Nikon Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR Assessment: Can a Lens Be Price $15,500?

Within the early summer season of 2023, I had a chance to play with the soon-to-be-released Nikon Z8. We met up with the Nikon group in Yellowstone Nationwide Park to {photograph} some natural world and the great people at Nikon additionally had some other wonder for us available in the market.

That they had an early pattern of the 600mm f/4 S lens. It was once a a laugh lens to play with on the time nevertheless it wasn’t a manufacturing replica in a position to be reviewed. Now that the 12 months is nearly over I in any case have in my palms a correct 600mm lens to check. That is going to be probably the most top class telephoto lens that Nikon will be offering, and the cost isn’t for the faint of center.

Nikon Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR: How It Handles

Yellowstone Nationwide Park is definitely teeming with natural world however right here in Calgary, the native zoo must suffice. I determined to move sans monopod or tripod in order to not get in any individual’s approach, and handholding the seven-pound (3,260 gram) weight of the $15,500 600mm lens did reason a bit of of pressure in my arm.

Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR tiger — The achieve is perfect for many natural world eventualities and the shallow intensity of discipline makes taking pictures via enclosures seamless.

Then again, the load is considerably lower than the 8.4 kilos (3,810 grams) heft of the lightest Nikon F-mount 600mm. The lens comes with the standard bucket-sized hood and has a customizable two-way transfer ring, in addition to a customizable keep watch over ring. The keep watch over ring will also be set to govern ISO, publicity reimbursement, and aperture on the other hand, I discovered the hoop too simple to inadvertently flip thus wreaking havoc with my exposures, so I disabled it.

Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR teleconverter — The addition of a integrated teleconverter is one thing we’ve noticed prior to, nevertheless it makes numerous sense in this lens.

Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR lens collar — I actually want the collar foot was once minimize for Arca-Swiss taste tripod mounts.

There’s a plethora of customizable serve as buttons and switches for concentration keep watch over and limiter. The 600mm has a integrated VR unit which matches brilliantly as anticipated. Honestly, it has the entire controls you may look forward to finding on a top class telephoto lens however crucial addition is the constructed 1.4x teleconverter which will also be swapped off and on on the flick of a transfer. This provides numerous versatility to the top lens via permitting the consumer to have some keep watch over over the sector of view when vital. I discovered myself the usage of it to fine-tune my composition when I used to be a little bit too some distance away or a little bit too as regards to my topic, fairly than strictly once I sought after probably the most achieve imaginable.

Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR controls — All of the controls you might want to need or be expecting are provide. I did to find the keep watch over ring approach too simple to show by chance, on the other hand.

Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR wolf walking — Handholding the lens is admittedly attainable. My arm did get sore however wearing the lens round was once now not a burden.

Nikon Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR: How It Shoots

Reviewing the picture high quality of this lens was once simple. Bearing in mind the price of the lens, you may be expecting symbol high quality total to be close to easiest — and also you’d be right kind. Chromatic aberrations are successfully non-existent, without a longitudinal chromatic aberrations (LoCa) or colour fringing visual. The lens additionally handles vibrant daylight and flare rather well due to the beneficiant lens hood and Nikkor Nano Crystal coatings.

Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR penguin diving — The 600mm Z coupled with a Nikon Z8 or Z9 is a formidable natural world combo.

Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR owls eyes — Tight pictures are imaginable with the 840mm discipline of view due to the integrated 1.4X teleconverter.

Bokeh is essential on natural world telephotos as a result of the naturally shallow depth-of-field generated via such lenses in addition to the need to have topics stand out starkly towards busy backgrounds. Any specular highlights display up without a onion rings provide and just a fairly brighter outer ring. Due to this fact, the transition from in-focus to out-of-focus spaces is beautiful and backgrounds turn into silky easy fields of colour.

Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR flamingo — The element is insanely sharp and the backgrounds soften into cushy partitions of colour.

Sharpness is mainly easiest proper out of the gates. At f/4, the lens is already detail-rich and shoots very flat, which means that the corners are sharp when the middle is simply too. Preventing down the lens will assist fairly to present extra distinction and element however there is not any reason why to concern taking pictures the 600mm f/4 extensive open. Most significantly, the element stays even if the teleconverter is swapped into position. You are going to no doubt lose some mild, hanging the utmost aperture to f/5.6. Then again, the sharpness stays and makes it more straightforward than ever to decide to the usage of the integrated teleconverter with out being concerned about any compromises.

Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR penguin fight — Be happy to make use of the 1.4X teleconverter anytime. The sharpness is unaffected and the sunshine loss is just one forestall.

Nikon Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR: It’s Definitely worth the Worth

Now we have an optically easiest lens with a lighter-weight design than we’ve ever noticed prior to from Nikon, all wrapped up with the added versatility of a teleconverter. The cost is also prime however this can be a specialised lens for pro sports activities or natural world shooter.

If you want the Nikon Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR lens, you recognize who you might be, and the fee is not going to put you off. Another way, there are extra available choices for the Nikon Z-mount shooter.

Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 S TC VR caribou fight — The one factor potential consumers must lock horns with is the cost tag.

Are There Choices?

The most obvious choice is the very good $4,800 Nikkor Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S which gives identical symbol high quality in a a lot more compact and reasonably priced package deal. The sunshine loss is vital however the 600mm f/6.3 is a wonder to stroll and go back and forth with.

Will have to You Purchase It?

Possibly. The reasoning for purchasing this lens is simply in keeping with the applying and finances. A professional shooter will have to make investments on this lens, however an fanatic will have to glance in different places.