Nikon Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR Lens Review
The range of Nikon Nikkor Z lenses for full frame mirrorless cameras continues to expand, with a generous amount of emphasis on lenses likely to be of interest to keen enthusiasts as well as professionals and pitched at more affordable prices than the top of the range S series. For those who like wildlife and sports photography, this 180-600mm zoom lens in its relatively trim form could be an absolutely ideal balance between that affordability and yet with the high performance that we have come to expect from the Nikon Z series. We couple the new lens up with the 45.7MP full frame Nikon Z7 II camera body, so let’s see how it all works out in practice.
Nikon Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR Handling and Features
Although relatively compact at 110mm x 315.8mm, the lens still weighs in at 1955g without tripod collar and 2140g with. This is by no means the heaviest lens of its type, but still like loading a couple of bags of sugar onto the front of the camera. There is a large round bayonet fit lens hood provided and this does an excellent job of shielding the lens from stray and unwanted light. There is a retaining clip that keeps the hood securely in place. Within the bayonet fit for the hood is a standard 95mm filter thread.
First up are the four equally spaced L-Fn buttons, which can be programmed for a wide variety of functions from the camera menus. Behind this is a large, well gripped zoom ring that uses internal zooming so the length of the lens does not alter. There are clear markings at 180mm, 200mm, 300mm, 400mm, 500mm and 600mm.
The slim control ring can also be programmed for various functions, but typically, this might be used for manual focus. A tripod collar is provided that also enables the orientation of the camera to be altered when on a tripod. There are just two buttons, one for A/M focus selection and the other being a focus limiter. The options for AF are full range and 6m to infinity. AF is via a stepping motor, which is very quiet and also fast and accurate. The nearest focus point varies depending on the zoom position, but the maximum magnification available is 0.25x, or 1:4. This gives very useful close up ability. Focus breathing is also suppressed, so the lens is very much intended to be useful to videographers as well as photographers.
| Focal Length | Closest focus m | Closest focus ft |
| 180mm | 1.3 | 4.27 |
| 200mm | 1.36 | 4.47 |
| 300mm | 1.67 | 5.48 |
| 400mm | 1.94 | 6.37 |
| 500mm | 2.19 | 7.19 |
| 600mm | 2.4 | 7.88 |
Optical construction is 25 elements in 17 groups, including 6 ED (Extra Low Dispersion), 1 Aspherical and a Fluorine coated front element to repel dust, grease and water. The diaphragm comprises 9 blades. The lens also has weather sealing, virtually essential for an outdoor, wildlife/sports orientated optic.
The VR system seems effective and 5.5 stops a fair expectation, depending upon the photographer on any particular day, as we all vary in our stability. Tests on the use of VR or not on a tripod indicate that it doesn’t make much, if any, difference and both sets of images are equally sharp. However, if doing precision composition on a tripod, then switching VR off will be more convenient as this will prevent the viewfinder image floating about. If used hand held the VR system is, of course, invaluable. It differentiates between standard and sports settings and the latter stabilises the viewfinder image as well. Of course, VR will do nothing to stabilise moving subjects.
The lens is also compatible with Nikon Z teleconverters, the 1.4xTC giving a range of 252-840mm and the 2xTC offering a range of 360-1200mm. Further magnification can be obtained by using an APS-C crop format camera, which will increase those figures by 1.5x crop factor.
Carrying a big heavy lens also needs to be considered, and this reviewer finds that using a camera sling goes a long way towards solving the problem. One hand on the tripod collar’s handle to be sure the camera does not become detached unexpectedly seems to be a sensible additional precaution.
Nikon Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR Performance
The usual Imatest testing could not be carried out as very long lenses require moving outdoors to find enough distance from the test chart. This needs dry, still and evenly bright conditions and rain, wind and even snow made it impossible during the test period. However, using alternative methods a guide as to sharpness can be offered. The centre is pleasingly sharp from f/5.6 through to f/16, with a peak of crispness at around f/11, maintaining the standard well at f/16 and then becoming progressively softer at f/22 and especially at f/32. The edges offer slightly lower sharpness than the centre at f/5.6 and f/8, but it is still good, crisp up very nicely at f/11, keep up the sharpness well at f/16 and then fade away and become softer at f/22 and especially at f/32.
CA (Chromatic Aberration) is very well controlled, and should not be a problem for most images.
Distortion is highly corrected, no doubt assisted by the camera, and straight lines stay satisfyingly straight.
Bokeh is the quality, smoothness or gradation of the out of focus areas in an image. The nine bladed diaphragm helps to give us a very pleasing look to the out of focus areas, even when that background is a busy mass of intertwined branches. This should be excellent for a birding lens in particular.
Flare is a difficult one with so many elements, but is only really intrusive when very strong light sources are at the edge of the frame, as in our extreme flare test. Otherwise, flare is handled well.
Vignetting is also modest and is not an issue.
Nikon Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR Sample Photos
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Value for Money
The [AMUK]Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR|Nikkor Z+180-600mm+f/5.6-6.3+VR[/AMUK] lens is priced at £1799.00
This compares to the following possible alternatives for wildlife/birding lenses for the Nikon Z system:
- [AMUK]Nikkor Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 S|Nikkor Z+lens[/AMUK], £2399
- [AMUK]Nikkor Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S|Nikkor Z+lens[/AMUK], £2899
- [AMUK]Nikkor Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S|Nikkor Z+lens[/AMUK], £4999
- [AMUK]Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 S|Nikkor Z+lens[/AMUK], £5799
- [AMUK]Nikkor Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S|Nikkor Z+lens[/AMUK], £13,499
- [AMUK]Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S|Nikkor Z+lens[/AMUK], £15,499
- [AMUK]Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD|Tamron+lens[/AMUK], £1249
- [AMUK]TT Artisan 500mm f/6.3|Artisan+lens[/AMUK], £499
The new lens looks very fair value.
Nikon Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR Verdict
It is a delight to find a long range telephoto zoom lens that combines excellent quality with a more affordable price tag, bringing higher quality wildlife and birding shots well into the range of enthusiastic hobbyist photographers as well as professionals. Equally well, the lens caters for sports, and even landscape and some close ups as well. The close focusing is an added bonus on top of the other possibilities the lens offers. The price is reasonable and within the range of many more photographers than the very expensive S series optics.
Yet again, the |Nikon Z system delivers the goods and the Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens is Highly Recommended.
Nikon Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR Pros
- Excellent central sharpness
- Excellent edge sharpness stopped down
- Low CA
- Lovely smooth bokeh
- Dust and splash resistant
- Modest vignetting
- Fast, accurate and silent AF
- Close focusing to near macro magnification
- Virtually rectilinear (no distortion)
- 5.5 stops VR
- Good flare control
Nikon Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR Cons
- Some flare in extreme lighting
[REVIEW_FOOTER]R_features=5|R_handling=4.5|R_performance=4.5|R_value=4.5|R_overall=4.5|A_level=4.5|A_text=Highly Recommended – A keenly priced long telephoto zoom that handles well and delivers the goods |E_id=8027[/REVIEW_FOOTER]
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Source: Photography News
Nikon Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR Lens Review
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