It was a popular day for photography announcements! Alongside Fuji’s X-T5 and Canon’s EOS R6 Mark II, Nikon officially announced a lens that’s been on their roadmap for a while: the Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S. As many photographers expected, it’s an f/4 lens and has a built-in 1.4x teleconverter (to make an 840mm f/5.6). It’s also expensive – a whopping $15,500, making it the priciest Nikon Z lens yet.
Even with the built-in teleconverter, the lens weighs 550 grams / 1.2 pounds less than its predecessor, the Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4E FL VR for DSLRs. Specifically, the new Z lens is 3260 grams, or 7.2 pounds. That’s hardly featherweight, but it’s on the lighter side for a lens like this; it should be possible to handhold the Z 600mm f/4 for short periods of time. (Nikon says the lens’s center of gravity is at the tripod ring, which also helps.)
Here are the full specs for the Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S:
Mount Type: Nikon Z Mount
Focal Length: 600mm (840mm with built-in 1.4x teleconverter)
Maximum Aperture: f/4 (f/5.6 with built-in 1.4x teleconverter)
Minimum Aperture: f/32 (f/45 with built-in 1.4x teleconverter)
Aperture Blades: 9, rounded
Filter Size: 46mm drop-in
Lens Elements: 26 (19 ignoring the teleconverter)
Lens Groups: 20 (16 ignoring the teleconverter)
Special Elements: 3 ED glass, 1 Super ED glass, 2 fluorite, and 2 short-wavelength reflective SR elements (of those, 1 ED and 1 SR element are in the teleconverter)
Fluorine Coated Front Element: Yes
Electronic Diaphragm: Yes
Vibration Reduction: Yes
Internal Focusing: Yes
Rings: Three (focus, function, and control)
Function Buttons: Yes (Fn1 and Fn2)
Focus Recall Buttons: Yes
Focus Motor: Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor
Minimum Focus Distance: 4.3 meters (14.1 feet)
Maximum Magnification: 0.14x (1:7.1); 0.2× (1:5) with built-in 1.4x teleconverter
Mount Material: Metal
Weather/Dust Sealing: Yes
Dimensions (Length × Diameter): 437 x 165 mm / 17.3 × 6.5 inches
Weight: 3260 g / 7.19 lbs
MSRP: $15,500
That’s a whopper of a specifications list – eight special lens elements (out of 26), tons of buttons and rings, and, of course, the built-in 1.4x teleconverter.
It’s the last point that makes this lens so interesting for professional photographers. Like the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S – which shares a lot of similarities with this lens – all it takes is one switch to enable or disable the 1.4x teleconverter. It doesn’t quite make this as flexible as a zoom lens, but it still acts like two lenses in one. The ability to jump quickly between 600mm f/4 and 840mm f/5.6 will be useful in fast-moving situations.
No surprise, the MTF charts look almost perfect for this lens. You can see the lens’s standard performance and the performance with the 1.4x teleconverter below:
Nikon says the lens will be available in late November, but if the other Nikon Z supertelephotos are anything to judge by, it will be many months until most photographers get their copy – even those who pre-order the lens.
Nikon releases the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S, a fast, super-telephoto prime lens with a built-in 1.4x teleconverter for the Nikon Z mount system
November 2, 2022
Delivering superior resolution and agility for reliable capture of decisive moments
TOKYO – Nikon Corporation (Nikon) is pleased to announce the release of the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S, a fast, super-telephoto prime lens that is compatible with full-frame/FX-format mirrorless cameras for which the Nikon Z mount system has been adopted.
The NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S, the super-telephoto prime lens which belongs to the S-Line*1 of NIKKOR Z lenses, pursues the ultimate in optical performance. It features a built-in teleconverter that extends the focal length by 1.4x, enabling coverage of two focal lengths — 600 mm and 840 mm. With a weight of approximately 3,260 g, it is roughly 550 g lighter than the AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR, even with the addition of a built-in teleconverter. With a total length of approximately 437 mm, the lens is small enough to be stored in a bag that meets carry-on standards for international flights. Various aberrations are effectively compensated with the adoption of three ED glass*2, a super ED glass, two fluorite lens, and two SR lens*2 elements for the lens optics. Superior sharpness and detail are possible even at the periphery of the frame from the maximum aperture, and outstanding image quality is realized even when the built-in teleconverter is used. A fast maximum aperture of f/4 makes the lens ideal for photographing rapidly moving subjects, such as at motorcycle racing events, as well as for three-dimensional rendering with natural bokeh.
