For wildlife photographers seeking to seize small or elusive animals of their pure habitat, a supertelephoto lens with a focal size of 600mm is a wonderful software. At present, Nikon has two 600mm primes of their Z Collection lineup: the Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S and the Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S.
These lenses have a significant distinction in value, with the f/6.3 lens costing $4,800 in comparison with the f/4 lens costing $15,500. For skilled photographers or these with a number of disposable earnings, is the worth distinction worthwhile? On this article, I’ll evaluate these two lenses and spotlight their distinctions within the area.
Measurement and Weight
Here’s a comparative desk of dimensions and weights between these two lenses:
| Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S | Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1395 g (3.08 lbs) | 7.19 g |
| Size | 278 mm (10.9 inches) | 437 mm (17.2 inches) |
| Diameter | 109 mm (4.3 inches) | 165 mm (6.5 inches) |
And let’s make sense of this information with some comparative photos:
For wildlife photographers who usually traverse lengthy distances, generally over rugged or steep terrain, gear weight and dimensions are essential concerns.
The Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S is a considerable lens. Whereas Nikon has considerably decreased its weight in comparison with earlier F-mount 600mm f/4 lenses – to the purpose the place I can usually shoot handheld with this lens – it stays a telephoto lens that requires a monopod, tripod, or bean bag in most conditions. Carrying this setup for hours in mountainous terrain could be exhausting and will restrict your agility and creativity. For that reason, I solely take it to the mountains if I’m sure the path received’t be too technical or overly difficult.
The Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S, then again, is an entire revolution when it comes to portability for a 600mm lens. It is a wonderful alternative for handheld capturing and transport in much less cumbersome digital camera backpacks. For photographers masking giant areas or elevation modifications, or shifting rapidly on foot to method animals, the portability is a game-changer, decreasing fatigue and rising responsiveness.
It’s value noting that transporting the bigger 600mm f/4 requires a particular backpack, making air journey difficult with a full package. In the meantime, the 600mm f/6.3 suits in carry-on backpacks with none actual trouble.
Most Aperture
Aside from the dimensions, probably the most instant distinction between these two lenses is their most aperture. That is the first motive why the 600mm f/4 prices over $10,000 greater than the 600mm f/6.3.
An f/4 aperture gathers greater than double the sunshine in comparison with an f/6.3 aperture. Such a functionality is especially advantageous in low-light situations, together with daybreak and nightfall, occasions usually most popular by wildlife photographers. As an example, capturing a deer within the dim forest mild or on the first rays of daybreak turns into extra possible with the flexibility supplied by an f/4 aperture.
The broader most aperture of the 600mm f/4 TC VR S additionally permits a shallower depth of area. Beneath is a sequence of photos, every taken first with the 600mm f/6.3 and second with the 600mm f/4, at their respective most apertures. For the sake of most similarity between the pictures, I selected to {photograph} a stuffed animal slightly than shifting wildlife:
As you possibly can see, an f/4 aperture has the capability to blur the background greater than f/6.3, and it is a compelling benefit to the 600mm f/4 TC VR S. Nevertheless, the distinction might not be so vital that it’s value paying $10,000 extra to realize.
In truth, background blur is much less about your lens and extra about the way you place your self and your topic. Due to the lighter weight of the 600mm f/6.3, it’s conceivable that, at occasions, it is possible for you to to maneuver it extra rapidly into the precise place to seize the very best bokeh.
Sharpness and Optical Efficiency
Each lenses are a part of Nikon’s “S” lineup, which ensures distinctive optical high quality. Pictures Life has performed two lab checks of those lenses, out there right here and right here. I encourage you to learn these critiques if you would like extra detailed info on how the lenses carry out, together with with teleconverters. Beneath, I’ll reproduce the MTF checks of the naked lenses:
We are able to see from this check that the 600mm f/4 TC VR S holds a bonus in absolute sharpness. Nevertheless, the 600mm f/6.3 VR S comes impressively shut, providing high-level optical efficiency in a a lot smaller and cheaper bundle. So shut that the sharpness distinction could also be imperceptible in 90%+ of the pictures for many wildlife photographers. It’s because if a lens is already sharp sufficient, the worth that comes from utilizing an excellent sharper one is marginal.
In brief, each lenses are distinctive performers. Sharpness just isn’t the first motive to pick one over the opposite.
Bokeh
I already demonstrated in a earlier part that there’s a distinction between f/6.3 and f/4 when it comes to background blur, and unsurprisingly, the f/4 lens had the benefit. Nevertheless, some photographers could also be questioning if both of those lenses has higher bokeh within the shared aperture vary.
A part of the priority is that the Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 lens incorporates a Part Fresnel (PF) optical component, which generally is criticized for harming a lens’s bokeh. Nevertheless, primarily based on my expertise with Nikon’s 300mm f/4 PF, 500mm f/5.6 PF, and 600mm f/6.3 PF lenses, every successive iteration has demonstrated enhancements in bokeh high quality.
