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Nikon has lengthy been identified for his or her high-quality telephoto and super-telephoto lenses. Right now, with the mirrorless Nikon Z system, there are already seven lenses which attain at the least 400mm (with no need a teleconverter) in addition to a number of F-mount lenses that may be tailored to mirrorless, too. Which certainly one of these many super-telephoto lenses is the most effective one for Nikon Z photographers? We’ve carried out an intensive side-by-side check to reply that very query.
Evaluating lenses is all the time a problem. The most effective scientific strategy that lets you evaluate them over time is to {photograph} the identical sample every time below managed circumstances, as we do in our lens evaluations at Images Life. Nevertheless, it’s additionally useful to shoot real-world topics to see how the completely different lenses carry out within the discipline. That’s the kind of comparability I’ll current to you at present, masking each sharpness and bokeh.
Simply getting all of those lenses right into a small automobile was a problem – to not point out the truth that the worth of the automobile was roughly tripled. For a comparability like this, we needed to discover a topic that was affected person sufficient to not transfer in the course of the check. The South American potoos would have fulfilled this requirement completely, however right here within the Czech Republic, it was obligatory to make use of a pretend hen. Nevertheless, it was actual sufficient to idiot passers-by into pondering it was an actual owl. So, for our functions, it’s going to do exactly positive.
And what Nikon Z super-telephotos will you discover in my check at present?
- Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
- Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
- Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S
- Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S
- Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S
- Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S
I additionally examined the next two F-mount lenses for the sake of comparability:
- Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
- Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR
In an effort to attain completely different focal lengths, two of the lenses in query have their very own built-in teleconverters, whereas the others have been geared up with Nikon’s 1.4x or 2.0x teleconverters.
The one lens I didn’t check for this comparability is the Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 that was launched solely a pair weeks in the past. Nevertheless, I’ve only in the near past had an opportunity to get my arms on this lens and shall be writing a primary impressions article quickly.
Temporary Introduction to the In contrast Telephoto Lenses
The primary lens examined, the Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR, is a confirmed matador. It’s certainly one of two F-mount lenses on this check. The compromises Nikon made with the intention to make the lens inexpensive not often present up within the last photographs. Good sharpness (particularly within the middle of the body), good bokeh, and flexibility have been all causes to purchase this lens – and nonetheless are. My solely main grievance was the focusing velocity, which suffered much more on Z-mount cameras. However how does the picture high quality maintain up towards the brand new Z telephoto lenses?
The largest information in at present’s comparability is that we’ve gotten a replica of the Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR to check side-by-side with the opposite super-telephoto lenses. In my preliminary discipline evaluate, I in contrast this lens to the aforementioned Nikon AF-S 200-500mm. Nikon has listened to the issues of its customers, addressing most of the criticisms of the 200-500mm f/5.6. The 180-600mm has a bigger focal size vary, inner zoom, and clearly snappier autofocus. My first impression final month was that even the optical efficiency had improved. However how did the lens carry out towards the remainder of the pack in a head-to-head check?
The subsequent lens is the Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S. With this lens, Nikon opened up the 400mm focal size to a wider vary of photographers. The Nikon Z 100-400mm is undoubtedly an excellent lens with quick focusing, spectacular sharpness, and near-macro focus capabilities. The one limitation is that its most focal size of 400mm is just not so long as a lot of the lenses right here. Nevertheless, the 100-400mm will be fitted with a teleconverter, and I’ll present you what outcomes you may anticipate from this mix.
When Nikon launched the Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S, many photographers (together with myself) in comparison with the extremely profitable Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR. It’s a light-weight, sharp, compact, and well-built lens that works properly with teleconverters. Particularly, the TC-1.4x is sort of essential companion for this lens, giving a 560mm lens with a suitable f/6.3 most aperture. However can this lens maintain its personal towards longer lenses when utilizing a teleconverter? And is it actually sharper than cheaper zooms?
The opposite F-mount lens on this comparability – the Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR – hit the nail on the top again when it was launched. Optically, this lens is virtually on par with its far more costly and bigger 500mm f/4 brother. What this lens lacks in velocity, it compensates for in hand-holdability and portability. As for its autofocus, it’s no slouch, even on Z cameras. However this lens was additionally introduced again in 2018; does it nonetheless shine as brightly in comparison with the newer telephoto lenses?
In case you search for main flaws within the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens, you’ll come up empty-handed. No less than by way of optical high quality, this lens represents absolutely the pinnacle of lens evolution. It produces razor-sharp, high-contrast photographs at each aperture. What’s extra, it reaches a helpful 560mm f/4 even when utilizing the built-in 1.4x teleconverter. Utilizing an exterior Nikon Z TC-2x works, too, to present you an 800mm f/5.6. I feel we are able to anticipate nice efficiency with this lens at 400mm, however how properly does it maintain as much as Nikon’s 600mm f/4 or 800mm f/6.3 lenses when utilizing the teleconverters?
The Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S lens has been one thing of a unicorn for me. I knew it existed, however I had by no means seen it in individual, not to mention examined it within the discipline. From what I’ve heard, this lens is meant to be so sharp you could possibly shave with it. Add to that an ideal 600mm ” hen” focal size, an f/4 aperture that lets you focus reliably even within the gloom of the night woods, and a built-in 1.4x teleconverter that turns this super-telephoto lens into an 840mm f/5.6 monster with the flick of a finger. However the worth can be monstrous. Is it ok to justify spending $15,497? You’ll see for your self momentarily.
Lastly, the longest native Nikon Z lens – the Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S. This super-telephoto lens stunned everybody with its worth when it was launched. Regardless of an analogous entrance pupil measurement, it’s a lot cheaper than the 400mm f/2.8 or 600mm f/4, with a value of (I hesitate to write down “solely”) $6,497. The lens can be comparatively small and light-weight due to the Section Fresnel factor. In our check, it was additionally superb optically, though not so good as the F-mount 800mm f/5.6, which remains to be one of many sharpest Nikon lenses of all time. Can it beat dearer rivals such because the 400mm f/2.8 or 600mm f/4 geared up with teleconverters?
Technical Notes for the Take a look at
Quite a few questions have been raised. Let’s get all the way down to answering them.
To maintain the scope of the check cheap, I restricted the focal size vary from 400mm to about 800mm. Additionally, I accomplished this check in at some point with the intention to reduce exterior variables, however for time functions, this meant not together with some lens/teleconverter combos within the check. However don’t fear should you don’t discover the mix you’re curious about. I can promise you that work is already underway to broaden this comparability.
The digicam used for the check was a Nikon Z9. I examined it on two scenes that correspond to the everyday use of a telephoto lens in an actual surroundings. The photographs have been taken at a relentless distance from a Gitzo Systematic tripod. The distinction within the discipline of view due to this fact corresponds to the focal size of the lens.
As a real-world check, there was a really small quantity of wind that affected the tree and leaf positions barely from picture to picture. I due to this fact shot at ISO 800 with the intention to permit sufficiently quick shutter speeds to freeze gentle motion. Lastly, I chosen the sharpest photographs from a collection of RAW recordsdata in Nikon NX Studio and transformed them to TIFF with none modifying, sharpening, or de-noising.
By testing every set of lenses twice (from two completely different digicam angles), I used to be in a position to reduce variability and double-check all of my sharpness impressions.
And with that, it’s time to dive into the checks. Click on the menu under to leap to the web page that pursuits you:
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