tough lighting conditions with multiple subjects present. The NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S super telephoto lens rises to the challenge, with an advanced optical design featured across a versatile range of lenses, adeptly handling unpredictable lighting environments and dynamic subject movements across a range of sports from motocross to football. 

One of the standout features of the NIKKOR Z super telephoto lenses lies in the usage of various meticulously-crafted lens elements to faithfully reproduce crisp images with significantly reduced chromatic aberrations, flaring, and colour bleeding. These elements include the Extra-low Dispersion(ED) glass, aspherical lens, fluorite lens, and the latest Short-wavelength Refractive (SR) lens elements. The front element of these lenses is then coated with the Meso Amorphous Coat and/or Nano Crystal Coat², to achieve unequivocal prowess in anti-reflection performance when diffracting diagonal and vertical lights. These anti-reflective coatings excel especially in backlit situations, compounding its ability to minimise lens aberrations, even at the widest apertures. Ghosting, coma, axial, and spherical aberrations are all reduced at the edge peripheries, even when shooting at high speeds. This results in images that are free from deviations and refractive errors that boast exceptional contrast and clarity.

Indoor sports can be especially difficult to capture for several reasons. In many indoor situations like school gyms, the light level can sometimes drop to levels so low that even with a high ISO and aperture, the maximum shutter speed available might still not be quick enough to accurately capture the action. In these cases, the only option is to use a lens with a faster maximum aperture — one that opens to f/2.8. Further complicating indoor sports photography is the distance factor. It’s common to be positioned far from the action, necessitating a long focal length to effectively track distant subjects. On the other hand, the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S boasts a fast f/2.8 aperture throughout its entire zoom range, overcoming these limitations to make it an ideal indoor super telephoto lens for sports. With just a flick of the switch for the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, the focal range also easily extends to 560mm thanks to its handy built-in 1.4x teleconverter.

Doubling up between stills and videos, these telephoto lenses are designed with a high-speed Stepping Motor (STM) or the Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor (SSVCM), to ensure the high-action moment is also captured without disruption. This is particularly valuable in high-concentration sports, where super telephoto lenses are used to track and focus on the relevant subjects from a distance while keeping whisper-quiet to avoid distracting the players. A clickless ring also helps minimise operational sounds, and the angle of view and exposure are also kept constant when one adjusts the focus position. 

Keeping an eye on your subject is key in sporting events so to never miss a crucial moment of a winning strike for the goal. Understanding this pivotal need to keep one’s focus on the action on the field, court, track or pool, these super telephoto lenses such as the NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR are designed with L-Fn buttons for efficient assignment of frequently used functions. 

NIKKOR Z super telephoto lenses are optimally made to fully utilise everything Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless ecosystem has to offer, creating a high level of synergy and compatibility that makes every shooting experience a seamless delight. The Nikon Z series cameras, such as the Z 9 and Z 8, are equipped with advanced autofocus systems and intuitive controls that work in harmony with NIKKOR Z lenses. This integration creates a fluid and efficient workflow, allowing photographers to focus on capturing the perfect shot.

While shooting sports can be challenging, the right lenses and mirrorless ecosystem can help photographers and videographers elevate their craft. No matter the sport or environment, NIKKOR Z mirrorless lenses deliver exceptional stills and videos that preserve fleeting and unforgettable moments.