To look at the variations in bokeh between these two 600mm lenses at a shared aperture, allow us to return to the scenes I confirmed you a second in the past. This time, the variations are small. I like to recommend clicking the photographs beneath to see them full display screen, which lets you flip between them extra rapidly:
I do discover a softer background on the 600mm f/4 TC VR S, even with each lenses stopped right down to the identical aperture worth. Nevertheless, it’s only because of the character of this comparability that any variations are seen. In remoted photos that I’ve taken up to now, I’ve by no means observed any motive to dislike the bokeh of the 600mm f/6.3.
Built-in TC: The 600mm f/4’s Ace
Right here is the place the 600mm f/4 begins to ship higher in an indeniable method. The built-in TC converts the 600mm f/4 TC VR S into an 840mm f/5.6 lens with excessive picture high quality. After capturing ten thousand photos with this setup, I can say that the efficiency was persistently dependable. And it’s doable to have interaction this teleconverter with out the standard trouble of dismounting the lens and attaching an exterior TC, by which level, the topic might have vanished.
The 600mm f/6.3 VR S is appropriate with Nikon’s exterior teleconverters, together with the 1.4x TC that enables it to turn out to be an 840mm f/9 lens. Nevertheless, f/9 just isn’t supreme for wildlife images, particularly in low mild. Moreover, the sharpness, in keeping with the Pictures Life checks, drops noticeably. It’s nonetheless acceptable, however this is able to not be my go-to method if I often anticipated to make use of 800mm+ focal lengths. (As an alternative, I might possible get the Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 for this objective, which isn’t a lot costlier than the mixture of the 600mm f/6.3 and the 1.4x teleconverter.)
Autofocus Velocity
Autofocus velocity and accuracy are important parameters for wildlife images, the place topics are sometimes quickly shifting and unpredictable. I’ve extensively used each lenses paired with the Nikon Z9, and listed here are my impressions of how they evaluate in focus velocity.
These two lenses use totally different motor expertise. The Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S is supplied with Nikon’s highest-end Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor, whereas the Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S relies on a stepping motor. Nevertheless, virtually talking, each lenses provide top-tier AF efficiency with the Z8-Z9 era cameras.
Due to its brighter most aperture, the 600mm f/4 has a bonus in extraordinarily difficult lighting situations, photographing on the fringe of the day or in dangerous climate with low distinction. Nevertheless, the 600mm f/6.3 VR S received’t disappoint wildlife photographers, delivering spectacular velocity and precision adequate for capturing fast-moving actions in most situations. I’ve had no bother capturing fast-moving topics like birds in flight with both lens.
Conclusions
For wildlife photographers, selecting between the Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S and the Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S comes right down to a stability of weight and value (which favor the f/6.3 lens) versus low-light efficiency and high-end options (which favor the f/4 lens). Even when optimized to totally different targets, each of those lenses characterize the top of Nikon’s optical engineering at present – so, shopping for one is a query of suitability to your fashion of images.
Select the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S if:
- The excessive value doesn’t rule it out given your price range or anticipated return from shopping for this lens.
- Distinctive brightness for low-light images (or extra background blur at f/4) is non-negotiable.
- The pliability to have interaction the 1.4x built-in teleconverter with out switching lenses is beneficial for you.
- You propose to work from a monopod or tripod a majority of the time.
- Your most popular wildlife actions and bodily functionality align nicely with the load and measurement of this gear.
Select the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S if:
- Worth and price range are an element (however not a lot of an element that the cheaper Nikon Z 180-600mm is the popular alternative)
- Portability and handheld capturing are priorities to your wildlife images fashion, particularly on lengthy walks or difficult terrain.
- It is possible for you to to make f/6.3 work for the lighting situations that you just shoot.
- You respect the pliability of a lens that may be stowed in a smaller backpack, introduced through air journey simply, and used with higher agility within the area.
As an proprietor of each lenses, I choose the Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S for its capacity to supply photos with extra background blur that enhances my photographic fashion. This could undoubtedly be my alternative if I may solely choose one. Nevertheless, the Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S gives considerably increased worth and is an exceptionally good lens. I put it to use with out hesitation for extra demanding actions, comparable to strenuous mountain hikes and long-distance journey the place the 600mm f/4 is impractical.
I hope you loved this essay about these two excellent Nikon lenses. If you happen to discovered this comparability helpful and intend to buy both of those lenses, you possibly can assist our testing efforts at Pictures Life by shopping for your gear from our affiliate hyperlinks, which prices you nothing additional however offers our web site a small proportion of every sale.
Let me know within the feedback when you have any questions. As somebody who makes use of each lenses repeatedly, I’ll do my finest to offer helpful solutions primarily based on real-world expertise.