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Home → Cameras and Lenses

Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S Field impressions

By Massimo Vignoli 33 Comments
Published On May 3, 2024

In this article, I’ll share my experience using the Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR lens in the field. With this lens, I took photos in Italy, Tanzania, Namibia, and the Arctic, and I learned a lot about it in the process. I’ve also included some usage tips to help others get the most from this outstanding supertelephoto.

NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 125, 1/640, f/4.0 – Handheld

The story began in December 2022. I was fortunate enough to be one of the Nikon users in Italy who received the first batch of the Z 600mm f/4 lens. The moment it arrived at my doorstep was thrilling – my first 600mm supertelephoto! Although it was a difficult decision to replace my trusty 500mm f/4E FL VR, my curiosity to see how far Nikon had pushed their craft won over any resistance. Well, my wallet was slightly less excited, but as they say, we only have one life!

NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 400, 1/2000, f/4.0 – Handheld

I chose this lens because I often take photos of shy and wary animals, which are mostly active during the early morning or late afternoon. In my opinion, a long lens is mostly useful to avoid disturbing the animals and changing their behavior, rather than just magnifying the subject in the frame.

Additionally, Nikon is no longer producing a 500mm f/4 lens, which limited my options to switch to a Z-mount super-telephoto lens. Ultimately, I opted for it over the 400/2.8 TC VR S, as I expected to need the longer focal length most of the time. Moreover, even if it isn’t in the same league, I trust my Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 as a good solution when I want to capture a wider region of the landscape around my subject.

NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 2200, 1/1000, f/4.0 – Tripod
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 360, 1/1000, f/4.0 – Handheld
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 840mm, ISO 800, 1/500, f/5.6 – Bean bag

When I unboxed the lens, I was pleasantly surprised by the weight. It totals 3.26 kg (7.2 pounds), which is excellent considering it’s a 600mm f/4 with a TC. By comparison, my beloved Nikon 500mm f/4 FL + TC-14 + FTZ adapter actually weighs 150 grams / 5 ounces more.

It’s still heavy, but relative to other 600mm f/4 lenses, its lightweight nature makes it perfect for traveling and hiking, as well as whenever you need to carry it in your backpack. In real-world usage, it is not just the weight, but also the balance which is immediately noticeable. Compared to its predecessors, the Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S has a significant shift in weight towards the rear, which helps significantly when handholding the lens.

Extreme example of hand hold - 1/20 at 820mm
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 840mm, ISO 450, 1/20, f/5.6 – Handheld

The VR on this lens works together with the stabilized sensor of Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras, and I found it very effective in reducing vibrations. I feel more confident shooting handheld with the Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S than I ever did with my 500mm f/4E FL. I used to be addicted to using tripods, but now I only use it when shooting on a stakeout under a camo net or when waiting for a very long time in shooting position is needed. Otherwise, I opt for handheld shots.

I find that I can usually capture sharp images of static subjects with a shutter speed as long as 1/60, sometimes even slower, with good handheld technique. Here’s a tip for you – if you’re using a high ISO setting on your camera, try taking a “safe shot” with a fast shutter speed, and then gradually reduce the ISO setting while taking a burst of shots at longer shutter speeds. Not all of them will be sharp, but often you’ll end up with at least one good shot, and by using a lower ISO setting, you improve the overall image quality.

NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 840mm, ISO 2000, 1/800, f/5.6 – Bean bag
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 200, 1/500, f/4.0 – Handheld
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 840mm, ISO 1250, 1/1000, f/5.6 – Handheld

In the field, every time I use it, I’m impressed by how useful the internal TC is. I’m not just pointing out the pretty negligible degradation in AF speed and image quality. Instead, it’s the usability. Consider how annoying it is to change the TC when shooting handheld (or from a beanbag, monopod, or Zodiac). Let along adding or removing a teleconverter in the rain. I found it to be a game-changing feature. I hope that more telephoto lenses incorporate such a feature, not just the most expensive supertelephotos.

NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 100, 1/1600, f/4.0 – Handheld

Lastly, I find that autofocus speed and reliability has improved even further with this last iteration of super-telephoto. It is blazing fast, even faster than the previous generation.

Regarding the photos, I am particularly fond of the bokeh and the compression effect achieved by the extreme focal length and fast aperture of this lens. It has a distinct character that is hard to put into words, but I hope that the pictures I have selected for this article demonstrate its unique qualities.

NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 900, 1/500, f/4.0 – Tripod
Leopard running in Seregeti
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 320, 1/2000, f/4.0 – Bean bag
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 840mm, ISO 1600, 1/2000, f/5.6 – Handheld
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 110, 1/800, f/4.0 – Bean bag
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 640, 1/250, f/4.0 – Bean bag
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 110, 1/500, f/4.0 – Bean bag
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 840mm, ISO 2000, 1/1000, f/5.6 – Bean bag

Are there any downsides? So far, I have identified two challenges that can make this lens harder to use in the field.

  • The lens is quite large and has a massive front element, regardless of whether it’s balanced or stabilized. It’s not an easy lens to transport, and it is not something that you can bring with you casually. It takes up a lot of space in your bag and even affects the type of bag you can choose to use. (Tip: you can make it a bit easier to carry by using a better lens cap, such as those made by Zemlin).
  • The air quality between you and your subject plays a crucial role in determining the image quality you can achieve using such a long lens. When using a high-resolution sensor like the ones in Nikon’s Z7, Z8, or Z9, achieving pixel-level sharpness is more about the atmosphere than the sharpness of the lens. A shorter telephoto like the 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, combined with getting closer to your subject, can result in sharper images when atmospheric distortion is significant.

