Take a 600mm lens, give it an f/4 maximum aperture, then combine it with an 840mm f/5.6, mix together and produce a terrific new sports and wildlife optic for the Nikon Z mirrorless cameras. This is exactly what Nikon have achieved, thanks to including a built-in teleconverter that can be dialled in at will. As if that were not enough, add 5.5 stop vibration reduction and the whole can even be tolerably handheld. There is a price tag to this wizardry, but we'll come back to that later in the review. For now, we take the Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S, mount it on the 45MP Nikon Z7 body and venture out to see how it handles, as well as running the lens through the usual technical tests. Let's see how we did.
Nikon Z 600mm F/4 TC Handling and Features
Imagine that the camera body has been loaded up with three and a quarter bags of sugar and it gives an idea as to what this 3260g lens feels like in use. It's heavy. However, when first picked up, from its size we expected it to be much heavier than it actually is. It is very well-balanced and this does make it much easier to handle. Before anything else though, it is necessary to update the firmware on the Z7 body. It is more than not all the functions working without an update, it is everything at a full stop as the camera will not play until it is done. As it happens the process is quick and easy.
The lens is still large, even if fairly compact when compared with some DSLR lenses. It measures some 165mm (6.5”) in diameter and 427mm (17.3”) in length. There is a large round lenshood supplied and this is simply pushed into place and secured by a knurled knob. There is no filter thread at the front of the lens as 46mm filters are inserted in a slot at the back. The enormous front element would be very vulnerable, but with the hood in place is very well protected. It has a Fluorine coating to repel dust, dirst, grease and moisture. There is also dust and moisture sealing throughout the lens.
Starting at the front of the lens, we first find the four L-Fn2 buttons, equally spaced around the body. These can be programmed via the camera menus. Behind this is the Fn ring, which can be rotated to recall any memorised focus distance. Continuing, there is the control ring which can also be programmed for various functions, such as a silent aperture ring (ideal for videographers) or exposure compensation. The manual focus ring is generously sized and affords an excellent grip. As expected, being electronic in operation it is utterly smooth. It is also damped to just the right degree to make manual focusing easy but not so easy that the ring can be accidentally moved. Focusing is down to 4.3m, for a maximum magnification of 0.14x. Switching the TC in does not alter the minimum focusing distance, so the magnification then becomes 0.2x.
AF is driven by SSCCM Silky Swift Voice Coil Motors supported by an optical ABS encoder that ensures fast, accurate and virtually silent AF operation. When coupled with the 5.5 stop Synchro VR then the way the lens focuses, locks and the image stabilises is quite a remarkable effect in the viewfinder. The VR is quite up to spec as well and makes a dramatic difference to the sharpness, even when mounted on a tripod. The instructions do note that on a tripod VR can be left switched on to stabilise tripod shake, and this can be borne out by comparing resolution figures with and without VR. With camera bodies without Synchro VR there is 5 stops advantage, but either way, it is dramatic and very useful. Hand-held ultra-telephoto photography becomes so much easier and the results are so much better.
The tripod collar ring is loosened using a small knob and the orientation of the lens can then be rotated accordingly. Also on the tripod collar are two strap eyelets, a very sensible addition for securely carrying the lens. Within the tightening knob is the attachment for a security cable, another sensible addition.
The L-Fn button is also programmable from the camera menus, and in addition on the opposite side of the lens barrel, we have the memory set. Just behind this is the A/M switch for auto or manual focus and the focus limiter with just two choices of either full range or infinity to 10m.
The built-in teleconverter is another boon, and this is switched in and out with a large lever. There is also a lock to prevent the lever from being accidentally nudged and spurious results being found. The optical components thud into place and the 600mm f/4 lens becomes an 840mm f/5.6. Quality is maintained, and if that is not enough then the lens is also compatible with the Z series 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters.
Finally, the filter slot can be withdrawn and the filter drawer allows the use of 46mm screw-in filters. There is an optional polarising filter assembly C-PL460 that comprises a complete drawer with the ability to rotate the polariser.
Lens construction is 26 elements in 20 groups, of which the teleconverter comprises 7 elements in 4 groups. There are 3 ED (Extra Low Dispersion), 1 Super ED, 2 SR (Short Wave Refractive) and 2 Fluorite elements. Fluorite elements in particular are expensive and difficult to manufacture. The diaphragm comprises 9 blades, for improved bokeh, although at 600mm and 840mm out-of-focus backgrounds are pretty much par for the course. Apart from the previously mentioned Fluorine coat on the front element, Nikon uses elements with meso-amorphous and nano crystal coats.
