When an 800mm lens appeared on Nikon’s lens roadmap in October 2021, I used to be instantly hooked. From the form and measurement of the silhouette, it was fairly clear that it will be a PF lens prioritizing portability. When the Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S was lastly introduced at a worth level even decrease than my moderately optimistic estimate, I pre-ordered it instantly. In comparison with many different photographers, I used to be fairly fortunate with the ready time and acquired the lens “solely” three months later.
And it was love at first use – the lens instantly grew to become my default selection for wildlife pictures. It matches my private use case completely. I largely do stalking-style pictures of birds, with out using hides, tents or different camouflage. So, attain and portability have all the time been key components for me. The 800mm f/6.3 is an ideal match for these necessities.
Now that I’ve spent a bit greater than three years with this lens, I’d wish to share my experiences with you on this article. For reference, I’ve used the lens virtually completely on the Nikon Z9 and Z8, so any feedback regarding AF efficiency and different components might not totally apply if used on different cameras.
Dealing with
It might sound trivial, however for me, a very powerful dealing with function of this lens is its spectacular mild weight. At just under 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs), it’s comparatively straightforward to hold round and handhold all day. The hand-held expertise is additional improved by the superb picture stabilization – the picture within the viewfinder is rock strong, even with a 1.4x TC at 1120mm!
I by no means systematically examined how good VR is, however it’s ok that topic movement normally might be an even bigger concern than lens and digital camera shake. I usually work at a shutter pace of 1/125 handheld for unmoving topics and get constantly good outcomes with that. It’s potential to get sharp photos at even longer publicity occasions than that, though keeper fee considerably drops.
Total, handholding the 800mm f/6.3 feels so pure that I by no means put it on a tripod apart from the few instances after I used it from a disguise or tent. Additionally, I typically use a miniature tripod for low perspective photographs. Nevertheless, remember that whether or not a lens is handholdable or not is a person determination and relies on how you employ it. I’m certain some individuals will want to make use of this lens on a tripod or monopod, particularly when staying in the identical place for a very long time, ready for a shot. However in case you’re nicely used to handholding lengthy telephoto lenses of round 2 kg, I feel it’s protected to imagine that you may be snug with this one, too.
Typically, unique supertelephoto lenses want some getting used to – that’s not restricted to this lens. So if you’re new to this, don’t fear if want just a few months to really feel snug with the lens, that’s completely regular.
On the subject of controls, the lens has all the pieces you’d anticipate from a lens on this class – perform buttons, switches, and management rings. Many of the controls are inside attain when holding the lens by its tripod foot. Briefly, the lens leaves nothing to be desired on that entrance, and I received’t go into additional particulars, besides about one factor: the customized management ring.
I’ve heard of many individuals who don’t use it as a result of it’s too susceptible to unintended manipulation. Personally, I take advantage of it for publicity compensation, which solves this situation as a result of “what you see is what you get” viewfinder: at any time when I unintentionally flip the ring, I see the impact instantly and may appropriate it. I discover this use of the management ring very helpful and shortly started to overlook it when working with lenses with out this function. It’s particularly useful if it’s good to make fast changes to publicity compensation, for instance with a hen flying in entrance of various backgrounds.
One other good element is the bag that is supplied with the lens. Whereas it isn’t as snug as a backpack to hold for longer time, it’s preferrred for shorter walks or transport e.g. in a automotive. Conveniently, the lens nonetheless matches into the bag with the Z9 connected.
Picture High quality
1. Sharpness
When the complete evaluate of this lens was printed right here on Pictures Life, the sharpness numbers and pattern pictures brought on fairly some dialogue, since they fell behind the expectations of many individuals. Even so, the measurements will not be unhealthy in any respect, simply decrease than the practically excellent 800mm f/5.6 FL that preceded this lens.
I nonetheless say this can be a very sharp lens; and in most real-world instances, you received’t see a lot of a distinction in comparison with sharper lenses just like the Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 PF. After regular post-processing with customary sharpening utilized, the pictures look completely sharp, and any potential softness is probably going not the lens’s fault. The larger perpetrator in lots of instances would be the elevated ISO values (you received’t shoot this lens at base ISO fairly often) and atmospheric distortion (extra on that later).
One factor you must also have in mind is working distance. Lab-based sharpness exams are carried out in a means that the topic/check chart fills the identical portion of the body with each lens. In real-world pictures, that is not often true; an 800mm lens will amplify your topic rather more than a shorter lens.
So, assuming the identical distance between you and your topic, the 800mm f/6.3 will provide you with extra element in your topic than virtually any different lens for Nikon Z. The one two lenses in the identical dialogue can be the 600mm f/4 TC with the built-in 1.4x teleconverter, or the 400mm f/2.8 TC with the 2x teleconverter. And people lenses are greater than twice the value and 1.5x the load!
