Z180-600 Ship Date - B&H

[AlainCh2]

Odds are the new lens will be a lot more popular than the z8 was. The product works very well, and the price cannot be beat.

I doubt that is the case. There will be demand for the 180-600, but such long a lens is a niche product. And IMO the 180-600 will not be that useful without the AF from the Z9 or Z8 behind it. If more people own the 180-600 than the Z8, are they all Z9 owners?

The Sony 200-600 is one of the most popular birding and wildlife lenses today. You’ll find it on all bodies, from a6000 to the a1. I have an a1 + this lens, and I have a Z6 mk i, and a Z9, with a 180-600 on order. It won’t go on the z6, but that’s not to say I wouldn’t put it on a Z6/7ii or good APS-C body (a D500 replacement) if one comes along.

Your post highlights the situation for Sony as well as for Nikon. Sony's 200-600 is popular for birding and wildlife because Sony do not have as many super tele selections as Nikon have now. I have a Z9 also, and I have a 600mm/f4 AF-S VR and a 500mm/f5.6 PF in the F mount; I also have the 400mm/f4.5 and 800mm PF in the Z mount. Hence I don't have much interest in the 180-600.

On the other hand, Sony has more bodies with pretty good AF for action photography, besides the A1, there is also the A9 and even some APS-C bodies. For Nikon, if you get the 180-600 but do not pair it up with either the Z8 or Z9, it is kind of meaningless. Did you see the current thread that some Canon user wants to buy the 180-600 plus an inexpensive ~$1500 Nikon body with decent AF to go with it: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4725376? Sadly, the simple answer is that no such "inexpensive" body exists today.

What Nikon will introduce in the future remains to be seen, but at this point, I seriously doubt that a niche lens such as the 180-600 will outsell the popular Z8, which is a very general-pupose camera. I am planning to get a Z8 also in the future; some people have multiple Z8s, but I don't see very many people with multiple 180-600 lenses.

It's not niche. You want to claim it is, but it's the entry price point for legitimate wildlife lenses in z mount. Every thing else is between 2 and 8 times more expensive.

I think what he meant by "niche" is that the 180-600 is wildlife lens pretty much exclusively while the Z8 Is a camera for all kinds of photography. "Niche" just means something that fits in a particular role, and while I agree with you about the importance of the 180-600, I agree it's "niche" by the standard definition. Put differently, since the Z8 serves wildlife photographers and portrait photographers and event photographers and macro photographers and product photographers and sports photographers and all other sorts, but the 180-600 serves mainly only wildlife photographers with perhaps odd one out here and there from maybe sports shooters, he doesn't expect the lens to outsell the camera.

On the other hand, by that definition I would argue most of the lenses out there today are "niche". Take for example the 85mm f/1.8, it's undoubtedly a portrait lens. The lens is not particularly suited to wildlife photographers, nor sports, nor macro, nor astro, and rarely landscapers. Even among event photographers, if you aren't shooting a wedding a 70-200mm lens would prove far more useful than the 85mm, if you had to choose between one or the other. Yet, even without sales numbers in front of me, I'd expect the 85mm f/1.8 to end up in the hands of more photographers than the Z8 will.

I suppose I can agree that the 180-600mm is "niche" but I'd still wager that this lens will outsell a Z8 in the long run. Although I don't see this sort of lens pairing all that well with current bodies lower than the Z8, it's undeniable that there are users here using even a Z50 (ANAYV) that can take better BIF photos than me, even if I had the best gear in the world. Even then, I'm sure some purchasers of this lens know that Nikon will continue releasing cameras, and surely a Z6iii, Z50ii, etc., would pair well with this lens.