There is a caveat in the instructions that the lens has a magnetic field and should be kept away from magnetic storage such as credit card strips. Checking this with a magnetic compass there is a magnetic field but it is quite localised and does not extend very far from the lens. I don't keep my credit cards pressed up against lenses, so all is well.
There is no doubt this is a great lens to use and most of the time it ended up being used handheld. The Imatest shots were done using a tripod, still using VR as the results were better that way, not by much but enough to make a slight difference. A tripod with the head loosened is a good way to use the lens, but a monopod was found to be a bit unwieldy and I quickly discarded it. Carrying the lens takes a bit of care as it is large and unwieldy, but the cost is a powerful incentive indeed to making sure it is duly cosseted. This is a great and obvious choice for sports and wildlife photographers, although for sure there will be some who use it for fashion shoots and any other genre that takes the imagination.
Nikon Z 600mm F/4 TC Performance
So, VR switched on, sharpness centrally is excellent from f/4 right the way through to f/16. It is still very good at f/22 and it is only at f/32 where diffraction takes the edge off and results are just fair. The edges are also excellent from f/4 to f/16, very good at f/22 and fair at f/32. It is worth noting that centre and edge figures are almost identical over much of the range of apertures, a very impressive even result.
Nikon Z 600mm F/4 TC MTF Charts
How to read our MTF chartsThe blue column represents readings from the centre of the picture frame at the various apertures and the green is from the edges.The scale on the left side is an indication of actual image resolution and sharpness as LW/PH and is described in detail above. The taller the column, the better the lens performance. For this review, the lens was tested on a Nikon Z 7 using Imatest. Want to know more about how we review lenses? |
CA (Chromatic Aberration) is measured with in-camera corrections switched off, as far as we can know anyway. The figures measured are almost down to zero and colour fringing is duly banished.
Nikon Z 600mm F/4 TC Chromatic Aberration Charts
How to read our CA chartsChromatic aberration (CA) is the lens' inability to focus on the sensor or film all colours of visible light at the same point. Severe chromatic aberration gives a noticeable fringing or a halo effect around sharp edges within the picture. It can be cured in software.Apochromatic lenses have special lens elements (aspheric, extra-low dispersion etc) to minimize the problem, hence they usually cost more. For this review, the lens was tested on a Nikon Z 7 using Imatest. |
Flare is not a problem, being virtually banished. The hood itself protects very well, but also there are plenty of coating features to ensure no unwanted reflections.
Distortion can be measured at +0.04% pincushion, which we might as well regard as perfectly rectilinear. If architectural shots ever fall within the brief then straight lines will remain straight lines.
Bokeh is beautiful, and with such a long focal length it is not difficult to achieve gorgeous out-of-focus backgrounds.
Vignetting is very modest, with little sign of corner darkening.
| Aperture | Vignetting |
| f/4 | -1 |
| f/5.6 | -1 |
| f/8 | -0.9 |
| f/11 | -0.9 |
| f/16 | -0.9 |
| f/22 | -0.9 |
| f/32 | -0.9 |
Nikon Z 600mm F/4 TC Sample Photos
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Value For Money
The cost has been mentioned twice so far, and now it is time to think about that and get down to specifics.
The Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S lens is priced at £15,499. Nikon also has the Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S at £6299. Nikon DSLR users have the AF-S Nikkor 600mm f/4 E FL ED VR at £12,999.
Just to put it in perspective, other marques fare as follows:
- Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM, £14,179
- Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM, £829
- Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM, £11,999
At this sort of price level, we are looking at professional sports and wildlife photographers, or relatively well-off enthusiasts, and if the lens fits the requirements then the cost will be absorbed over many years of hard work and earning potential. Considering what has gone into the new Nikon lens and its performance and potential, even at that high price the value for money might well be considered fair enough.
For more lens options, have a look at our lens top lists which feature optics we've reviewed and compiled into easy-to-read lists so you can make more informed decisions.
Nikon Z 600mm F/4 TC Verdict
It is a sobering thought that the cost of a lens could be more than the value of the car it is being carried in, and that is the way it was. But despite that cost, which will price many of us out of ownership, for those who need it and who earn a living from its use, then the two lenses in one that the teleconverter provides will be an amazing advantage. Then, years down the line, the price will have been long forgotten.
Getting past cost though, the lens is without any doubt absolutely superb and its performance is exemplary. Despite being bulky and heavy, even that burden is quite a bit less than it could be, especially considering the relatively fast and bright f/4 aperture.
As with so many very expensive lenses, we know the quality is there and if we need it/want it and can afford it, then the value for money is already there.
| Highly Recommended - A seriously superb lens for sports and wildlife. |
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