In June 2023, Nikon introduced a new one Super telephoto lens for its full-frame hybrids, the Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR. Presented as a lightweight solution with ideal range Wildlife, sports or aerial photographyThis lens fills a gap in the field of long telephoto zoom lenses Z assembly. We had the opportunity to test it in real conditions during the festival Montier-en-Der. Here is Our first impressions of the Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR.
Nikkor Z 180-600 mm f/5.6-6.3 VR: Super telephoto zoom in Z bayonet
Nikon comes with this super telephoto zoom Fill a hole in the Z bracketbecause until then we had to be content with that Z model 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR Sa shorter zoom and part of the S line with a price of €2799.
A 200-600mm has been on the Nikon optics roadmap since 2021, but now it’s finally here a slightly wider zoom (20 mm more in wide angle) that saw the light of day.
With a focal length range of 180-600mm, this lens is a given Successor to the AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR the reflex era at Nikon, with even greater range. Thus the goal offers a even more versatile solutionideal for photographers animal, but not only. In fact, this type of zoom is also very useful for those who make something Photos of airplanes (the famous plane spotting), but also, and why not, for Sports photographyoutdoors.
However, the competition was very well organized. We therefore note that there are numerous alternatives or equivalents in other frames:
- Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS, Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports and Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports with E-Mount (and L for Sigma)
- Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM and Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM with RF mount
- and from Nikon the Z 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S and Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD in the Z mount
Patience – Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 180mm – 1/200 s – ƒ / 5.6 – ISO 22800
The lens has one Sliding aperture f/5.6-6.3. This one certainly isn’t the brightest, but Nikon has one optical stabilization with an amplification of up to 5.5 f-stops compensate. The lens also has a sport mode that can be adjusted from the body to stabilize the image in the viewfinder. Autofocus is guaranteed by a STM step-by-step motorization.
This is also 180-600 mm compatible with teleconverterswhich allows you to convert the lens into a zoom lens 252-840mm f/7.8-8.8 with a Z TC-1.4X or even 360-1200mm f/11.2-12.6 with a Z TC-2.0X. Be careful with increasing ISO!
Search – Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 2200
The opening is guaranteed by a 9-sheet round membrane. The minimum MAP distance is 1.3m at 180 mm and 2.4 m at 600 mm. With a maximum magnification of 0.25xThe lens allows you to enjoy the joys of proxy photography.
In terms of optical formula, this uses zoom 25 elements divided into 17 groups (including 6 ED glass elements, 1 aspherical element and a fluorine treated front element). This optical formula is designed for this Correct chromatic aberrations which can be present with such powerful zoom lenses.
Here are the full specifications of the Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR:
- focal length : 180-600mm (270-900mm in APS-C)
- Lens for full format sensor
- maximum opening : f/5.6-6.3
- Minimum opening : f/32-36
- Viewing angle : 13° 40′ to 4° 10′ (9° to 2° 40′ in APS-C)
- optical structure : 25 elements divided into 17 groups (including 6 ED glass elements, 1 aspherical element and a fluorine-treated front element)
- membrane : circular with 9 slats
- minimum focusing distance : 1.3m to 180mm, 2.4m to 600mm
- Image stabilization : yes, VR
- Tropization : moisture and dust resistant construction with fluorine coating
- maximum magnification : 0.25x
- focus : Autofocus, STM motor
- Filter diameter : ø 95 mm
- Dimensions : 110mm x 315.5mm (D x L), internal zoom
- Weight : 1.955 kg without foot collar (2.14 kg with foot collar)
- included supply : Lens hood, lens cap, foot collar, lens strap
- mount compatible : Nikon Z
- Price at launch : 1999 €
Ergonomics and handling of the Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
Let’s say it straight away: these 180-600 mm don’t really go unnoticed. The lens is 31.5 cm long, excluding the lens hood not the most compact. However, Nikon has taken care of its copy and is offering one very balanced goal.
This means that, despite weighing around 2 kg, the Nikon 180-600 mm is light enough to track a subject handheld. Mounted on a Nikon Z8, the whole thing comes close still the 3 kglet’s say it.
However, during our handling in Montier-en-Der we initially put the lens on a tripod, but very quickly decided on a tripod Handheld recording, offers more freedom of movement. The lens distribution is also exemplary – like the Sony FE 200-600 mm f/5.6 – 6.3 G OSS.
Of course, if you are looking for a sporting event or are near a sporting event, use on Tripod or monopod It is recommended to take it easy on your arms.
Note that unlike the 200-500mm lens, this lens has a reflex mount has an internal zoom : The barrel is therefore not extendable, which makes handling even easier and protects it from dust and moisture.
As far as workmanship is concerned, the lens opts for a Magnesium alloy barrel, with numerous seals to protect against bad weather. To make cleaning easier, the front lens is treated with fluorine.
In contrast to the Nikkor Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S PFthis telephoto zoom has a little less manual controls. This is one of the ways for the manufacturer to differentiate its optics from the more professional S line, although this Nikkor Z 180-600mm lens offers it an exemplary conclusion.
So we find a AF/MF switch and a Focus limiter So you can choose between the entire range or 6 m to infinity, This is useful, for example, when shooting through foliage in the foreground.
The foreground does not interfere with the AF – Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600 mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600 mm – 1/500 s – ƒ / 6.3 – ISO 1400
4 custom L-Fn buttons are located behind the zoom ring, which has a relatively short stroke (approx. 70°) to change from 180 to 600 mm while your subject remains in the viewfinder. It’s also relatively fluid, which makes zooming easier.