From my perspective, I'm not remotely close to being considered a wildlife photographer. I do weddings, events, and portraits. There's maybe a 2% chance I would ever consider using this lens on paid duty, and I still bought one. Why? Well, I'm fully aware that this is the lens for Nikon shooters that want a wildlife lens that won't break the bank. Not only is this the most affordable option to get to 600mm (or more with TC's and/or DX mode), it's probably going to stay that way for the next 10+ years. In that time, this lens will sell for the Z5/Z6/Z7/Z6ii/Z7ii shooters, the Z50 shooters, the Z8 and Z9 shooters, but also the Z6iii/Z7iii shooters, the Z50ii shooters, Z8ii, Z9ii, etc. Nikon does have other lenses that can reach or exceed 600mm, but for a lot of enthusiasts this lens is the clear choice, and will continue to be for a long, long time.

Okay, everybody tends to forget the Z30, not being serious a camera,
and without EVF not apt to BIF.

I use it with 150-600E and TC1401, can't complain about the results.

> but I'm not ANAYV !!!

§ Z8 does not have a fully articulated monitor, nor is lightweight

While hoping for a Z4 before long...
...the 180-600 is already on the list for my Christmas

(or in Feb. as my Birthday gift )

--
___.......................................................... ___
Mid of French/Italian Alps - Hardiness Zone 8A
I Love all Carnivores, I have mostly Red Dioneas.
https://eu.zonerama.com/AlainCH2/1191151

 

[ghostfox_1]

A number of people on the Facebook group have indicated that they have just been charged for the lens and starting to get delivery dates (Thursday or Friday) for their lenses. Appears to be mostly in Europe.

Some stores reported that they have already received the 180-600, but Nikon do not allow them to distribute them to customers until August 31 (2023), i.e. Thursday.

Stores in Europe, or the US?

I also read that on Facebook, and I think they were talking about a store in Australia; can’t remember exactly. But apparently B&H is also getting their allotment on Thursday. I wouldn’t take what people post on Facebook as gospel, or for that matter whatever is posted here. However it looks like first delivery is imminent.

Yeah, I'm not going to trust anything until I see stores stock them (or at least, get them to sell them all immediately). My local store hasn't heard anything yet. Might tomorrow, apparently, but we'll see.

I once read a story that a young man waiting to receive his inheritance at his late father’s lawyer office. The assistant told him that there was some delay so that it would be another 15 minutes. The young man replied that he had already been waiting for the money for 10 years; another 15 minutes was nothing. So after waiting for 4 years ….

I know it is easy for me to say that, since I am not getting the 180-600 myself, at least not now.

My frustration is that it's a prosumer lens. This isn't a 10k prime. This was an easy home run for nikon. I know of 2 people that went to Sony (granted, they weren't heavy into nikon) for the 200-600 as part of the wildlife kit.

I was tempted to buy the lens (and adapt it), but held off and held off.

 

[archerscreek]

I am drawn to this thread by a family member who has ordered a 180-600mm lens for his Z50. Three points to make in response to comments in this thread --

1. This lens may very well be in short supply for years. Perhaps not, but I recall the entirely analogous Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6e (F mount) lens being out of stock more often than not for two years after its initial ship date.
2. This will find many homes with down-market camera bodies, not just Z8/Z9 bodies. At the $1900US price point, it is a very attractive value option for Z50 and Z5-7 owners who also see the Z50 and Z5-7 bodies as attractive value options.
3. The 180-600mm lens is less a niche product than some commenters assert. Based on my own experience having owned the Sigma "Bigma" (50-500mm) and now a Nikon 200-500/5.6E lenses, I use it for:

• wildlife (including airborne fowl)
• sports (no, it is NOT too slow. If you can use this lens for BIF then you can use it for sports as well)
• kids (and grandkids) in motion
• wildlife (including airborne fowl)
• moon and planets
• nature scenery

Just my two cents...

No one shoots BIF under HS stadium lighting at night or worse yet, in a gymnasium. As Fro demonstrated in his review, it’s good enough in good light if one has reasonable expectations. But it isn’t an f/2.8 or an f/4. The thing is f/5.6 at 180 mm! Who wants that vs a 70-200 f/2.8? Some complain that the 70-200 f/2.8 is too heavy for shooting their kids. Now they are buying a bigger, heavier, and much slower lens to do the same thing?