In addition, the lens employs Meso Amorphous Coat that boasts the highest anti-reflection performance in NIKKOR history. The combination of Meso Amorphous Coat and Nano Crystal Coat synergistically works to greatly reduce ghost and flare. This allows users to concentrate on shooting without restrictions on composition, even in situations where strong light sources are likely to be included in the frame, such as outdoors or under stadium lights. Further, the Silky Swift VCM (SSVCM)*3 has been adopted for the lens AF drive to simultaneously achieve fast and highly accurate AF control, as well as outstandingly quiet AF operation. The lens also supports VR performance equivalent to a 5.0-stop*4 increase in shutter speed, effectively reducing blur with super-telephoto shooting. With its superb strength, durability, and operability, the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S supports professional photographers’ imaging expression in photographic genres such as sports, news, and wildlife.
Nikon will continue to pursue a new dimension in optical performance while meeting users’ needs, contributing to the development of imaging culture, with the hope of expanding possibilities for imaging expression.
1The S-Line is a grade of NIKKOR Z lenses that demonstrate outstanding optical performance, adhering to a high standard of design principles and quality control.
2Three ED glass and two SR lens elements are used when the built-in teleconverter is enabled, while two ED glass and a SR lens elements are used when the built-in teleconverter is disabled.
3An AF drive actuator that combines a Voice Coil Motor (VCM) and a guide mechanism developed by Nikon. The VCM is a motor in which a coil reciprocates in the strong magnetic field created by a powerful magnet.
4Based on CIPA Standard. This value is achieved when attached to a camera with full-frame/FX-format sensor, with the camera’s VR function set to “NORMAL”
Features a built-in teleconverter that extends the focal length by 1.4x, allowing the lens to cover two focal lengths — 600 mm and 840 mm. The teleconverter switch located within easy reach of the right hand enables smooth changing of the focal length without altering the shooting posture.
The focal length can be extended to 1,200 mm with the Z TELECONVERTER TC-2.0x, or 1,680 mm when the built-in teleconverter is used with it*1.
By using the built-in teleconverter and 2.3x crop for video recording with the Nikon Z 9, it is possible to shoot at a focal length equivalent to 1,932 mm*2.
The weight of approximately 3,260 g despite the addition of a built-in teleconverter makes the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S roughly 550 g lighter than the AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR.
The total length of approximately 437 mm means the lens fits in a bag that can be carried on board international flights, so you can transport it with confidence.
Color bleeding and flare are suppressed not only at infinity, but also with shooting at close distances, realizing superior sharpness and detail to the edges of the frame from the maximum aperture.
Adoption of Meso Amorphous Coat with the highest anti-reflection performance in NIKKOR history, for significant reduction of ghost and flare.
Adoption of the Silky Swift VCM (SSVCM) for the AF drive enables fast, highly accurate, and quiet AF control.
VR performance equivalent to a 5.0-stop increase in shutter speed; an effect of 5.5 stops*3 is realized when the lens is used with the Z 9 with Synchro VR activation.
Superior dust- and drip-resistant performance*4 is ensured by sealing adopted in various areas including movable parts of the lens barrel as well as a rubber gasket around the lens mount, while excellent anti-fouling performance is achieved with a fluorine coat on the surface of the front-most lens element.
Operability similar to that of the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S frequently used by professionals enables smooth switching between lenses during super-telephoto shooting that requires photographers to decide on a lens in an instant.
A design considering video recording including a focus-breathing compensation function which effectively reduces shifting of the angle of view when focusing, and stable exposure.
1Depending upon the subject, scene brightness, and focus position, AF may not perform as expected, regardless of the camera used, resulting in inaccurate focus, slow focusing, or flashing of the focus indicator for electronic rangefinding.
