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It’s been in Nikon’s Z-mount lens road map as the 200-600mm for ages, but the super-telephoto zoom that wildlife photographers in particular have been waiting for has now been announced with a pleasant surprise: It’s an even more versatile Nikkor Z 180 -600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR.
Along with the 180-600mm super-telephoto zoom lens, Nikon has also launched the Nikkor Z 70-180mm f/2.8, which separates the trinity of f/2.8 zoom lenses from Nikon’s pro-level S-line f/2.8 zoom lens. completes. Lighter and more economical.
Designed to work with full-frame Nikon mirrorless cameras and poised to be one of the best Nikon Z lenses out there, the full-frame 180-600mm is one of the most versatile telephoto zoom lenses available on paper, and Like the 70-180mm it has an attractive price tag because it doesn’t wear Nikon’s S-line badge of high-end lenses, so we can expect it to be very popular among Nikon mirrorless fans.
price and release date
The Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR has a list price of £1,799 and will go on sale in August 2023 (we don’t have US or Australia pricing at the time of writing). It’s compatible with the Nikon Z 1.4x tele-converter ($549.95 / £579 / AU$1,099) and 2x tele-converter ($599.95 / £629 / AU$1,199) which extends the maximum reach of the 180-600mm lens to 840mm and 1200mm respectively Is.
Complementing the Nikkor Z 17-28mm f/2.8 and Nikkor Z 28-75mm f/2.8, the new Nikkor Z 70-180mm f/2.8 costs £1,299 (we don’t have US or Australia pricing at the time of writing) And the pro-level Z 70-200mm f/2.8 is an enthusiast-level and lightweight travel-friendly alternative. Sales will begin on July 20, 2023, and like the 180-600mm, the 70-180mm is compatible with Nikon’s tele-converters for its mirrorless cameras.
major features
A quick walk around the 180-600mm lens and everything looks very promising. Weighing 4.4lbs / 1,995g without the removable tripod foot, this isn’t an insignificant lens by any means, but it’s light enough for most people to use handheld for short periods.
It only takes a 70-degree rotation of the zoom ring to move between the wide and telephoto extremes, so you can react quickly to near and faraway subjects – I can imagine this lens during a soccer match Works well. Working the zoom with the same hand, a function button on the lens barrel itself is within reach and controls such as AF-ON to activate subject tracking autofocus can be specified.
The internal zoom means the lens barrel doesn’t extend as you move through the focal length, plus the lens features Nikon’s high-speed stepping motor (STM), which Nikon claims Has exceptionally fast autofocus. With a Nikon Z8 that boasts excellent people and animal tracking autofocus performance, you can have a great wildlife and sports photography duo.
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There’s 5.5EV of optical vibration reduction which will be important for keeping your telephoto photos and videos steady, and ‘sport mode’ stabilizes the viewfinder image somehow. Minimum focus is 1.3m at 180mm and 2.4m at 600mm, so maximum magnification is great – you’ll be able to fill your frame with a variety of sharp and in-focus subjects.
Overall, the lens’ features appear comprehensive, but it’s not an S-line lens, so it doesn’t have the same weather-sealing features as Nikon’s more expensive lenses, which it would count on for more extreme scenarios. If you need to attach threaded lens filters, you’ll need the 95mm size.
what’s that for?
As an avid wildlife and sports photographer, I’m looking for a lens with more reach than I already have, but I’m not making notable money from this hobby, making a pro-lens that Weighs a ton and costs an arm and a leg. Totally overkill.
The Nikkor Z 180-600mm looks like an excellent choice for enthusiasts like me, especially for shooting wildlife with its maximum reach of 600mm. Given its wide focal length range, I’d expect image quality to be a bit off at the 600mm end, but not enough to remove it from my wishlist. I have my full attention on the 180-600mm and I look forward to sharing my experiences with the lens with you in a review soon.