The hype doesn’t match reality from what I’ve seen. But I’m a pixel peeper, and perhaps most buyers of this lens are not.

 

[shuncheung]

A number of people on the Facebook group have indicated that they have just been charged for the lens and starting to get delivery dates (Thursday or Friday) for their lenses. Appears to be mostly in Europe.

Some stores reported that they have already received the 180-600, but Nikon do not allow them to distribute them to customers until August 31 (2023), i.e. Thursday.

Stores in Europe, or the US?

I also read that on Facebook, and I think they were talking about a store in Australia; can’t remember exactly. But apparently B&H is also getting their allotment on Thursday. I wouldn’t take what people post on Facebook as gospel, or for that matter whatever is posted here. However it looks like first delivery is imminent.

Yeah, I'm not going to trust anything until I see stores stock them (or at least, get them to sell them all immediately). My local store hasn't heard anything yet. Might tomorrow, apparently, but we'll see.

I once read a story that a young man waiting to receive his inheritance at his late father’s lawyer office. The assistant told him that there was some delay so that it would be another 15 minutes. The young man replied that he had already been waiting for the money for 10 years; another 15 minutes was nothing. So after waiting for 4 years ….

I know it is easy for me to say that, since I am not getting the 180-600 myself, at least not now.

My frustration is that it's a prosumer lens. This isn't a 10k prime. This was an easy home run for nikon. I know of 2 people that went to Sony (granted, they weren't heavy into nikon) for the 200-600 as part of the wildlife kit.

I was tempted to buy the lens (and adapt it), but held off and held off.

As I have posted a few times, it wasn't like Nikon was merely sitting on their hands during the (almost) four years since the 200-600 first appeared on the lens roadmap in October 2019. For one thing most of those four years were in the middle of a global pandemic so that there were all sorts of manufacturing challenges. Manwhile, Nikon also introduced four higher-end super teles in 2022 alone. People can check out Thom Hogan's timeline: https://www.zsystemuser.com/nikon-z-system-news-and/the-z-timeline.html

The Z9, Z8 and the 400mm TC, 600mm TC and 800mm PF @ $6500 are attracting a number of pros and high-end users into the Z system. It is very clear that Nikon is sacrificing the consumer end for the high-end, which is a strategy Nikon themselves openly pointed out. At least IMO, the lack of a Z6iii is a much bigger miss than the long delay for the 180-600, which I think has much narrower appeal. (I know a bunch of people disagree with me on that, and that is fine.)

 

[LensWizard]

I am drawn to this thread by a family member who has ordered a 180-600mm lens for his Z50. Three points to make in response to comments in this thread --

1. This lens may very well be in short supply for years. Perhaps not, but I recall the entirely analogous Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6e (F mount) lens being out of stock more often than not for two years after its initial ship date.
2. This will find many homes with down-market camera bodies, not just Z8/Z9 bodies. At the $1900US price point, it is a very attractive value option for Z50 and Z5-7 owners who also see the Z50 and Z5-7 bodies as attractive value options.
3. The 180-600mm lens is less a niche product than some commenters assert. Based on my own experience having owned the Sigma "Bigma" (50-500mm) and now a Nikon 200-500/5.6E lenses, I use it for:

• wildlife (including airborne fowl)
• sports (no, it is NOT too slow. If you can use this lens for BIF then you can use it for sports as well)
• kids (and grandkids) in motion
• wildlife (including airborne fowl)
• moon and planets
• nature scenery

Just my two cents...

No one shoots BIF under HS stadium lighting at night or worse yet, in a gymnasium. As Fro demonstrated in his review, it’s good enough in good light if one has reasonable expectations. But it isn’t an f/2.8 or an f/4. The thing is f/5.6 at 180 mm! Who wants that vs a 70-200 f/2.8? Some complain that the 70-200 f/2.8 is too heavy for shooting their kids. Now they are buying a bigger, heavier, and much slower lens to do the same thing?

