Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 Compared
There are a variety of alternatives to the Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6 in Nikon’s lineup, and while we haven’t yet tested them all in the lab (most notably the 400mm f/4.5), I will show below as many comparisons as possible, going by focal length.
Note that the results below do not include tests from the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6. We tested that lens in the lab years ago, but only on the 36-megapixel Nikon D810 with a different test chart. In early 2024, we will be re-testing that lens in our new lab to match the rest of our tests.
Also, you can take a look at my full comparison of Nikon supertelephoto lenses to see how these numbers translate into real-world photos.
150-180mm
200mm
300mm
400mm
500mm
560-600mm
800-840mm
1200mm
Summary
Among the lenses shown here, in pure sharpness, it ranks like this:
- Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S, Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3, and Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF (tie)
- Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 S and Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 (tie)
- Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 and Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 (tie)
- Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7
- Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S with teleconverter
- Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 S with teleconverter
- Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4.5-6.3
As I mentioned in the previous section, a big positive of the Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 is that it’s so consistent across focal lengths. Sharpness does not dip significantly at any focal length. However, it falls short of the near-perfect sharpness of some Nikon supertelephotos, including the Z 600mm f/6.3 S.
That might not be a surprise considering that the 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 is a non-S zoom, and it undercuts every other Nikon Z supertelephoto in price. I would have been very surprised to see it beat even the Z 100-400mm, let alone primes like the Z 600mm f/6.3 and 500mm f/5.6E. However, there is no focal length or aperture at which this is a bad lens. It comes out of this comparison looking a little weaker, but not bad.
The next page of this review sums up everything and explains the pros and cons of the Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3. So, click the menu below to go to “Verdict”:
Table of Contents