• Nikon Z 180–600mm f/5.6–6.3 VR. At 600mm it’s surprisingly sharp for lunar work, especially if you’re willing to crop.
• Not TC-compatible, but on a 45MP body you can use DX crop for a tighter FOV without changing your working aperture.
• Tripod, VR off, single-point AF or manual focus with magnification. Expect something like 1/250 s, f/7.1–f/8, ISO 100–200.

Just saw this thread and had to jump in because I went through this exact dilemma with my Z7 II! I spent a few months comparing some adapted Sigma and Tamron glass to the native Nikon S-line, and the difference in clarity for lunar work is honestly amazing. While the 70-200mm is a legendary lens, using it with the 2.0x teleconverter just couldnt match the native sharpness of the 100-400mm for those tiny crater details. My methodical approach for the best lunar results under $2500:

• Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S: This is the gold standard for versatility. The lack of color fringing compared to the third-party zooms I have tried is fantastic.
• Nikon Z Teleconverter TC-1.4x: Adding this gets you to 560mm. I prefer the 1.4x over the 2.0x because it preserves way more micro-contrast in the lunar shadows.
• Nikon FTZ II Mount Adapter: Pairing this with a used Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR is another killer option if you want pure reach without the heavy Z-mount prime price tag. Regarding your stabilization question, definitely turn VR off when youre on a tripod. I learned the hard way that the system can actually fight itself and cause slight softening during long exposures. Cant wait to see your shots!

If you want the cleanest detail in a single shot: Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 PF VR S. It’s razor sharp, relatively light for the reach, and takes Z TCs if you want to push to 1120mm (TC-1.4x) or 1600mm (TC-2.0x).

Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 PF VR S is the sweet spot. It’s very sharp, handholdable, and plays great with both Z teleconverters: 840mm f/9 (1.4x) or 1200mm f/13 (2.0x).

Been using this for years, no complaints