The hype doesn’t match reality from what I’ve seen. But I’m a pixel peeper, and perhaps most buyers of this lens are not.

Quite honestly I would not even consider this lens in my lineup as it just appears to be cheaply made. They should have came up with a 200-600 F/4 then I would be on one of these but not this one..

 

[Mackiesback]

A number of people on the Facebook group have indicated that they have just been charged for the lens and starting to get delivery dates (Thursday or Friday) for their lenses. Appears to be mostly in Europe.

Some stores reported that they have already received the 180-600, but Nikon do not allow them to distribute them to customers until August 31 (2023), i.e. Thursday.

Stores in Europe, or the US?

I also read that on Facebook, and I think they were talking about a store in Australia; can’t remember exactly. But apparently B&H is also getting their allotment on Thursday. I wouldn’t take what people post on Facebook as gospel, or for that matter whatever is posted here. However it looks like first delivery is imminent.

Yeah, I'm not going to trust anything until I see stores stock them (or at least, get them to sell them all immediately). My local store hasn't heard anything yet. Might tomorrow, apparently, but we'll see.

I once read a story that a young man waiting to receive his inheritance at his late father’s lawyer office. The assistant told him that there was some delay so that it would be another 15 minutes. The young man replied that he had already been waiting for the money for 10 years; another 15 minutes was nothing. So after waiting for 4 years ….

I know it is easy for me to say that, since I am not getting the 180-600 myself, at least not now.

My frustration is that it's a prosumer lens. This isn't a 10k prime. This was an easy home run for nikon. I know of 2 people that went to Sony (granted, they weren't heavy into nikon) for the 200-600 as part of the wildlife kit.

I was tempted to buy the lens (and adapt it), but held off and held off.

As I have posted a few times, it wasn't like Nikon was merely sitting on their hands during the (almost) four years since the 200-600 first appeared on the lens roadmap in October 2019. For one thing most of those four years were in the middle of a global pandemic so that there were all sorts of manufacturing challenges. Manwhile, Nikon also introduced four higher-end super teles in 2022 alone. People can check out Thom Hogan's timeline: https://www.zsystemuser.com/nikon-z-system-news-and/the-z-timeline.html

The Z9, Z8 and the 400mm TC, 600mm TC and 800mm PF @ $6500 are attracting a number of pros and high-end users into the Z system. It is very clear that Nikon is sacrificing the consumer end for the high-end, which is a strategy Nikon themselves openly pointed out. At least IMO, the lack of a Z6iii is a much bigger miss than the long delay for the 180-600, which I think has much narrower appeal. (I know a bunch of people disagree with me on that, and that is fine.)

Agree 100%.

By far Nikon's biggest mistake was putting this on the road map. A road map other manufacturers never publish. Judging the way people are reacting to this, Nikon would be well served to never publish a road map again.

 

[astirusty]

I am drawn to this thread by a family member who has ordered a 180-600mm lens for his Z50. Three points to make in response to comments in this thread --

1. This lens may very well be in short supply for years. Perhaps not, but I recall the entirely analogous Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6e (F mount) lens being out of stock more often than not for two years after its initial ship date.
2. This will find many homes with down-market camera bodies, not just Z8/Z9 bodies. At the $1900US price point, it is a very attractive value option for Z50 and Z5-7 owners who also see the Z50 and Z5-7 bodies as attractive value options.
3. The 180-600mm lens is less a niche product than some commenters assert. Based on my own experience having owned the Sigma "Bigma" (50-500mm) and now a Nikon 200-500/5.6E lenses, I use it for:

• wildlife (including airborne fowl)
• sports (no, it is NOT too slow. If you can use this lens for BIF then you can use it for sports as well)
• kids (and grandkids) in motion
• wildlife (including airborne fowl)
• moon and planets
• nature scenery

Just my two cents...

