Nikon released the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S today:
https://www.nikon.com/company/news/2023/1011_lens_01.html
Appears to be a very good lens, announced for handheld use- for 600 mm nevertheless I still consider tripod support recommendable, so hopefully tripod collar design is good enough.
With this lens (coming outside the roadmap now declared obsolete) the manifoldness of choices is further increased. Nevertheless I wonder why Nikon is releasing a 600 mm prime in short time distance to the 180-600 mm Zoom that still has not got delivered to the customers (which might redecide their choice now).
Very different price classes => different customers for the two lenses.Of course thats a great argument, but asides from that the choice appears to be more difficult, whether a (better) prime or a (good) zoom lens is the better choice to go (similar as it was with the 200-500 and the 500 PF for F-mount). Personally I feel no urgent need to add yet another supertele to my gear.
Wow, nice lens but the timing is horrible from a marketing perspective.
Wow, nice lens but the timing is horrible from a marketing perspective.
They should flood the market with lenses the consumers think they need before releasing the cool lenses they really want.
But it is good for the consumers I guess whom can cancel their orders for the 180-600 and put that 2K towards the 600/6.3.
Just keeping their professional line up in sync I guess?;) now is time to think about a 500pf Colin!
Meanwhile, paired with a Z8 it could solve my choice of BIF kit and still leave change from £20,000! :P
It's better to know what is coming so that educated choices can be made.Exactly. Thats why it was theoretically useful to have the roadmap. But then Nikon started to come with surprises, and now declared that roadmap won't be continued and simultaneously released the unexpected 600PF
Nevertheless I wonder why Nikon is releasing a 600 mm prime in short time distance to the 180-600 mm Zoom that still has not got delivered to the customers...
| Lens | Weight (g) with tripod collar | Length (mm) | Min Focus | Max Magnification |
| Z 400/4.5 | 1245 | 234.5 | 2.5m | 1:6.3 |
| AFS 500PF | 1460 (1585 with FTZ) | 237 (267.5 with FTZ) | 3m | 1:5.5 |
| Z 600PF | 1470 | 287 | 4m | 1:6.7 |
| Z 180-600 | 2140 | 315.5 | 2.4m | 1:4 |
| AIS 600/5.6 | 2800 (2925 with FTZ) | 387.5 (418 with FTZ) | 5m | 1:7.3 |
Comparing 600PF with similar lenses:
So, the new lens is 670g lighter than the 160-800, slightly lighter than the 500PF+FTZ, and half the weight of the old AIS Nikkor. This makes it much less tiring for hand-held photography compared to similar lenses.
It is only 37.5mm shorter than the 180-600, but the zoom is already quite compact for this focal length. It's much shorter than the old AIS lens. The 500PF+FTZ is 20mm shorter, and as expected, the 400/4.5 is significantly shorter.
The close focus limit and max magnification is nothing special. If you want closeups of flowers, insects and other small creatures from a distance, the 180-600 is your best option, or the 400/4.5 + 1.4x TC
The MTF of the new lens is spectacular, basically a flat line just a shade below 100%, all the way to the edge of the image. Only the 500PF matches it here. When comparing to the 180-600, besides the compact dimensions and lighter weight, where the 600PF really shines is its higher image quality. And the zoom is already very good. It should mean the new lens performs better with TCs than the zoom if even greater reach is required.
Is this enough to justify its higher price? For most, I think the flexibility, close focus ability, high quality, and lower cost of the zoom will be most attractive to most photographers. Only those who require the very highest quality, portability, and hand-holdability will feel the need to dig deeper into their pockets for the 600PF :)
Just keeping their professional line up in sync I guess?
Meanwhile, paired with a Z8 it could solve my choice of BIF kit and still leave change from £20,000! :P