NEW Nikon 600mm TC Z-Series First Look Field Review!
Nikon just released their new 600mm F/4 TC VR S series lens, exclusively for the Nikon Z mount! I was fortunate enough to spend some time with the lens prior to today’s announcement and I can’t wait to share what I’ve discovered!
Nikon invited me to take one of their pre-production units out for a test drive last week in Florida, and WOW - this is one impressive hunk of glass!
In the video below, I’ll give you all the specifications and discuss the controls, features, technology, ergonomics, sharpness, rendering, autofocus, VR performance, how it handles in the field, and so much more.
Of course, I have gobs of sample images to show you, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts, insights, and recommendations. Is it the best wildlife lens ever? Check out the video and see!
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Awesome! Thank you very much Steve for this wonderful discovery and congratulations for your fabulous images.
I'm glad you got early access, love your content!
Best pre-review I have seen. Great job Steve
Looks great Steve, thanks for you continuing high quality content and the integrity you show with what you do. I have just purchased your z9 guide and am sure it will help me to understand this camera.
As always Steve a very informative and thorough review that is always based on real-world field experience. Your integrity and your deep understanding of wildlife photography and the field expertise you posess makes me look forward to your no nonsense podcasts. I look forward to getting my hands on a copy of your Z9 Setup guide. Keep up the great work, mate.
Welcome back! thanks for the review
Thankyou Steve for the extremely thorough first look review.
Incredible lens !! Thank you for the video. Awesome.
Thanks Steve! Looking forward to your full field test review once you've got your own lens in hand! Re the built in TC, I am addicted to having one on my 180-400; constantly using it when I'm shooting with that lens.
Fantastic review! Thorough and insightful.
excellent review, as always! thanks Steve
22 minutes went by in a blink... So much covered... And so precisely... Just amazing... And watching the resulting images you take, just shows your immense talent and expertise in your particular field of photography The answer to the 400 vs 600 lens... Very precise... Very Nice...
So glad Nikon gave you a first look for this lens. No one that I trust more to do a review of it.
Hi! Awesome review & lens! Very informative. Thanks for sharing.
Spectacular review. Thanks for sharing.
The inclusion of a 1.4 TC in 400 and 600 primes is an excellent design that Nikon/Nikkor leads the world in. Putting this in incredibly impressive glass means these are the envy of all of us not shooting Nikon!
Thank you for yet another great video! Very smart move from Nikon to include the 1.4x TC.
I really like the low key photos of the birds. It highlights the feather texture and is a masterful use of harsh light.
Steve, you're the best! No one communicates this material like you do. Nikon made a great choice when they asked you to take a first look.
Steve your thoughts and opinions are valuable to the photography community.
Excellent Preview as usual 👍
1:12 That image is amazing, I have to rewind the video to see it again immediately. Great preview, and fantastic images. I know you love 600mm. The images were outstanding, you are an amazing photographer and a very good instructor. Thanks fr sharing your experience.
Great overview as usual Steve!
Great video. Thanks. I’m getting one very soon
Wow - great to see Nikon bringing some awesome wildlife gear! That combo with the Z9 seems terrific!
It really is!
Fantastic video as always!
Orlando Wetlands is my home base for wildlife shots... pretty cool seeing it in your video! Great work as always.
Great review Steve!
Awesome video Steve ❤
Great video Steve! Your opinion matters to all of us!
Thanks for the review Steve. I would like to hear your thoughts about the comparison between this lens (at 840) and the 800mm 6.3.
Great review -- thanks.
The lower weight, nice aperture and integrated teleconverter, quite an amazing lens indeed
Brilliant video Steve. Love from India.
This looks like a pretty awesome lens!
As always! Great review 😊 Complete, detailed, clear : great job.
My dream lens.
Great news and good video Steve! This one has to be a winner. I think Nikon is back!
Back big time!
Thanks Steve!
I love your videos, I find them so interesting
Hello Steve, What a good first look.
Such a great enthusiastic review!
I've wanted a lens like this for years and years. I never understood why they didn't include a TC like that in every big prime.