No one shoots BIF under HS stadium lighting at night or worse yet, in a gymnasium. As Fro demonstrated in his review, it’s good enough in good light if one has reasonable expectations. But it isn’t an f/2.8 or an f/4. The thing is f/5.6 at 180 mm! Who wants that vs a 70-200 f/2.8? Some complain that the 70-200 f/2.8 is too heavy for shooting their kids. Now they are buying a bigger, heavier, and much slower lens to do the same thing?

The hype doesn’t match reality from what I’ve seen. But I’m a pixel peeper, and perhaps most buyers of this lens are not.

Quite honestly I would not even consider this lens in my lineup as it just appears to be cheaply made. They should have came up with a 200-600 F/4 then I would be on one of these but not this one..

I guess I will find out hard way, being I am a pixeler. Yes, I would rather had a Z 200-600mm f/4 VR lens, alas not happening with Nikon.

Even though lens I proposed to go with it was flat out rejected, do to much X-factor (magnification); a Z 20-200mm (within 10x suggested limit) would be a great mating for fun (not work) travel.

 

[astirusty]

A number of people on the Facebook group have indicated that they have just been charged for the lens and starting to get delivery dates (Thursday or Friday) for their lenses. Appears to be mostly in Europe.

Some stores reported that they have already received the 180-600, but Nikon do not allow them to distribute them to customers until August 31 (2023), i.e. Thursday.

Stores in Europe, or the US?

I also read that on Facebook, and I think they were talking about a store in Australia; can’t remember exactly. But apparently B&H is also getting their allotment on Thursday. I wouldn’t take what people post on Facebook as gospel, or for that matter whatever is posted here. However it looks like first delivery is imminent.

Yeah, I'm not going to trust anything until I see stores stock them (or at least, get them to sell them all immediately). My local store hasn't heard anything yet. Might tomorrow, apparently, but we'll see.

I once read a story that a young man waiting to receive his inheritance at his late father’s lawyer office. The assistant told him that there was some delay so that it would be another 15 minutes. The young man replied that he had already been waiting for the money for 10 years; another 15 minutes was nothing. So after waiting for 4 years ….

I know it is easy for me to say that, since I am not getting the 180-600 myself, at least not now.

My frustration is that it's a prosumer lens. This isn't a 10k prime. This was an easy home run for nikon. I know of 2 people that went to Sony (granted, they weren't heavy into nikon) for the 200-600 as part of the wildlife kit.

I was tempted to buy the lens (and adapt it), but held off and held off.

As I have posted a few times, it wasn't like Nikon was merely sitting on their hands during the (almost) four years since the 200-600 first appeared on the lens roadmap in October 2019. For one thing most of those four years were in the middle of a global pandemic so that there were all sorts of manufacturing challenges. Manwhile, Nikon also introduced four higher-end super teles in 2022 alone. People can check out Thom Hogan's timeline: https://www.zsystemuser.com/nikon-z-system-news-and/the-z-timeline.html

The Z9, Z8 and the 400mm TC, 600mm TC and 800mm PF @ $6500 are attracting a number of pros and high-end users into the Z system. It is very clear that Nikon is sacrificing the consumer end for the high-end, which is a strategy Nikon themselves openly pointed out. At least IMO, the lack of a Z6iii is a much bigger miss than the long delay for the 180-600, which I think has much narrower appeal. (I know a bunch of people disagree with me on that, and that is fine.)

From what I keep seeing about people needing their names on Pre-Order list, within hours of Pre-Order list being opened at their dealer (brick & mortar or virtual) to have a hope of a shot at lens; Z 180-600mm lens must have a big fat appeal.

 

[astirusty]

A number of people on the Facebook group have indicated that they have just been charged for the lens and starting to get delivery dates (Thursday or Friday) for their lenses. Appears to be mostly in Europe.

Some stores reported that they have already received the 180-600, but Nikon do not allow them to distribute them to customers until August 31 (2023), i.e. Thursday.

Stores in Europe, or the US?

I also read that on Facebook, and I think they were talking about a store in Australia; can’t remember exactly. But apparently B&H is also getting their allotment on Thursday. I wouldn’t take what people post on Facebook as gospel, or for that matter whatever is posted here. However it looks like first delivery is imminent.