These are not really faults of the lens. A 600mm f/4 can only be so small, and there is nothing that a lens can do about atmospheric distortion. Even so, they are both challenges that you will run into when using the Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S that you should be aware of beforehand. If you’re prepared to deal with them, the results you can get with this lens are amazing, even with “common” everyday subjects.

NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 840mm, ISO 800, 1/1250, f/5.6 – Bean bag
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 840mm, ISO 2200, 1/1000, f/5.6 – Bean bag
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 840mm, ISO 450, 1/1250, f/5.6 – Bean bag

I hope you have enjoyed this article about using the Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S in the field. Please feel free to leave any questions or feedback in the comments below, and I will be more than happy to answer!

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Filed Under: Cameras and Lenses Tagged With: Nikon, Nikon Lens, Super Telephoto Lens, Wildlife Photography

About Massimo Vignoli

Massimo Vignoli is a passionate Italian wildlife photographer and outdoor adventurer. He began his photography journey more than 20 years ago, to relax and balance his career in the finance industry. Since then, his love for nature has grown more and more. By showing his photos, he hopes to help people gain a better understanding of wildlife, of how strong and delicate it is, to increase their respect for nature. You can see more of Massimo's photos on his website.

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Banjo
Banjo
March 11, 2025 12:22 am

I saw a crested grebe kayaking recently in Adelaide, Australia, it had me looking to purchase a setup to allow me to capture such moments. The following weekend there was a feeding frenzy that included a gangs of Spoonbillls – again I wished for the ability to capture the moments.

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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Banjo
March 11, 2025 1:52 am

I’m not an expert in kayaking, but it may be heavy and bulky for that use. I’m able to routinarily use it handheld, but I suggest you check it directly before buying it with that use in mind. I mean much more than 100-400 or 600/6.3PF or 180-600.

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Reply
Banjo
Banjo
March 11, 2025 12:18 am

Wow, what an amazing set of subjects you have had pose for you. Did you take any video of these creatures? It would be interesting to see what sort of documentary could be put together with such a lens – even though it is very expensive for stills if it can result in great video perhaps it is not so expensive for that purpose.

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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Banjo
March 11, 2025 1:47 am

Hi Banjo, I’m glad you liked them. Sadly, I’m not a video maker, but I don’t see why you can’t use it to make videos. Others (e.g., Morten Hillmer) use this 600/4TC and his sibling 400/2.8TC with excellent results making videos.

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alex sano
alex sano
May 8, 2024 4:23 am

this article was very informative and the photos are stunning! i was so lucky to see your photos and looking forward to see more

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Joe
Joe
May 6, 2024 9:09 am

This is my dream lens, the one I’ll likely never own…but perhaps someday! For now, I’ll just enjoy living vicariously through the many great reviews I read and watch, such as this one. Thanks for the peak into what it’s like using this lens and also for the great photos!

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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Joe
May 6, 2024 12:39 pm

I’m glad you enjoyed my photos. I hope you can find a way to own this lens!

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Joe
Joe
Reply to  Massimo Vignoli
May 7, 2024 1:46 pm

Also since I can’t edit the post…

*peek

1
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Almact
Almact
May 6, 2024 4:17 am

This article was very informative great tips in regards to atmospheric distortion is a great reminder. Sees Nikon woth the z mount 400mmf2.8 tc and the z600mm f4 tc lens are too notch and faster focusing than previous models. I cant wait to get my own copy of the Z600mm f4 tc as its on order.

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Pete A
Pete A
Reply to  Almact
May 6, 2024 10:18 am

The main atmospheric effects of concern are termed:

• haze: light scattering due to water and other molecules suspended in the air.

• heat shimmer (aka heat haze): the continually changing refractive index of air due to turbulence as heat passes through it.

These effects are problematic for both super-telephoto photography and optical telescopes (solved by using space telescopes).

“Heat haze seen through exhaust gas from a jet engine”, Wikipedia:
comment image

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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Almact
May 6, 2024 12:44 pm

Thank you, Almost. Time runs fast, you are going to have very good photography sessions with this marvel sooner than you think!

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Marco Albanesi
Marco Albanesi
May 6, 2024 4:07 am

This beautiful article is accompanied by excellent images that highlight your ability to manage best both the situations that arise and the equipment. Congratulations Massimo

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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Marco Albanesi
May 6, 2024 12:35 pm

Thank you, buddy!

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Anatoly
Anatoly
May 5, 2024 10:26 pm

Beautiful photography!!! Very impressive!

1
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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Anatoly
May 6, 2024 12:33 pm

Thank you Anatoly

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Martin G
Martin G
May 5, 2024 4:56 pm

A wonderful set of photos. The trip and the skills on display are very impressive indeed. It’s clearly a brilliant lens in the right hands. I agree, sharp long primes are a delight to use. The addition of a built in TC makes this new Z mount 600 an exceptional choice. It is unfortunately out of reach for most of us.

1
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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Martin G
May 6, 2024 12:33 pm

Thank you Martin, you are very kind!

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Andrea
Andrea
May 5, 2024 10:19 am

Bravo Massimo, complimenti anche da parte mia per foto e recensione ..

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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Andrea
May 6, 2024 12:46 pm

Grazie Andrea

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Reply
Dionigi Colombo
Dionigi Colombo
May 5, 2024 3:17 am

Complimenti Massimo per le foto e per la recensione di questo magnifico obiettivo
…il mio inglese fa troppo pena🥶😅

0
Reply

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