We find one too customizable ring quite good, which is set to manual focus adjustment by default, but which can also be used to control the aperture, the ISO sensitivity of the body or even the exposure compensation.
Note that the foot collarthat comes with the lens can be completely removed from the lens.
First impressions regarding image quality and autofocus
It is difficult to fully assess a lens’ handling capabilities, especially in mount-en-der sunrise, when the cranes leave the lake and head to the surrounding fields. In fact, the ISO sensitivity is Nikon Z8 on which the lens was mounted only very rarely fell below ISO 3200, evidence of some haze.
Simply click on each image to view it in optimal quality.
To the output – Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600 mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600 mm – 1/200 s – ƒ / 6.3 – ISO 9000
When, however the lighting conditions were more appropriate, offered this goal Honorable image quality. The impression of diving is very present f/5.6with a Very good management of optical aberrations.
Quartet in the air – Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600 mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600 mm – 1/320 s – ƒ / 6.3 – ISO 2000
Of course, the sharpness is lower compared to the 400 mm f/2.8 or even the Nikkor Z 600 mm f/6.3 VR S, but at the same time the image is slightly less contrasty. But Nikon offers one for this price positioning Largely sufficient level of detail, even on the 45.7 Mpx of the Z 8. At this point, a full test will complete these initial observations.
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 3600
Compared to the 200-500mm F mount, this new 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 offers VR Very good performance, even at 600 mm. Here the maximum aperture f/5.6 is reached from 180 to 300 mm, then increases to f/6 to 500 mm and ends up at f/6.3 between 500 and 600 mm.
The loss of 1/3 of the aperture at 600 mm will certainly be felt by some photographers, especially in low light, as was the case with this handling. But with an entry ticket €17,000The Nikkor Z 600 mm f/4 from Nikon plays in a different league.
Thanks to its long focal length, this 180-600mm offers a nice separation of the planesespecially at the minimum focusing distance of 2.4m at 600 mm, which allows Proxiphotography with reduced depth of field, even if the macro remains out of range (maximum magnification 0.25x).
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 180mm – 1/500 s – ƒ / 5.6 – ISO 5600
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 400mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.0 – ISO 7200
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 7200
Nikon Z 8 – NNikkor Z 180-600 mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 180 mm – 1/500 s – ƒ / 5.6 – ISO 3200
bok’herbe – Nikon Z 8 – NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600 mm – 1/500 s – ƒ / 6.3 – ISO 2500
What about autofocus? At this point, the 180-600 mm is ideal Excellent performance in most cases. In conjunction with the Z 8, the autofocus and different tracking modes of the housing allow you to quickly capture and hang your subject. However, the difficulty lies in this dimmed lightwhere the AF-C mode generated, in our very specific case in Montier-en-Der, some waste.
We have the impression that the card in the viewfinder is good, but when we look at the photos on the computer we realize that this is the case slightly blurry shots, as if the MAP had been created a few meters before. Setting errors in the field? That is also possible.
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/200s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 14400
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 8000
Fortunately, As soon as the light was more present, the false detection rate literally dropped to 0 and Nikon shows that this telephoto lens offers very good tracking even without its Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor.
The Big Dive – Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 3600
Further testing of the lens will confirm these first impressions.
Here is a selection of photos taken with the Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR during the Montier-en-Der festival:
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 400mm – 1/200 s – ƒ / 6.0 – ISO 11400
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/200s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 14400
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 520mm – 1/200s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 22800
Nikon Z 8 -Nikkor Z 180-600 mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 280 mm – 1/200 s – ƒ / 5.6 – ISO 11400
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/200s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 14400
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/250s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 14400
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 180mm – 1/500 s – ƒ / 5.6 – ISO 16000
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 180mm – 1/500 s – ƒ / 5.6 – ISO 6400
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 6400
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 5600
Nikon Z 8 – NNikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 7200
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ / 6.3 – ISO 2000
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 5600
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 3600
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ / 6.3 – ISO 3200
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 500mm – 1/500s – ƒ / 6.3 – ISO 3600
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 560mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 450
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 230mm – 1/500 s – ƒ / 5.6 – ISO 4000
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 570mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 4500
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 800
Nikon Z 8 – NNikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 3600
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 1100
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 1600
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 280mm – 1/500s – ƒ/5.6 – ISO 160
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/800s – ƒ / 6.3 – ISO 2200
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 180mm – 1/1000 s – ƒ / 5.6 – ISO 5600
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/1000 s – ƒ / 6.3 – ISO 3200
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/1000 s – ƒ / 6.3 – ISO 1800
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 600mm – 1/500s – ƒ/6.3 – ISO 2500
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 210mm – 1/500 s – ƒ / 5.6 – ISO 500
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 400mm – 1/500 sec – ƒ / 6.0 – ISO 180
Nikon Z 8 – Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – 420mm – 1/500 s – ƒ / 6.0 – ISO 4500
Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR – Pricing and Availability
The Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR is Available since August 2023 at the price of 1999 €.
The lens is available from Digit-Photo, IPLN, Miss Numérique, Photo-Univers, Digixo, Fnac and specialist photo retailers.
Our first test report on the Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
Without a doubt, Nikon is introducing one Very attractive optics for nature photographers with this Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR telephoto zoom. The target is positioned as a native and relatively inexpensive solution for owners of Nikon full-frame bodies.
Even if the aperture f/5.6-6.3 is not correct not the brightestCombined with optical stabilization, this lens allows you Capture beautiful, clearly defined images. We were also very pleased with this first handling responsive and precise autofocusexcept maybe when the weather is dark and gray (hello, foggy morning in Montier).
We look forward to using this zoom further for a more comprehensive test.