2. Bokeh
One other a lot mentioned level about this lens, and PF lenses generally, is bokeh. PF lenses have a nasty fame in that division, which isn’t totally undeserved. How a lot this issues in observe relies upon rather a lot on what you shoot.
In case your background is on the busy aspect and has robust contrasts, it would look a bit worse in some instances with this lens than with non-PF lenses, like on this picture:
A non-PF lens in all probability would have dealt with the reeds within the background a bit higher. Nevertheless, that is normally not dramatic and received’t smash your photos. The one exception are robust specular highlights, and even these don’t all the time look that unhealthy. Personally, I didn’t encounter critical points with fairly often, however in case you wish to shoot backlight photos with water within the background, this lens won’t be your most suitable option!
Nevertheless, the lens handles many tough backgrounds fairly nicely. The next pattern picture exhibits some robust, barely out-of-focus contrasts in a backlight scenario. Contemplating these difficult situations, the transitions really look fairly good to me, and that is doubtless as a result of lens’s glorious anti-flare coatings.
Additionally, attributable to its lengthy focal size, this lens has a really shallow depth of area vast open, regardless of the comparatively sluggish aperture of 6.3. Which means, in case your topic is an inexpensive distance away from the background, the background will merely soften right into a creamy blur, leading to a clean bokeh and ideal topic isolation.
Total, I actually like how this lens renders pictures. I really feel like many photos have a “better-than-real-world look.” That is in all probability as a result of mixture of robust background blurring, topic compression, and the commonly superb optical traits of the lens (low chromatic aberration, good distinction, minimal flare). The sharpness traits don’t impair that normal impression in any respect.
3. Use with TCs
With a focal size of 800mm, a TC isn’t required fairly often. However in case you ever really feel the necessity to transcend 1000mm, the lens works pretty nicely with the 1.4x TC, getting you to 1120mm at f/9. I’ve used this mix just a few occasions and have been positively stunned by the outcomes. Not that the TC doesn’t have an effect on picture high quality, however it’s nonetheless rather a lot higher than cropping and upscaling. Each AF and VR nonetheless work very nicely, and sharpness may be very acceptable. Results like chromatic aberration (which is a non-issue with the naked lens) can happen with a TC, however to not a level that it’s an issue in post-processing.
The above image is a 100% crop, so that you get a real-life impression of pixel-level sharpness and picture high quality with the 1.4x TC after a traditional post-processing routine (no AI sharpening or noise discount utilized, simply Lightroom’s default settings). Remember that that is an absolute best-case state of affairs, with a fairly stationary topic, the lens mounted on a strong tripod, and ideal lighting.
I don’t personal a 2x TC, however I as soon as had the chance to check it for just a few hours. Briefly, 1600mm at f/13 is about as sensible because it sounds. Whereas it’s potential to take fairly sharp pictures, the AF consistency takes a major drop, and it’s usually unattainable to keep away from points with atmospheric distortion. The next image is among the many sharpest I managed to get beneath superb real-world situations with minimal atmospheric distortion.
Because the earlier pattern, it’s a 100% crop with regular post-processing, together with Lightroom’s default sharpening and noise discount.
When to Use This Lens
800mm is unquestionably a specialised focal size, so what’s it good for? Let’s take a look.
1. Small to Medium Topics at Shorter Distances
It might sound counterintuitive, however in accordance with my expertise, this lens shines most at quick to medium distances (say, as much as 15 m/50 ft). On this vary, you’ll be able to fill your body properly with smaller topics and get unimaginable element in instances the place you’d be cropping greater than preferrred with focal lengths within the 500-600mm vary. That makes the lens an important selection for smaller birds and mammals, for instance. It’s a bit like taking pictures a 500mm lens on a DX physique (750mm equal), simply with full-frame decision and picture high quality.
Nevertheless, concentrate on the lens’s minimal focal distance of 5 m/16.4 ft – for very small topics, like e. g. dragonflies, the 800mm f/6.3 PF isn’t preferrred.
2. Greater Topics at Longer Distances
In fact, you can too take photos of larger topics at longer distances with this lens, however you’ll quickly run into points with atmospheric distortion. Below regular situations, I expertise atmospheric points from about 15 m/50 ft and past. It may be prevalent at shorter distances too, particularly if I shoot near the bottom for a low perspective.
Solely beneath preferrred situations, like on a cool, overcast day, is it potential to take completely clear photographs at considerably longer distances. Clearly, this is identical situation with another lens on the identical distance (or with cropping from a shorter lens). Simply don’t anticipate this lens to be a magic instrument to get excellent photographs from lengthy distances due to its lengthy focal size! Getting nearer to your topic all the time beats taking pictures by means of a thick layer of ambiance.
