Last Updated on 05/07/2026 by Chris Gampat
Nikon has some exceptional lenses in its portfolio. The company has introduced models from 70-200mm to 100-400mm, each of which is great for portrait, wildlife, sports and bird photographers. However, there has been demand for lenses with teleconverters, but the only option Nikon has had so far are two primes. To change this, the company has announced its first zoom lens with a teleconverter: the 120-300mm.
In a new press release, Nikon has announced the development of Nikon 120-300mm f2.8 TC VR S, an S-line lens. According to the company, the lens will offer a focal length of 120mm to 420mm, thanks to a built-in 1.4x teleconverters. Something else to note: the 1.4x magnification will also apply to the aperture. So at 420mm, you’ll essentially get an f3.9 lens. As they added in their press release:
The superior optical performance and mobility of this lens will support professional photographers’ imaging expression in genres such as sports photography and beyond.
Nikon will continue to pursue a new dimension in optical performance while meeting users’ needs, contributing to the development of imaging culture, with the hope of expanding possibilities for imaging expression.
Nikon introduced the AF-S 120-300mm f2.8E FL ED SR VR in 2020, but that was discontinued recently. Sigma launched the Sigma Sports line 120-300mm f2.8 as an alternative, but the lens does not feature teleconverters. In that regard, this lens can be really helpful to many.
But it also must be remembered that Nikon’s offering with TC has been expensive. For instance, the 400mm and 600mm both cost $12,700 to $14,700. While Nikon has not revealed the price, one can expect that the lens will cost in the same ballpark, if not more. This can complicate things for people who really want to invest, but will have to rent it out.
I absolutely cannot state enough how versatile this zoom range would be for sports photography. The only reason I parted ways with the Sigma 120-300 f2.8. that I owned, was because of the AF speed slowness, even after tweaking it to its maximum output level using their proprietary USB lens dock. I purchased the Nikon 200-400mm f4 VR II instead, and while it still serves me well to this day, I do miss being able to open up to f2.8 at times.
Feroz Khan, Review Editor, The Phoblographer
This news comes at an exceptional time, since the reports surfaced back in January. As for its launch, we are uncertain. It could be sometime this year, or sometime next year, depending on the hurdles they face.
So far, on Reddit, r/Nikon, photographers are concerned about the price, but also how the focal range will be short for birding. At the same time, there are questions about fisheye lenses, and if they will ever develop one for creative photographers. From the looks of it, photographers will have to wait to see how far Nikon will go.