The Londolozi Photographic Studio has a wide range of Nikon and Canon, camera bodies and lenses for rental during your stay. Depending on your level of photographic experience or desire to try something new, the Photographic Studio offers an array of lenses to choose from. When it comes to wildlife photography, having the right lens and setup can make all the difference.

The Londolozi Photographic Studio is located next to the Living Boutique by Varty Camp

Recently we have added a few new lenses to the fleet: Introducing the Nikon 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR is one such lens that promises to elevate your ability to capture the raw beauty of wildlife in sharp, vibrant detail. This lens, with its built-in 1.4x teleconverter, has become a game-changer for getting that little bit closer without having to take a converter on and off. Whether you’re photographing the Big Five or capturing birds and the smaller things, the Nikon 180-400mm stands out for its versatility, sharpness, and unique features that make it a standout tool for wildlife photography.

I recently took this lens out for a few days and decided to try and capture some more diverse settings to showcase this lens and its capability. Here is my review of this lens:

The Lens Itself

The lens is relatively lightweight compared to similar telephoto lenses, which is crucial for stability when shooting wildlife. However, this is a bigger lens and a beanbag should be used for stability. The zoom range of 180-400mm offers incredible flexibility—whether you’re photographing large mammals at a distance or getting close-up shots of birds or smaller creatures, this lens adapts quickly to any situation.

Built-in 1.4x Teleconverter: More Reach, No Compromise (TC1.4)

One of the standout features of the Nikon 180-400mm f/4 is the built-in 1.4x teleconverter, which essentially changes the focal range to 252-560mm. This feature is perfect for wildlife photographers who often find themselves shooting distant animals in vast landscapes as well as doing close-ups and capturing texture and details. The ability to extend the focal length without having to stop, change lenses, or risk missing the moment—is a massive advantage when photographing wildlife.

If you look carefully a Dwarf Mongoose peers out from this old elephant skull at the bottom left of the image.

What’s remarkable about this teleconverter is that it doesn’t compromise the image quality, as you might expect from an external converter. Nikon has engineered the lens and teleconverter combination to maintain high levels of sharpness and contrast even at the extended focal length.

The intricate detail of this elephant’s tusk and trunk at maximum zoom and with the teleconverter on.

A close-up portrait of the Nkoveni Female as she lay on the bank of a dry riverbed.

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Nkoveni 2:2 Female

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Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.

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Image Quality: Sharp with Rich Color Rendition (FL ED)

When it comes to image quality, the Nikon 180-400mm f/4 excels in nearly every aspect. The lens employs Nikon’s FL (Fluorite) and ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements, which help eliminate chromatic aberrations and distortion, even in the most challenging lighting conditions—whether it’s the golden glow of a sunrise over the savanna or the harsh midday sun casting sharp shadows on a lion’s mane. This allows for more flexible lighting options while photographing at different times of day.

A juvenile Saddle-billed Stork. The vibrant bill of this majestic bird and the mottled brown of the young storks neck is captured beautifully

The last of the afternoon light as this lion cub from the Kambula Pride. You can see how the soft golden light and the amber eye of this cub is captured in this photo.

The Nkoveni Female then led us to a kill she had stashed in the dry riverbed and she gazed up at the canopy of a Jackalberry for a potential place to hoist her kill before going to collect her young male cub.

The sun had just dipped behind the clouds as it was setting. This hyena cub rested at their den after chewing on a leaf from a Jackal-berry tree.

Autofocus

The autofocus system is incredibly fast and accurate, a must-have for wildlife photographers who are often trying to capture fast-moving animals. Whether you’re photographing a cheetah sprinting across the plains or a flock of birds in flight, the lens’s autofocus system locks onto the subject with exceptional precision. The lens also has a remarkable minimum focusing distance of 2.4 meters (7.9 feet), which means that you can get close-up shots of smaller wildlife, such as birds or reptiles, with astonishing detail.

While watching the lions several vultures had arrived awaiting to scavenge on the remains. I panned with this White-backed Vulture as it flew to a new perch. Although my shutter speed was slightly slow for the downward movement of its wings I managed to capture its lateral movement perfectly.

Images produced by the Nikon 180-400mm f/4 are nothing short of sharp, with great detail even at the maximum aperture. The ‘creamy’ or smooth background doesn’t distract from the subject, especially when photographing animals against the wide open spaces of the African savanna. The lens captures every subtle texture, from the rough hide of a rhinoceros to the delicate feathers of a bird perched in a tree.

A kudu bull walks across the open savanna

Vibration Reduction (VR): Stability in the Field

The Nikon 180-400mm f/4 is equipped with Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR) system, which allows you to shoot at slower shutter speeds without introducing motion blur. This is especially useful when you’re photographing animals in low-light conditions—such as dawn or dusk—or when you’re shooting handheld from a moving safari vehicle.

In the field, I found the VR system to be incredibly effective, enabling me to capture sharp images even at lower shutter speeds. On a few occasions, when photographing and still moving into position, I was able to shoot handheld with a good degree of confidence, knowing that the lens would compensate for any minor shakes or vibrations. The VR also works well with the teleconverter, maintaining stability even at longer focal lengths.

We were still moving into position with the lions and this White-backed Vulture circled overhead.

Wildlife Photography: A Perfect Match

The Nikon 180-400mm f/4 is perfectly suited for these varied landscapes, offering photographers the versatility they need to capture everything at various distances.

This giraffe was being groomed by eight Red-billed Oxpeckers in the late afternoon.

The lens’s speed and precision are particularly advantageous when photographing fast-moving predators like cheetahs, wild dogs, or leopards and birds. I found that the autofocus system responded quickly enough to capture the intensity of the moment.

This young male cheetah lay on a termite mound before yawning and moving off to find some shade.

Bird photographers will also appreciate the flexibility of the Nikon 180-400mm, especially when photographing small, fast-moving birds like kingfishers, hornbills, or raptors soaring over the savanna. The lens’s ability to produce sharp images at 560mm with minimal distortion is an asset when trying to capture such fleeting moments.

At full zoom, the images are sharp and detailed.

A Wildlife Photographer’s Dream

The Nikon 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR is an exceptional lens for wildlife photography, offering an ideal balance of image quality, reach, and versatility. Its built-in 1.4x teleconverter is a game-changer, allowing photographers to seamlessly adjust focal lengths without compromising image quality. Whether you’re capturing the power and grace of Africa’s landscapes or the delicate beauty of birds in flight, this lens ensures that you’ll be able to freeze those perfect moments in stunning detail.

With the Nikon 180-400mm f/4, you’re not just photographing animals; you’re telling the story of the wild with precision and artistry. I really enjoyed using this new lens and I hope you will too.