2When the Z 9’s [Frame size/frame rate] is set to [3840×2160; 120p], [3840×2160; 100p], [1920×1080; 120p], or [1920×1080; 100p] and [Choose image area] is set to [DX (24×16)], the lens angle of view is equivalent to that of a lens with a focal length approximately 2.3x that available when the image area is set to FX-format.
3Based on CIPA standard. This value is achieved when attached to a camera with full-frame/FX-format sensor, with the camera’s VR function set to “NORMAL”, and the built-in teleconverter disabled.
4Thorough dust- and drip-resistance is not guaranteed in all situations or under all conditions.
About Spencer Cox
I'm Spencer Cox, a landscape photographer based in Colorado. I started writing for Photography Life a decade ago, and now I run the website in collaboration with Nasim. I've used nearly every digital camera system under the sun, but for my personal work, I love the slow-paced nature of large format film. You can see more at my personal website and my not-exactly-active Instagram page.
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Verm
November 5, 2022 7:29 am
Anyone want to buy a used kidney?
DavidP
November 4, 2022 11:21 am
A built-in tele-converter seems interesting, don’t see many of those. That said, the price is quite wild. I get that the precision engineering required to make it doesn’t come cheap, but that’s the price of a small city car. I wonder what the margins on that lens are for Nikon.
Not only did I handle buying and selling the pool gear at a newspaper, but I worked at a pretty big camera store. Since I was the used buyer, or used department manager, I was able to learn things like profit margins. While working there I got a new in box Canon 500mm f/4L IS for cost ($5400) and it was I believe around $7000 retail. I don’t know the exact details as it was years ago and was a wedding present. So technically my father paid, but he said he saved about $3000 total. Later I switched back to Nikon and bought a 200-400mm f/4G VR and I paid $4800 all in with taxes. Retail on that lens at the time was $6799! So it can range from as low as $50 on say like a nifty-fifty lens…all the way up to multiple thousands of dollars. The pro gear has high profit margins, but obviously they also don’t make up the majority of sales. However stores also do really well on stuff like filters or other accessories! Lots of markup on that cheaper stuff. Anyways if I had to make an educated guess…I’d wager to say cost on this new 600mm is about $10,000. However what I’m no expert on is e-commerce. So I’m not sure what other hidden costs or taxes there are, such as import, shipping, handling, and whatever else. So if you included all of the additional costs, I’d say stores get them for about $12,500? So the stores make a couple grand and so does Nikon. I’ve also learned that usually there is more profit in lenses than there is on cameras. For whatever that’s worth. Anyways I’m just estimating based on my previous knowledge.
Also remember, as a pro, these things are tax deductible. So at least here in the USA, the true cost to the “business” is likely about 20% (depending on tax bracket) lower than what you pay at the store.
The Price of this Lens and the 400mm F2.8 with Built-In TC, along with the asking price for a Canon Lens with a Built-In TC, might be the best thing about this lens, as it will surely allow other Third Party Lens Manufacturers to consider offering a Telephoto Model with a Built in TC. Olympus have a Telephoto in their Range with a Built-In TC, that is substantially less than the above three lenses.
It is without doubt the speed of being able to switch focal lengths and framing, that is the USP of these lenses. Apart from a few improvements with on lens function options, for the interfacing with a particular body, I don’t see there being a great deal more to be had. I certainly don’t foresee a ‘must have’ IQ separation over a one generation older lens design.
Sigma had produced a 500mm F4 lens that was recognised for having a IQ that was on parity with the Nikon 500mm F4E. The Sigma Lens also faired close to Parity when in use for all other functions.
As a Hypothetical: What If, Sigma were to produce a 500mm F4 with a Built-In TC. What If, the TC was a ‘x1.6’, offering a Flick of a Switch adjustment to a 800mm framing. What If, the Sigma Model was on offer for similar pricing to the Olympus.
Such a Lens offered with a Mounting to suit the Larger Brands Bodies will have a place in the market that will receive serious consideration. I would suggest even it had a little more weight and a slightly lesser IQ that these Flagship Models released, it will compete admirably with competitors lenses offered in a similar price range and might even take a percentage of sales away.
