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Home โ†’ Reviews โ†’ Cameras and Lenses โ†’ Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR Review

Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR Review

By Libor Vaicenbacher 160 Comments
Last Updated On April 9, 2025

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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

Nikon-Z-180-600mm-f5.6-6.3-MTF-Performance-180mm-2

Tamron-150-500mm-f5-6.7-MTF-Performance-150mm

Nikon-Z-70-180mm-f2.8-MTF-Performance-180mm

200mm

Nikon-Z-180-600mm-f5.6-6.3-MTF-Performance-200mm-2

Tamron-150-500mm-f5-6.7-MTF-Performance-200mm

Nikon Z 24-200mm f4-6.3 MTF Performance 200mm

Tamron-70-300mm-f4.5-6.3-MTF-Performance-200mm

Nikon-Z-100-400mm-f-4-5-5-6-VR-S-MTF-Performance-200mm

Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S MTF Performance 200mm

300mm

Nikon-Z-180-600mm-f5.6-6.3-MTF-Performance-300mm-2

Tamron-150-500mm-f5-6.7-MTF-Performance-300mm

Tamron-70-300mm-f4.5-6.3-MTF-Performance-300mm

Nikon-Z-70-200mm-f-2-8-VR-S-MTF-Performance-280mm-1-4x-Teleconverter

Nikon-Z-100-400mm-f-4-5-5-6-VR-S-MTF-Performance-300mm

400mm

Nikon-Z-180-600mm-f5.6-6.3-MTF-Performance-400mm-2

Tamron-150-500mm-f5-6.7-MTF-Performance-400mm

Nikon-Z-70-200mm-f-2-8-VR-S-MTF-Performance-400mm-2x-Teleconverter

Nikon-Z-100-400mm-f-4-5-5-6-VR-S-MTF-Performance-400mm

500mm

Nikon-Z-180-600mm-f5.6-6.3-MTF-Performance-500mm-2

Tamron-150-500mm-f5-6.7-MTF-Performance-500mm

Nikon-500mm-f5.6-E-PF-ED-VR-MTF-Performance

560-600mm

Nikon-Z-180-600mm-f5.6-6.3-MTF-Performance-600mm-2

Nikon-Z-600mm-f6.3-S-MTF-Performance-600mm

Nikon-Z-100-400mm-f-4-5-5-6-VR-S-MTF-Performance-560mm-1-4x-Teleconverter

800-840mm

Nikon-Z-180-600mm-f5.6-6.3-MTF-Performance-840mm

Nikon-Z-600mm-f6.3-S-MTF-Performance-840mm

Nikon-Z-100-400mm-f-4-5-5-6-VR-S-MTF-Performance-800mm-2x-Teleconverter

Nikon-Z-800mm-f6.3-VR-S-MTF-Performance

1200mm

Nikon-Z-180-600mm-f5.6-6.3-MTF-Performance-1200mm

Nikon-Z-600mm-f6.3-S-MTF-Performance-1200mm

Summary

Among the lenses shown here, in pure sharpness, it ranks like this:

  1. Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S, Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3, and Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF (tie)
  2. Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 S and Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 (tie)
  3. Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 and Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 (tie)
  4. Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7
  5. Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S with teleconverter
  6. Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 S with teleconverter
  7. 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.

Nikon Z 180-600mm_sample images_Sri Lanka 2023__LVP3938
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR @ 600mm, ISO 1000, 1/1000, f/6.3

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

  • Overview and Build Quality
  • Optical Features
  • Sharpness Comparisons
  • Verdict
  • More Sample Images
  • Reader Comments
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