NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S released

[MILLIREHM]

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).

[ColinM]

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!

[Ilkka Nissilä]

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.

[chris dees]

Steve Perry already tested it for a short time and he’s very positive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-frCJCnVcc

Strange thing is, it’s way more expensive in Europe than in the US (taxes included in the EU), €5800 - $4800
It’s about 10% cheaper than the 800PF

[MILLIREHM]

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.

[Jan Anne]

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.

[MILLIREHM]

Wow, nice lens but the timing is horrible from a marketing perspective.

You  adressed better than me what I achieved to express

[MEPER]

I got mails regularly from Nikon that I could cancel the 180-600 order if I would like to.
Now I have it and I am still happy. It is such a cheap lens at about 1/3 of the new 600mm S-lens.
Then it is still a zoom which for me in many cases is an advantage.
I like the light weight of the new lens.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

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.

Isn't it better for each customer to get the lens they will use over the long term rather than purchase the wrong lens, subsequently lose money in the trade for lens that they really wanted but didn't know was coming? It's not good for the environment of the world to produce more things than are actually needed or people to purchase lenses that are a mismatch for their needs.

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.

Exactly. And the 180-600 customers can get the zoom for the right reasons. Either because (1) it's what they can afford, or (2) because they really need a zoom for this range.

Owners of the 100-400 can complement that lens with the 600 PF without having to replace the 100-400 with the 180-600 (because they wanted the 600mm and didn't know a 600 PF was coming) and lose the 100-179mm range in the short end, lose money in the trade, and maybe later realize they really wanted to keep the 100-400 and add the 600, so in the worst case they'll sell the 180-600, get another 100-400 and the 600 PF. That's a crazy path of events but completely realistic given how some people seem to be hooked on buying and selling stuff.

It's better to know what is coming so that educated choices can be made. 

[Nasos Kosmas]

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!

now is time to think about a 500pf Colin!

[MILLIREHM]

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
(BTW a 600 PF was rumored for F-mount. Should this plan ever have existed it evidently was cancelled in favor of the Z-System.

[Roland Vink]

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...

Comparing 600PF with similar lenses:

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

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

[MEPER]

For me I balance my purchases with need and how much I would use a lens. If my 180-600 pictures are not "good enough" I don't think the new 600mm would have solved that.
If photography was for living I would probably get the new 600mm lens. Then there are also tax rules so you can get the state to pay some of it.
It is not everything I buy just because I can afford it :-)
With price/performance of the 180-600 it was a "no-brainer" for me and something I could justify for myself even that I don't use it that often.

[MILLIREHM]

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

Thanks for your comparison. Not to misunderstand me, I am not questioning the usefulness of the lens. Its evidently top IQ very  lightweight and though not as compact as one would wish for still as compact as a 600 mm can be. Zooms are useful but i find myself using the maximum focal-length very often (made me switch from the 200-500 to the 500 PF)

[ColinM]

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!

Sorry all - in my haste to Google, I found the f4 version for £15,000 - hence the estimated price tag above.

So now, there are three lenses offering this magnification in the native "S" class....