3. How About Motion?
For motion photographs, shorter focal lengths, and particularly zoom lenses, are sometimes higher suited; and for such use instances, the 800mm f/6.3 isn’t my first selection. In fact, that doesn’t imply you’ll be able to’t take motion photographs with this lens – you’re only a bit restricted. Specifically, the framing is so tight that it’s powerful to comply with the motion and ensure your topic is completely within the body.
In instances the place the motion occurs a bit additional away from you, and your topic(s) are at a kind of fixed distance, you may get nice photographs with the 800mm f/6.3. Simply needless to say you may be contending with atmospheric distortion in lots of of those instances.
With birds in flight, it’s an identical story. For birds with a predictable flight path, like herons, raptors or cranes, the lens is nice. Smaller, extra erratic flying species like swifts or swallows are extra of a problem although, and I’d want a shorter lens (each in bodily in addition to focal size) anytime for that – it’s actually tough to comply with these birds with such an extended lens. In fact, you’ll be able to handle to get some good photographs with time and observe, however there are nonetheless significantly better choices. An important possibility that’s a lot inexpensive is the Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3.
The excellent news is that you simply by no means want to fret about AF pace. Though the 800mm f/6.3 doesn’t function Nikon’s most superior “silky swift” VCM AF system, it nonetheless focuses in a short time and may simply sustain with even the fastest-flying birds. The f/6.3 most aperture has not been a hinderance in my expertise with this lens’s AF pace.
4. On-the-Go Birder’s Dream?
Many birders these days carry cameras and telephoto lenses with them for file and “reminiscence” photographs. Gentle weight, compact measurement and lengthy attain are normally extra necessary issues than final picture high quality. At 800mm, this lens seems like an important possibility for file photographs, however whereas it’s comparatively compact for a lens of its class, it’s nonetheless an enormous and heavy piece of glass in comparison with another choices.
So, regardless of the alluring attain, it wouldn’t be my first suggestion for a birder on the lookout for an easy-to-carry telephoto lens. The Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 might be a more sensible choice attributable to its outstanding portability. In the event you don’t thoughts weight and measurement (and worth), although, this lens is actually nice for taking high-quality file photographs!
Personally, I discover this lens preferrred for journeys the place I do birding and pictures side-by-side. The mixture of lengthy attain, good picture high quality, and portability is ideal for conditions the place pictures isn’t my high precedence, however I nonetheless need to get some nice photographs. This has labored very nicely for me on a number of journeys to date, and I solely go away the lens behind for a smaller possibility if I’m measurement/weight restricted or if birding clearly is a precedence over pictures.
Accent Suggestions
As with all telephoto lenses, there’s a variety of equipment accessible for the 800mm f/6.3 PF lens – covers, straps, you identify it. Personally, I carry it with the default lens strap, and I’m not an enormous fan of lens covers, however I perceive that many individuals like the extra safety – it certainly does assist keep away from scratches and different superficial injury.
One factor that I undoubtedly advocate, although, is a third-party lens cap. The offered “cap” (or bag, moderately) is big and cumbersome to take off when in a rush. A correct lens cap additionally reduces the footprint of the lens in your bag.
In the event you plan to make use of the lens on a tripod usually, an arca-swiss suitable lens foot is clearly a good suggestion as nicely. And in case you ceaselessly shoot within the rain, particularly from a static tripod the place your digital camera could also be uncovered for hours at a time, a rain cowl is important.
Conclusion
The Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S is without doubt one of the best-value tremendous telephoto lenses available on the market at present, with its distinctive mixture of lengthy attain, good picture high quality, small measurement and weight, and comparatively low price (a minimum of in comparison with different exotics just like the 400mm f/2.8 and 600mm f/4). Whereas it’s a specialised lens, I feel it’s nonetheless a very good possibility for a lot of photographers concerned with birds and wildlife.
I discover that the first use case of this lens is for photographers whose fashion is like mine: no tent or camouflage, no fastened tripod ready for hours on finish, and no close by “tame” topic that you may strategy simply. It’s exhausting to beat the attain and maneuverability of this lens when photographing difficult topics.
All this stuff mixed lead me to a very powerful conclusion: It’s a enjoyable lens to make use of! You may simply take it alongside casually and get nice photographs with out a lot trouble. In fact, the lens doesn’t magically flip each shot right into a masterpiece – you continue to have to consider composition, perspective and lightweight. And also you even have to consider atmospheric distortion and picture high quality much more than ordinary at 800mm. Nonetheless, you are able to do this with out lugging round an excessive amount of weight or scaring away your topic on a regular basis, which makes wildlife pictures a lot extra pleasing.
Extra Pictures
The next pictures present some extra of the lens traits in numerous settings:
I hope you loved this long-term evaluate, and let me know within the feedback when you have any questions concerning the Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 S!