Sooo ready!!! 😍 (Tho if I'm honest, I really hoped it'd be the 85/1.2 releasing this final quarter)
Wow thank you again from A to Z 👏🏼🌹
Hey Steve great first look as always. The foot for the z400mm f2.8 tc, z800mm f6.3 pf and z600mm f4 tc are all the same. I have the kirk foot on my 800mm pf and works great. So no long waits for foots to ne designed etc
Very informative overview on the new 600 mm TC and it sounds like you will be replacing your current 600mm, based on the built in TC! I like the notes and the comment on 400 vs 600 aspect. Can’t wait to see your video on that topic. I was hoping the 600 would be slightly lower in price ($8-$12k), based on the pricing of 800 lens. It appears both the 400 2.8 and 600 f4 share the back half of the body design. It’s sounds like my 500f4G might be replaced for BIF! 10 lbs vs 6-7lbs, just need to justify the cost!
Go Nikon they are killing it with telephoto glass
A crazy-good lens at a crazy price point. I love your content and the way you present information. I only wish Nikon would offer a super telephoto for those of us who have day jobs but still take our photography seriously... (I've had my work published in national publications and I'm foaming at the mouth for a Z lens to replace my adapted 200-500)
Steve - I am most decidedly NOT a wildlife photographer. But I really enjoy your videos. I especially appreciate that you refuse to accept sponsorship from manufacturers. I wish more reviewers would disclose just how much they receive for free in return for doing an "unbiased??" review. You cover all the details in a clear and thorough manner (as always!). I have bought a couple of your books and, if I had a Z9, I would definitely buy your Z9 book. I can assure everyone who has a Z9 and shoots wildlife, you will get a huge value out of Steve's book.
Thanks! I'm actually sponsored by people buying the books, so I appreciate the kind words and the purchase :)
Thanks for this Steve and great first shots. Thankfully the lens is precisely what I had hoped - except a tiny bit heavier and more expensive (if you are in the UK and have to pay VAT/sales tax at 20%). I look forward to your full tests. 2.2" longer than the 400 and 310g/2.3 Ounces heavier. One assumes all technology and specs are very similar to the 400/2.8TC. Ordering starts at 10:00 AM UK time on November 4, 2022 and delivers are scheduled to start delivery on November 25, 2022. I will sell my 800/6.3PF to fund this purchase. The minimum focus distance is Without built-in teleconverter: 4.3 m (14.11 ft), With built-in teleconverter: 4.3 m (14.11 ft) (measured from focal plane) -- this is slightly longer than the 4m in the E/FL version. 46mm CPL's would be great but mine has been on order since april. Replacement foot -- it is my expectation that the Z600/4.0TC will use the same foot fitting as the 400/2.8TC and 800/6.3PF - so Mr Zenelli will receive another order from me. I received mine and sold the 800. So still have the 400/TC and 600/TC -- and will do so through next year's african shooting season.
Wow amazing review...Sir please make a review video of Nikon Z 400mm 4.5 lens. 😀
Us usual, filled with jealousy over your talent and ability. Now doubled because, like most shooters, I will never get closer to one of these Beautiful Beasts than seeing the ads on the B&J site. I live thru you vicariously. Thank you for a great video.
Hey Steve, love your videos. Quick question, what camera bag do you use to carry this beast of a lens. I assume you do a carry on as opposed to checking in this amazing lens.
Wow amazing
If any other KZheadr were to make that thumbnail I'd assume it was clickbait.
I don't even shoot Nikon and I enjoyed this video. Thanks for the work you do.
yeah! great lens and great review! as always, thanks for your time Steve. Btw, aswell as i'm sure built in tcs are going to be the norm from now on (at least in high end lenses), i wonder if one day zoom lenses are going to be built so that, instead of a whole range usable between 2 different focal lengths, there's only 3 or 4 precise positions in which the zoom clicks and is intended to be used. For example, instead of having to engineer the whole range of a 200-600, nikon would only have to make sure only the lengths 200, 400 and 600 are perfeclty tuned (disregarding whatever happens in between those), and make a clicking zoom that makes it easier to move from one to another. That'd be like 3 primes combined into one single lens, which would make it easier to design every focal length available way better than what a traditional zoom would offer, and maybe allow for bigger appertures in the same volume as its equivalent traditional zoom lens. Or maybe not, what do i know hahahah but i always wonder about that
I'd be down for that - it's sounds like a great idea.
Thank you Steve. This is an excellent video. I have applied for a 2nd mortgage.