In my mind, there is plenty of wriggle room available to see improved prices for lenses with the attractive ancillary of a Built-In TC. Olympus are already at it.
Ircut
November 3, 2022 10:38 am
Maybe some day I’ll be able to justify buying it because my god that looks like an amazing lens for wildlife photography.
Just buy the FL or even better and cheaper buy the 500mm f/4E VR FL used. I have one, I paid $9500 for it open-box and it’s honestly the best lens I’ve ever used. I’ve owned almost all of the big super-tele primes. I’ve also even used most of the Canon big white primes as my work has Canon and Nikon pool gear. I’ve shot all of the most recent FL lenses with the exception of the 120-300mm. I owned the 200mm f/2G VR, 300mm f/2.8G VRII and 400mm f/2.8G VR all at once for a month or so. Until I sold them off to get the 400FL. The 400FL was a great lens, but for some reason it didn’t seem to quite match the previous version VR that I had. Also although the weight savings were great at first…it’s still an 400mm f/2.8 so it’s big and heavy. I sold it because my back started to hurt, I think I messed my lower back up carrying those beasts. Now I was never fan of the 500mm f/4 lenses. They just always seemed a little worse than the 400mm or 300mm. However at the time the 500FL was the lightest super-tele Nikon made. So I bought one without ever even using one or holding one. Wasn’t sure if I’d keep it or not, but boy was I ever glad I made this gamble. The 500mm f/4E VR FL is lightweight at about 6.7lb and it’s the sharpest lens I’ve ever used, just as sharp as the Baby Jesus 800mm f/5.6E FL. It’s MTF chart is a flat line, and it’s bokeh is the best I’ve ever seen. You can get one used for about $5800!!! Or get a used 500pf for $2500? There are other ways to get similar reach and IQ!
Alexandre Barata
November 3, 2022 8:44 am
Well, unfortunately, I won’t, probably ever, get my hands on one of these. But it looks amazing, and with TC it also looks like good vallue! So I’ll just drool over it, and envy everyone who’ll buy it😅
I had the privilige of being able to test it briefly (yet extensively) at the last Photo Days Expo in Brussels… This lens is definitely on my list and it’s simply one awesome piece of high precision photographical machinery.
I already own the 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 F-mount zoom monster, but this prime is in an even higher category and now I want one. The 180-400 I took to Spitsbergen with me on a birding trip, but I lacked the mms, even though that lens makes a 560/5.6.
This new 600 with TC engaged is a whopping 840/5.6. It’s fast, It’s precise. It’s (kinda) lightweight. It’s a beast.
Anyone want to buy a used kidney?
A built-in tele-converter seems interesting, don’t see many of those. That said, the price is quite wild. I get that the precision engineering required to make it doesn’t come cheap, but that’s the price of a small city car. I wonder what the margins on that lens are for Nikon.
Not only did I handle buying and selling the pool gear at a newspaper, but I worked at a pretty big camera store. Since I was the used buyer, or used department manager, I was able to learn things like profit margins. While working there I got a new in box Canon 500mm f/4L IS for cost ($5400) and it was I believe around $7000 retail. I don’t know the exact details as it was years ago and was a wedding present. So technically my father paid, but he said he saved about $3000 total. Later I switched back to Nikon and bought a 200-400mm f/4G VR and I paid $4800 all in with taxes. Retail on that lens at the time was $6799! So it can range from as low as $50 on say like a nifty-fifty lens…all the way up to multiple thousands of dollars. The pro gear has high profit margins, but obviously they also don’t make up the majority of sales. However stores also do really well on stuff like filters or other accessories! Lots of markup on that cheaper stuff. Anyways if I had to make an educated guess…I’d wager to say cost on this new 600mm is about $10,000. However what I’m no expert on is e-commerce. So I’m not sure what other hidden costs or taxes there are, such as import, shipping, handling, and whatever else. So if you included all of the additional costs, I’d say stores get them for about $12,500? So the stores make a couple grand and so does Nikon. I’ve also learned that usually there is more profit in lenses than there is on cameras. For whatever that’s worth. Anyways I’m just estimating based on my previous knowledge.
