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Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR
on the Nikon Z8

Adapter needed

This lens uses Nikon FTZ / FTZ II to connect to this camera.

Connection
Nikon FTZ / FTZ II
Sensor coverage
APS-C image area · 1.5× crop
Equivalent view
105–450mm compared with full frame

Focus and operation

Autofocus is supported for the AF-S, AF-P, and AF-I lens types documented by Nikon. Check the FTZ compatibility table for exceptions.

  • This lens projects an APS-C image circle. A cropped image area reduces the recorded pixel count compared with the full sensor.
  • Nikon FX Z cameras use the DX image area with DX lenses.

Based on the manufacturer's documentation, not a test of this exact pair. Autofocus modes, stabilization, burst rate, and video support can still depend on firmware and settings.

Feature by feature

How this research works

For this pair we went past the mount check and looked up specific functions in the manufacturer's manuals. Each finding links to the passage it came from.

The AF-P DX 70-300mm VR keeps autofocus and exposure control through FTZ II, with mandatory DX capture. Optical VR gains body roll correction; refocus after power cycles.

Connection
Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ II
What was checked
Stills: AF-P focusing, exposure, optical/body stabilization and mandatory DX image area through FTZ II; VR variant only.
Sources checked

Next source check due .

Stabilization

Limited

Lens optical VR works with body roll correction; Synchro VR is unavailable through FTZ II.

  • Use the VR version named here and enable vibration reduction.
  • The lens has menu-controlled VR; exact Z8 selectable VR modes were not established.
AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR lens documentation ↗You Can Use Vintage Nikon Lenses with Your Z Series Mirrorless Cameras ↗FTZ II/FTZ: Compatible F Mount Lenses ↗Z8 Reference Guide: Vibration Reduction ↗
Follows from a documented manufacturer rule

Not covered by the sources

  • No minimum firmware versions or exact-version combination test is specified in the consulted evidence. DSLR firmware warnings in the lens chapter are not Z8 requirements.
  • Exact Z8 VR menu choices with this switchless lens were not enumerated in the consulted sources.
  • No Z8 stabilization stop rating, tracking benchmark, peak burst rate or video-mode qualification was established.
Sources and review notes

Firmware in scope: camera not stated, lens not stated, adapter not stated. “Not stated” means the documents do not give a version range. It does not mean every version works.

Researched 2026-09-07 by an AI research agent reading the documents below, then source-checked 2026-09-08. Nobody has tested this pair by hand. How the research works

  • Mount Adapter FTZ II: Supported Features — Supported Features table, first two CPU autofocus rows; Incompatible Lenses and Accessories. Independent HTML rendition of AF-S/AF-P and AF G/D focus, P/S/A/M and metering support. Does not prove exact combination performance. Accessed 2026-09-07.
  • FTZ II/FTZ: Compatible F Mount Lenses — Revision SB3J11(11), 7MMA1311-11; pp. 2-4, 7, 10-11, 14-15. Current Download Center target reopened. Table visually checked. Establishes lens classes, focus/exposure support, aperture-ring prerequisite, DX crop, VR and mechanical exceptions; no minimum Z8 firmware version. Accessed 2026-09-07.
  • AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR lens documentation — Kit lenses > Focus; Vibration Reduction; Specifications. Exact G-type AF-P DX CPU lens, stepping motor, electronic manual focus and optical VR; distinguishes VR and non-VR versions. DSLR compatibility/firmware list and four-stop test do not establish Z8 behavior. Accessed 2026-09-07.
  • Z8 Reference Guide: Focus — Manual Focus; Focus Peaking. Documents magnified view, electronic rangefinding and configurable peaking; indicators can be wrong on difficult subjects and peaking needs detectable edges. Accessed 2026-09-07.
  • Z8 Reference Guide: Exposure — Choosing a Shooting Mode; A (Aperture-Priority Auto); M (Manual). P/S/A/M exposure behavior and aperture selection with the sub-command dial, subject to lens range. Accessed 2026-09-07.
  • You Can Use Vintage Nikon Lenses with Your Z Series Mirrorless Cameras — Streamlined design of the FTZ II; stabilization paragraph and in-body-VR footnote. Nikon states FTZ and FTZ II are functionally identical; compatible F lenses receive three-axis VR on VR-equipped Z bodies, with lens VR plus body roll correction for VR lenses. No stops rating transferred to these combinations. Accessed 2026-09-07.
  • Z8 Reference Guide: Vibration Reduction — Photo shooting menu > Vibration Reduction; Cautions. Documents camera VR settings, lens-dependent options, and precedence of a mounted F lens VR switch. Does not enumerate AF-P 70-300 menu options. Accessed 2026-09-07.
  • Z8 Reference Guide: Image Recording Options — Adjusting Image Area Settings > Choose Image Area. DX lenses fix still-photo image area at DX (24x16); documents approximate 1.5x angle-of-view conversion. Accessed 2026-09-07.

Related rules: Z8 with FTZ II: focus support follows the exact F-lens type →

See this pair in the lens labAdd both to my bag

Nikon Z8

Nikon Z mount · Full frame sensor

All lenses that fit this camera

Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR

Nikon F mount · APS-C coverage · 70–300mm · f/4.5–6.3

All cameras this lens fits

Other wildlife lenses that fit the Nikon Z8

Same category, native mount. Not a ranking.

LensCoverageFocal lengthDetails
Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
Full frame · 100–400mm
Full frame100–400mmCheck pair →
Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
Full frame · 180–600mm
Full frame180–600mmCheck pair →
Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR
APS-C · 50–250mm
APS-C50–250mmCheck pair →

Manufacturer references

Where the facts on this page come from. Last checked September 7, 2026.

  1. Nikon Z8 — official specificationsManufacturer specification page used to verify camera model, lens mount and sensor format.
  2. Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR — official product informationManufacturer product page or manual used to verify lens identity, focal length, maximum aperture and format.
  3. Nikon guide to NIKKOR lens typesAF-S and AF-P lenses contain autofocus motors. Older AF NIKKOR lenses depend on a camera autofocus motor; AF-P compatibility varies on older DSLR bodies.
  4. Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ II: compatibility tableFTZ II supports autofocus with listed AF-S G/E/D, AF-P G/E and AF-I D lenses. Screw-drive AF G/D lenses retain manual focus and exposure metering, not autofocus.
  5. Nikon Z8 manual: image area and cropA DX lens locks the full-frame Z8 to the DX image area. The resulting field of view uses an approximately 1.5x crop factor.
  6. Nikon D3500 manual: compatible lensesD3500 autofocus supports AF-P and AF-S G/E lenses only. Type D lenses require manual exposure, manual aperture and manual focus; metering and i-TTL are unavailable.
  7. Nikon D850 manual: image area and Auto DX cropAuto DX crop can be enabled or disabled. DX capture gives approximately 1.5× field of view; wider image areas with a DX lens can show dark edges.

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