For a lens with a focal length of 180-600mm, one would expect to spend a lot money. Especially so with a lens that happens to feature built-in stabilisation. Sure, lots of cameras have IBIS now, but IBIS combined with lens stabilisation is almost always going to provide the best final result. But Nikon’s new Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens (buy here), while still not cheap, by any means, is much less expensive than I was anticipating.
Aimed at wildlife, sports and aircraft photographers, the lens $1,699. That’s pretty reasonable. And while the shortest end of the focal length range might be a little longer, it’s $300 cheaper than Sigma’s 60-600mm f/4.5-6/3 DG DN OS Sports lens (buy here). Given that Nikon isn’t even really competing with Sigma, this is a pleasantly surprising price from Nikon.
With a focal length of 180-600mm, it starts off already quite telephoto at the short end. But as you rack that focal length from 180mm up to 600mm, the lens never changes length thanks to an internal zoom mechanism. It offers up to 5.5 stops of optical image stabilisation or “Vibration Reduction” (VR), as Nikon calls it. You only seem to get this when using a full-frame Nikon body, however.
Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras all feature IBIS. Their APS-C mirrorless cameras, on the other hand, don’t. You can, of course, use this lens on APS-C bodies, but without the advantage of IBIS, the stabilising power will be diminished somewhat. Nikon doesn’t specify how much wobble-stopping power you use without a body containing IBIS.
Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR Specs
Focal Length | 180-600mm |
Max aperture | f/5.6-6.3 |
Mount | Nikon Z |
Format | Full-Frame |
Focus Type | Autofocus |
Minimum Focus Distance | 1.3m @ 180mm to 2.4m @ 600mm |
Stabilisation | Nikon VR (5.5 stops on full-frame) |
Filter Diameter | 95mm |
Dimensions | 110 x 315.5mm |
Weight | 1,955g |
Price and Availability
The Nikon Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens is available to pre-order now for $1,699 and is starts shipping in mid-July.
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