Also remember, as a pro, these things are tax deductible. So at least here in the USA, the true cost to the “business” is likely about 20% (depending on tax bracket) lower than what you pay at the store.
The 1.4X cannot use in other lens, but you must pay most than normal 1.4X TC. I think this design is future, but I don’t agree of the price.
The only problem with this lens is it’s price! Rest everything is simply fantastic.
The Price of this Lens and the 400mm F2.8 with Built-In TC, along with the asking price for a Canon Lens with a Built-In TC, might be the best thing about this lens, as it will surely allow other Third Party Lens Manufacturers to consider offering a Telephoto Model with a Built in TC.
Olympus have a Telephoto in their Range with a Built-In TC, that is substantially less than the above three lenses.
It is without doubt the speed of being able to switch focal lengths and framing, that is the USP of these lenses. Apart from a few improvements with on lens function options, for the interfacing with a particular body, I don’t see there being a great deal more to be had. I certainly don’t foresee a ‘must have’ IQ separation over a one generation older lens design.
Sigma had produced a 500mm F4 lens that was recognised for having a IQ that was on parity with the Nikon 500mm F4E.
The Sigma Lens also faired close to Parity when in use for all other functions.
As a Hypothetical:
What If, Sigma were to produce a 500mm F4 with a Built-In TC.
What If, the TC was a ‘x1.6’, offering a Flick of a Switch adjustment to a 800mm framing.
What If, the Sigma Model was on offer for similar pricing to the Olympus.
Such a Lens offered with a Mounting to suit the Larger Brands Bodies will have a place in the market that will receive serious consideration.
I would suggest even it had a little more weight and a slightly lesser IQ that these Flagship Models released, it will compete admirably with competitors lenses offered in a similar price range and might even take a percentage of sales away.
In my mind, there is plenty of wriggle room available to see improved prices for lenses with the attractive ancillary of a Built-In TC. Olympus are already at it.
Maybe some day I’ll be able to justify buying it because my god that looks like an amazing lens for wildlife photography.
Just buy the FL or even better and cheaper buy the 500mm f/4E VR FL used. I have one, I paid $9500 for it open-box and it’s honestly the best lens I’ve ever used. I’ve owned almost all of the big super-tele primes. I’ve also even used most of the Canon big white primes as my work has Canon and Nikon pool gear. I’ve shot all of the most recent FL lenses with the exception of the 120-300mm. I owned the 200mm f/2G VR, 300mm f/2.8G VRII and 400mm f/2.8G VR all at once for a month or so. Until I sold them off to get the 400FL. The 400FL was a great lens, but for some reason it didn’t seem to quite match the previous version VR that I had. Also although the weight savings were great at first…it’s still an 400mm f/2.8 so it’s big and heavy. I sold it because my back started to hurt, I think I messed my lower back up carrying those beasts. Now I was never fan of the 500mm f/4 lenses. They just always seemed a little worse than the 400mm or 300mm. However at the time the 500FL was the lightest super-tele Nikon made. So I bought one without ever even using one or holding one. Wasn’t sure if I’d keep it or not, but boy was I ever glad I made this gamble. The 500mm f/4E VR FL is lightweight at about 6.7lb and it’s the sharpest lens I’ve ever used, just as sharp as the Baby Jesus 800mm f/5.6E FL. It’s MTF chart is a flat line, and it’s bokeh is the best I’ve ever seen. You can get one used for about $5800!!! Or get a used 500pf for $2500? There are other ways to get similar reach and IQ!
Well, unfortunately, I won’t, probably ever, get my hands on one of these. But it looks amazing, and with TC it also looks like good vallue! So I’ll just drool over it, and envy everyone who’ll buy it😅
I had the privilige of being able to test it briefly (yet extensively) at the last Photo Days Expo in Brussels… This lens is definitely on my list and it’s simply one awesome piece of high precision photographical machinery.
I already own the 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 F-mount zoom monster, but this prime is in an even higher category and now I want one. The 180-400 I took to Spitsbergen with me on a birding trip, but I lacked the mms, even though that lens makes a 560/5.6.
This new 600 with TC engaged is a whopping 840/5.6. It’s fast, It’s precise. It’s (kinda) lightweight. It’s a beast.