Nikon has announced the Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S super telephoto lens, which comes with a jaw-dropping $27.5K price tag from the Nikon webstore, will be available overseas from the end of November.
Nikon Australia didn’t include the RRP or availability for this lens. While being tight-lipped about the pertinent pricing and availability details became a habit for the camera brands in Australia several years ago, most have more recently abandoned the strategy.
Nikon appears to be soldiering on with keeping pricing out of the press materials. When a lens costs almost $30,000 – a pre-Covid outer suburbs house deposit or brand new car – it seems like details worth mentioning. Although the danger is the price tag becomes the story in itself.
Pricing aside, the lens is impressive and will be a welcome addition to some Nikon photographers’ kits. Such as serious professional sports and wildlife photographers, or cashed up surgeons eyeing off that next African safari trip, and photo and news agency inventory stocks.
For those who feel 600mm doesn’t quite cut it, the lens includes an in-built 1.4x teleconverter to expand the focal length to 840mm.
The weight is 3260 grams, which is more than twice the weight of Nikon’s flagship Z 9.
Here is the press release:
Performance that defies expectations – NIKKOR Z 600mm f4 TC VR S
Meet Nikon’s most reliable and robust lens yet – a super-telephoto lens that equips users with an elevated shooting experience
Sydney, Australia –Nikon Australia introduces the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S, the latest S-Line super-telephoto lens that is a culmination of reliability, mobility, and uncompromised performance. Housed in a well-balanced body, the lens weighs approximately 3,260g and is designed with a built-in teleconverter to provide users with the agility of easily switching between focal lengths and stability even when panning on a monopod or during handheld shooting. Thanks to the combination of the Meso Amorphous Coat and Nano Crystal Coat, this lens excels when shooting in backlit situations.
“Encased in a robust body, the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S offers unrivalled shooting capabilities. Fitted in a compact body, the lens’ 1.4x built-in teleconverter also covers two focal lengths, which is paramount in providing flexibility in usage and portability in weight for users who also desire the high performance S-Line optics deliver. The exceptional rendering capabilities, versatility, and reliability of the lens is set to excite professionals and creators alike when it comes to expressing and showcasing their captures in ultra-sharp detail,” said John Young, General Manager, Marketing for Nikon Asia.
NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S PRIMARY FEATURES
Superior Image Rendering Capabilities
Giving users an immersive, stress-free shooting experience by providing top tier anti-reflection performance and high resolution, the NIKKOR Z 600MM F/4 TC VR S’s combination of optical technology inherits the best of the S-Line image rendering capabilities.
The incorporation of Extra-low Dispersion (ED), super ED glass, fluorite lens, and Short-wavelength Refractive (SR) enables users to achieve crisp, high-resolution images with suppressed chromatic aberration, and minimal colour bleeding and flaring with every capture. Further supported with Nikon’s latest Meso Amorphous Coat, the super-telephoto lens provides unequivocal anti-reflection performance that is twice as effective in diffracting light coming in both diagonally and vertically. With the coat working in synergy with the Nano Crystal Coat, the lens effectively reduces flares and ghost effects in situations where backlight or strong light sources are present such as in major sporting events.
Versatility At Its Finest
The intelligent, compact design of the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S enables the housing of two focal lengths: with a simple flick of a switch, users can shift between focal lengths of 600mm and 840mm with the built-in 1.4x teleconverter, or experience a further extension of up to 1176mm using the combination of the built-in teleconverter and Z TELECONVERTER TC-1.4x [1]. Users will find that focusing at long distances or the infinity point is still sharp, crucial when capturing the action from a far distance and struggling with heat haze coming from racing or running tracks.
Stay mobile and versatile with the lens weighing only approximately 3,260g – 550g lighter than its F mount equivalent – and measuring a notable 437mm in length to fit into one’s camera backpack in perfect accommodation for travels. Easy to use handheld, this lens enables users to shoot with confidence even if they have to out on the field all day. The lens’ centre of gravity, placed in the middle of the tripod collar, is strategically positioned to be closer to the photographer for excellent body weight distribution and operability. This enables one to attain a shooting experience with the utmost stability when shooting handheld and to achieve an ease of panning when using on a monopod.
Giving users the stability and confidence to capture sharp images in a variety of situations be it in aviation photography or capturing alpine skiing in action, the lens is equipped with Vibration Reduction (VR) of up to a 5.0 stop [2]. With this function, the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S effectively counters camera shake at its super-telephoto focal distance or during low light conditions where slower shutter speeds are required. Image blurring reduction is amplified further with the 5.5-stop2 Synchro VR, which is activated when used in conjunction with the Z 9. Users who wish to use the lens for tracking fast and erratic moving subjects while being on wildlife expeditions or motocross racing finals, can further utilise the SPORT mode that equips one with the ability to track subjects easily when doing continuous burst high-speed shooting.
Beyond simply capturing images in excellent resolution, the autofocus (AF) drive motor utilises an optical ABS (absolute) encoder – that functions as a super-accurate ruler and precisely detects and measure the amounts of positioning change of the focus lens groups at approximately 20 times precision. Coupled with the Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor (SSVCM) [3] to drive speed and accuracy while simultaneously operating at near-silence, the lens responses quickly in decisive moments with faster reaction times.
Video recordings also benefit from the Silky Swift VCM’s AF drive technology to ensure a quiet operation during moments where silence is imperative. Enjoy effective focus-breathing compensation, and stable exposure from a smooth aperture control with a lens that is designed with consideration for video shoots as well.
Customisable and with Easy Operability
Highly customisable, the lens is designed with a customisable Fn ring, control ring, focus ring, and lens Fn buttons to equip its users with a wide range of control. In addition, the lens also incorporates a well-placed teleconverter switch which helps users maintain their position and change focal lengths. Users simply operate the switch with their right hand whilst holding the camera grip, offering an uninterrupted and seamless shooting experience without noticeable loss of image quality. With the memory recall function [4], save precious time by assigning and setting favourite focus position at the press of a button.
A Lens You Can Depend On
Users can shoot with peace of mind with the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S. With sealing on various moving sections of the lens barrel including the rubber gasket on the lens mount, dust and liquid [5] are prevented from entering the lens. Furthermore, the highly robust magnesium alloy used on the lens barrel improves the durability of the lens during unexpected outdoor weather conditions.
For an uncomplicated maintenance and care, fluorine coat is also applied to the front-most surface of the lens – preventing contaminants from sticking onto the lens and enabling easy cleaning. Rounding up the worry-free shooting experience is the lens’ very own security slot that is compatible with security wires widely available in the market.
The NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S’s finishing is one of class and elegance with a metal plate for its model name, and the familiar well-loved Nikon yellow ring and S metal emblems to complete its polished sophistication as the latest addition to the ever-expanding NIKKOR Z range.
*Firmware update to the latest version is required when using this lens. In the case that the update is not completed, the lens may not be recognised, or some functions may not be usable.
Availability
For more information on the new NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S and other Nikon products, please visit https://www.nikon.com.au/nikkor-z-600mm-f-4-tc-vr-s.
Footnotes:
[1] Depending 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.
[2] Based on CIPA standard. This value is achieved when attached to a camera with full-frame (Nikon FX-format) sensor, with the camera’s VR function set to “NORMAL”, and the built-in teleconverter disabled. Measured at the maximum telephoto position.
[3] A new 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 a strong magnetic field created by a powerful magnet.
[4] To use the memory recall function, firmware update to the latest version is required.
[5] Thorough dust- and drip-resistance is not guaranteed in all situations or under all conditions.
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