Great video, thanks. As a point, this lens is slightly lighter than the Canon RF 600 (6.8lbs) + RF tc 1.4 (0.5 lbs) combination.
Thanks Steve, glad that you are giving your thoughts. Almost sold Z9 and was going with A1 and Sony 600, was keeping my fingers crossed for built in filter. I know would be at least a year before can get it delivered.
@@MarcMol I did preorder from B&H and Adorama. I want to believe you my experience tells me otherwise.
@@AnujSingh-oi5ne Well don't preorder from these huge stores. Go to your local photo shop
@@Vollpflock that's for tomorrow morning when my local store opens. I did the drill for Z9 and 800 Pf. Cancelled the 800 today. fingers crossed.
Would be interesting to compare to 400f2.8 + tc1.4 Anyway really nice that nikon add build in tc :)
Excellent pre-review and thank you, Steve. Can you please explain why, in 2022, any lens from any manufacturer over 200 mm does not come with an Arca foot? How annoying is it that the first thing you have to to when purchasing a $15,000 lens is to replace the the foot- and it's been that way for years! I don't get it.
Sweet!!!
El mejor. Saludos desde Argentina.
well for that price i think my z100-400 mm is great. hope nikon soon give us z500 😂 or decent crop sensor with high mega pixel. thanks a million Steve as ever very informative video with stunningly beautiful images
Great lens and your videos great as always would buy it to day but still waiting for my oerder on 800 pf and the 400 tc maybe Í get this one when Im in the 80s
Amazing work as per usual. I struggle with the decision over the 400 versus the 600 and look forward to your comparison. For me, I find myself shooting in low light and would welcome the 2.8 in the forest on an overcast day. I think if I was shooting in Florida I wouldn't hesitate on the 600. But in Canada with the forests and the clouds I think I need light more than reach. Tough decision nonetheless.
The problem is, if you crop a 400 to a 600mm FOV, the effective output noise is the same as shooting 600mm F/4 - but with the 600, you have more pixels. Again, a good topic for a video :)
Great review. Do you think you'll use the Memory function? One review stated they use the function ring to switch between 2 memory locations. Sounds liek that would be great for switching between near and far subjects.
I usually only need a single distance, so for me it'll probably be the Lens fn button and I'll use the function ring for exp comp. Still, no wrong way to do it :)
maybe in a few years! in the meantime my 500/F4 will hae to do. p.s ordered by z9 ! supposed to be here in a few days so I of coursed purchase your z9 setup guide!! Will be putting my z7 and z7ii up for sale though gonna keep the 850 as it always just works!!
Great lens
Wow....nice one
Nice. Figured it would be expensive but not $27’500 AUD! Wish I hadn’t even bothered looking!
Most youtuber making review video's should definitely watch Steve's videos to learn how to actually do a review. Steve you are the best 👍👏
That's very kind - thank you!
Steve, your "first look" at a lens is better than most reviewers' full review! Minor quibble: at 5:41 or so, I think you've confused "fluorine coating" with "fluorite elements." Fluorite elements (pioneered by Canon, I believe) reduce weight and chromatic aberration.
The lens has both fluorite elements and a fluorine coating. I had Nikon double-check my work :)
Excellent review as always Steve. I am a hobbyist wildlife photographer and I am going to see if trading in all my f mount gear (including my Nikkor 500 f4 FL) will enable me to pre order this amazing lens to go with my Z9. Wish me luck 😊
Best of luck! :)
Always look forward to your Videos Steve.. About Lens, May be its just me.. but I dont find visual differences between FL and S line.. ya I get it, its a whole new tech underneath..but the only difference I see is how easy it is to get the shot, if we get same shot not sure if anyone can differentiate which is S line and which is FL by just looking at it. Steve, Is it possible for you to show us two Images side by side, one from FL and one From S line ?
I'll be doing some tests when I get a production copy.
Thanks Steve for this review! Just wondering how it compares to the Sony 600/4 on IQ?
They seem on par, but I'll test when I get a production copy.
Vielen Dank 👍
You Are The Best
Yes, all the reviewers are getting VERY excited about this new lens. Sadly, it will never be in my camera bag. At around £16,000 (UK) it is way out of my league. Thank goodness the Z 800 PF was at a more attainable figure - mine arrived just 6 weeks ago!
Great that it has a incorporate tc. The price is really crazy thou.
