Nikon's 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S Rumored at 15,499 EUR in Europe

Nikon's upcoming Nikkor Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S will carry a rumored European price of 15,499 EUR including VAT, against a rumored US price of $13,999. That's roughly a 1,500 EUR gap before you account for tax treatment — and it lands days before the lens's expected official announcement on October 28/29.

The figure comes from rumor-channel reporting, not from Nikon. Treat it accordingly. Pre-order listings at B&H Photo, WEX Photo, Foto Erhardt and Camera Canada are live but not yet active for purchase, which means no retailer has committed to a street price in writing. Until Nikon publishes regional pricing on announcement day, every number here is a placeholder.

Why Europe pays more

The reported explanation is straightforward: import duties, exchange rates, taxes, and the simple fact that Nikon gear has historically carried higher stickers in Europe than in the US. The VAT-inclusive framing matters here. Strip out Germany's 19% VAT and the net price drops to roughly 13,024 EUR — which, depending on the EUR/USD rate on any given day, sits much closer to the American number than the headline suggests. Working photographers who can reclaim VAT through a registered business will feel the difference far less than hobbyists.

Still, the premium is real. Even net of tax, European buyers pay more for identical glass.

What we know about the lens itself

The rumor trail has already sketched the key specs, and one comparison stands out for anyone hauling this thing courtside:

• Weight: roughly on par with Canon's RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM, around 5.7 lb / 2,590 g
• Predecessor comparison: significantly lighter than the F-mount AF-S 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR, which weighed 7.2 lb / 3,250 g
• Built-in teleconverter: the "TC" in the name — a 1.4x unit, extending reach beyond 300mm
• Release timing: official announcement rumored for October 28/29

The weight cut is the story here. Shaving roughly 660 grams off the F-mount version, while matching Canon's competing RF lens, changes what a single-body sports or wildlife shooter can carry through a full-day assignment.

The supply caveat nobody should skip

Here's the part that should temper any purchasing plan: the lens is reported to be in very limited production, with very long wait times expected. That's rumor shorthand for a launch allocation that will evaporate within hours and a backorder queue that could stretch months. Agencies and working pros who need this focal range for contracted season work should treat availability, not price, as the binding constraint.

Nikon has not confirmed production volumes. It rarely does.

Is it worth $14,000?

At $13,999, this lens is rumored to be the most expensive in Nikon's Z lineup. For a working sports photographer, the calculation is whether one lens replacing a 120-300mm plus a separate teleconverter setup — at f/2.8 across the whole zoom range, with a built-in 1.4x — earns its keep against renting or spreading budget across two bodies. For everyone else, it's a statement purchase.

Nothing is confirmed until Nikon's announcement. But if the rumored prices hold, European buyers will once again subsidize the privilege of buying early.