Re: "Bookmarked, thanks!" - definitely a good call. I remember picking up a massive zoom for a birding trip a while back and spent way too much time obsessing over the MTF charts versus the real-world mechanical tolerances. A few things I learned from using that kind of glass in the field:

• Barrel extension is a literal vacuum. I used to see dust specs inside the elements after just a few days of zooming in and out in dry environments.
• The f/8 limit at the long end means your ISO is gonna climb fast. I found my sensor noise was more of an issue than the lens's actual resolving power most of the time.
• Micro-jitters are real. Even with good VR, the physical weight distribution shifts so much at 400mm that the center of gravity changes your whole hand-holding technique. Honestly, if the seals on this NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR are as tight as they say, itll be a game changer. Ive had too many lenses lose their alignment just from being bumped in a camera bag. Reliability is everything when you have that many moving parts.

Man, I am literally in the exact same boat as you guys! I just missed the pre-order window on Amazon and I am totally kicking myself because that 400mm reach in such a compact size is absolutely amazing. I have been shooting with these big superzooms for over a decade and the struggle to secure new glass on launch day never gets any easier... honestly its just exhausting and frustrating waiting for those stock alerts. Since I have lived with these big telescoping barrels for a long time, here are two quick tips to handle this kind of gear:

• Use a Giottos Rocket Air Blower to blast the extended barrel before you zoom back in to keep dust off the sensor.
• Get a Peak Design Slide Lite Camera Strap to help balance the weight better when that lens is fully extended out to 400mm. Really hope we all get lucky with a restock soon because I am dying to get this thing out in the field!

@Reply #7 - good point! Honestly tho, im pretty satisfied with how far the optical quality on these superzooms has come lately. I get the frustration with stock, but are you planning to use this mainly for travel in good light, or are you actually counting on that 400mm end for fast-moving wildlife? I ask cuz f/8 is gonna push your ISO pretty high in anything but bright sun, so im curious if that actually fits your performance targets for the shots you usually take.

Late to the party but this whole thread is 💯. Glad I found it.

Bookmarked, thanks!

Wait, been looking at the specs for this one and the 0.35x magnification at the wide end is actually insane for a superzoom! Honestly, the optical engineering required to keep a 14.2x zoom range this compact while maintaining that level of performance is amazing. If you guys are worried about the dust pump effect people mentioned, I highly recommend a DIY fix by throwing on a high-quality weather-sealed filter immediately. I usually go with the B+W 77mm Master Clear Filter with MRC Nano Coating to create a better seal at the front element. For anyone still hunting for stock, dont keep refreshing manually. Use a tool like Distill Web Monitor to track the page changes or check the inventory alerts on B&H as well. Also, if you want to geek out on the diffraction limits at f/8, check the interactive MTF data on the Ricci Talks channel or Photography Life. They show exactly how the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR holds up on high-res sensors. Love seeing this kind of reach in one lens!

> I used to see dust specs inside the elements after just a few days of zooming in and out The dust pump effect is definitely something to watch for. Over the years, I've found that these massive telescoping barrels are basically magnets for grit. Honestly, if you don't absolutely need that 400mm end, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR is a much safer, more reliable choice for most people. I've used it in some rough spots and it holds up great. If you're still undecided, maybe look at the Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD too. It's simpler and has fewer moving parts to fail. I usually spend a lot of time on The-Digital-Picture's lens comparison tool before I pull the trigger on a pre-order. It really helps to see the actual lab crops. Just some food for thought... hope you find the right one for your kit!

Thanks, but seems already sold-out ?

So when will be restocked ?