Steve, Thank you for your sharing videos. I am enjoying your tips & experience and learning much from your video as well. Can I ask you a question? I hope you could give me advice. I have Z9 and Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR Lens. Planning to sell 800mm. Will you recommend trading for a new 600mm F/4 Z lens? Thanks so much.
Awesome...I think I'm falling behind with my D500 and 200-500. . .lol
Still a good combination....and affordable. 😁
@@bcmmike it still works for me!
What least expensive Nikon camera body do you suggest for this 600 mm lens. Thanks.
Thanks for the great review Steve and no thanks for putting on a hunt to figure out how I get $15,500 to purchase this awesome lens! :-)
LOL :)
Ciao Steve. Even if I know that are two completely different beasts, especially for the aperture , how much the quality of the final image of the 800 6.3 is far from this beauty?
I'm pretty sure it's possible to design a togglable TC, so, one that would do 1.4x or do a pass through. I mean, I already know one way to design it but that would be "big", simply by rotating 1 glass with another, but I'm sure those companies can make a smaller design.
Thanks!
Thank you so much!
OH MY GOD !!!!!! its here !!!! I was just about to get the 400 2.8. Not now!!! Im gonna save a few more pennies and definitely get the 600
I finaly got my 400 since 3 days, but this 600 makes me thinking 🤔
Steve, please check this lens with a new Z 2.0 tc. Maybe will work at f8.
But Steve! Where's my Z 800 6.3 that I ordered on April 7th ? My Z9 feels half-naked with just the Z 100-400. I try to placate it by adding the Z TC2. I think that makes it feel better. :)
@@MarcMol I think the 800 PF and the 600 TC are for very different markets.Sure some on the 800 PF list may switch but I suspect few. I'm just a hobbyist. No way am I interested in spending almost 3 times more for the 600 TC. AU$27,500 vs AU$10,500
@@MarcMol I'm with ya. Wasn't trying to be negative to your idea. Just putting my thoughts on the number of those who might do as you suggest. What are you waiting on?
USD 15,5 k is a bargain … compared to here in Germany for EUR 17,250 … in Tokyo it comes at EUR 15,200 (excl. tax) … Thanks Steve well done, looking forward to more in-depth reporting once you got your own copy!
I wish I could afford this lens... maybe I can rent one in the future
Great review of a stellar product - totally out of reach for most of us. Like reviewing the cornering capability of a Ferrari. Gosh, it performs really well!
I’m sure having the 1.4x tele built into the lens is superior to adding the separate 1.4x tele to the 600mm f/4 because those are more generic to work with various lenses. I’m would think the built-in tele was designed and optimized to work specifically with the optical formula of the this new 600mm Z lens so there would be the lowest possible impact on image quality. That’s probably why the image quality is virtually indistinguishable with it switched in. Likely the same is true for the 400mm TC Z f/2.8 lens.
How is the 600mm f/4 with 1.4x TC sharpness compared to 800mm f/6.3 pf without TC sharpness? Also how is the bokeh of 600mm f/4 compared to 800mm f/6.3 PF?
You have now used both the 600 f4 Z and the 800 pf... As the 600 has a built in teleconverter in it, would there be any situation you would want to use the 800 pf???
If I know I'm going to need something in the 800mm range, I grab the 800PF. It's lighter, smaller, and easier to handle. Not by a crazy amount, but enough to make a difference. However, I'm not 100% sure I'd buy the 800PF if I already had the 600 TC. Since I have the 800, I'm keeping it though.
18:38 beautiful
Beautiful first look, Steve! I remember in your #drinkswithsteve3 you said the sony 600f4 was extremely sharp. Would love to see a sharpness/contrast comparison in the final review of the lens. Sony 600f4 vs 600 Z, and maybe even throw in the Canon as well. And how they perform with their teleconverters. I know they are all super sharp, but it would be fun and informative.
I'll check with the production model. I think this new lens is on par with the Sony. A more formal test might reveal a minor advantage one way or another, but it's gonna be VERY close for sure. Both are insanely sharp.
Is it better then the Sony 600 which is the best Long Lens I've ever shot. I previously had Nikon 600 F/4 and the 800 F/5.6 so I'm curious.
I can't say for sure because I can't do side by side tests with pre-production lenses. However, looking at the images it seems on-par with the Sony 600.