Nikon Z 100-400 S vs 70-180mm f/2.8 + Tamron 150-500 for football photography?
I’m having a hard time deciding between these two options, and they cost roughly the same where I live.
Option 1:
- Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
Option 2:
- Nikon Z 70-180mm f/2.8
- Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 VC VXD
My current kit is:
- Nikon ZR
- Nikon Z5 II
- NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S
- NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4
I primarily shoot football (soccer) from the sidelines. I also do media days, player portraits, celebrations, tunnel shots, and create video content. In the future, I’m planning to upgrade to a Z8 and would also like to shoot F1 if the opportunity comes up.
The way I see it:
- The 100-400 S is clearly the better lens in terms of autofocus, image quality, weather sealing, and overall performance.
- However, the 70-180 + 150-500 setup seems much more versatile since I’d have both a fast f/2.8 zoom and a longer telephoto for the same money.
For those of you who shoot sports professionally or semi-professionally, which option would you choose and why?
Would you rather own one exceptional lens (100-400 S), or two very good lenses that cover more situations?
I’d especially appreciate feedback from anyone who has used both the Nikon 100-400 S and the Tamron 150-500.
Posted Aug 4, 2026, 8:57 AM UTC