If Nikon Moves Lens Production to Vietnam, Will Quality Go Down?

Last Updated on 07/23/2026 by Chris Gampat

Nikon has been creating some fantastic lenses around the world. The company has made models such as the 50mm f1.2, the 800mm f6.3 VR S, or the 70-200mm f2.8 VR S, which are popular amongst photographers. It now appears that Nikon has some plans for its manufacturing units. Here’s what they are.

Additional reporting provided by Chris Gampat

In a report by Nikon Rumors, the company is said to the production of one lens from China to Vietnam. This is based on information from Roland, who looked at the Nikon serial-number tracking site Photosynthesis.

An example is the Z 28-75mm f2.8, which was first created in China, before the new batch was introduced with the “Made in Vietnam” tag on the lens and the retail packaging. Nikon‘s website lists the Z DX MC 35mm f1.7 as a Vietnam-manufactured lens, which means that the shift may take some time to reflect in official papers. Or there is a chance the lenses may move without a formal announcement.

Why this is Happening

The reason could be the ongoing tariffs, which cause a challenge for companies that import their goods from China. According to Section 301, tariffs have added a rise of 25% charge on China-origin goods, while Section 122 applies a surcharge of just 10% across the globe. Together, Chinese-made products have to pay 35%, alongside roughly 10% for the same lens made in Vietnam. This means that some Chinese-manufactured lenses can cost quite a lot, which will drive photographers away to other third-party brands.

The other issue that these later ruled unconstitutional, triggering roughly $81 billion in government refunds to companies that had already paid the higher rates. Nikon and other brands have spent months paying these costs for a policy that was later declared illegal. Even the move to Vietnam was already in motion back then to avoid any additional surge.

Moreover, moving manufacturing of certain lenses is not a free-of-cost procedure. When you move the production line, one will have its own costs, which will be further absorbed in later pricing.

How this Affects Photographers

You’re probably worrying about quality of the lenses. But you should consider the following:

• Changes to changes in prices may not happen right away, even with lower or no tariffs. The cost-saving effort in Vietnam could be balanced out with the relocating efforts. So, the price change will affect the lens.
• Checking the tags on the lens can hint at the pricing trends. This can also hint at the subtle production differences, as has historically been the case with some rebadged Tamron designs.
• More lenses could see a shift like this. If Vietnam manufacturing showcases cheaper products in the long-term, then Nikkor Z lineup will follow 28-75mm f2.8’s path. This also means we will see fewer announcements of this kind.
• The Section 122 surcharge was scheduled to expire around July 24, 2026, which means that pricing and manufacturing motives may change again. This adds uncertainty for anyone meaning to purchase a new lens.
• Tamron already makes lenses in Vietnam, and other manufacturers are facing a similar challenge, which may push them to relocate their production units. It is worth watching which other brands will follow this lead.

Essentially, if Tamron is making lenses in Vietnam, you can probably be sure that Nikon may be using Tamron to make said lenses. And if that’s the case, then you’ll be all fine. But otherwise, the idea that something is better because it’s made in Japan isn’t necessarily always true.