Yeah, I'm not going to trust anything until I see stores stock them (or at least, get them to sell them all immediately). My local store hasn't heard anything yet. Might tomorrow, apparently, but we'll see.

I once read a story that a young man waiting to receive his inheritance at his late father’s lawyer office. The assistant told him that there was some delay so that it would be another 15 minutes. The young man replied that he had already been waiting for the money for 10 years; another 15 minutes was nothing. So after waiting for 4 years ….

I know it is easy for me to say that, since I am not getting the 180-600 myself, at least not now.

My frustration is that it's a prosumer lens. This isn't a 10k prime. This was an easy home run for nikon. I know of 2 people that went to Sony (granted, they weren't heavy into nikon) for the 200-600 as part of the wildlife kit.

I was tempted to buy the lens (and adapt it), but held off and held off.

As I have posted a few times, it wasn't like Nikon was merely sitting on their hands during the (almost) four years since the 200-600 first appeared on the lens roadmap in October 2019. For one thing most of those four years were in the middle of a global pandemic so that there were all sorts of manufacturing challenges. Manwhile, Nikon also introduced four higher-end super teles in 2022 alone. People can check out Thom Hogan's timeline: https://www.zsystemuser.com/nikon-z-system-news-and/the-z-timeline.html

The Z9, Z8 and the 400mm TC, 600mm TC and 800mm PF @ $6500 are attracting a number of pros and high-end users into the Z system. It is very clear that Nikon is sacrificing the consumer end for the high-end, which is a strategy Nikon themselves openly pointed out. At least IMO, the lack of a Z6iii is a much bigger miss than the long delay for the 180-600, which I think has much narrower appeal. (I know a bunch of people disagree with me on that, and that is fine.)

Agree 100%.

By far Nikon's biggest mistake was putting this on the road map. A road map other manufacturers never publish. Judging the way people are reacting to this, Nikon would be well served to never publish a road map again.

Or...

Not put a Z lens on roadmap 3-years and 9-months prior to announcement of lens; and adding other Z lens in meantime and getting those added Z lens announced, released, shipped, and finally in customer hands.

Whether it is true or not, it very much appears Nikon put Z 200-600mm f/nothing lens on roadmap as "bait", knowing lens would not be announced, released, shipped, hands for Years. Perhaps explaining why lens became a Z 180-600mm.

Or...

Have put Z 200-600mm f/nothing lens in customers hands within one year of it appearing on Z lens roadmap.

 

[PaulBearer]

Your f/4 would cost $8,000. Are you ready to pay for it?

So far everyone I can rely on gives it very good reviews compared to its competitors, and even a little cheaper.

 

[Snapshotx7]

I am drawn to this thread by a family member who has ordered a 180-600mm lens for his Z50. Three points to make in response to comments in this thread --

1. This lens may very well be in short supply for years. Perhaps not, but I recall the entirely analogous Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6e (F mount) lens being out of stock more often than not for two years after its initial ship date.
2. This will find many homes with down-market camera bodies, not just Z8/Z9 bodies. At the $1900US price point, it is a very attractive value option for Z50 and Z5-7 owners who also see the Z50 and Z5-7 bodies as attractive value options.
3. The 180-600mm lens is less a niche product than some commenters assert. Based on my own experience having owned the Sigma "Bigma" (50-500mm) and now a Nikon 200-500/5.6E lenses, I use it for:

• wildlife (including airborne fowl)
• sports (no, it is NOT too slow. If you can use this lens for BIF then you can use it for sports as well)
• kids (and grandkids) in motion
• wildlife (including airborne fowl)
• moon and planets
• nature scenery

Just my two cents...

No one shoots BIF under HS stadium lighting at night or worse yet, in a gymnasium. As Fro demonstrated in his review, it’s good enough in good light if one has reasonable expectations. But it isn’t an f/2.8 or an f/4. The thing is f/5.6 at 180 mm! Who wants that vs a 70-200 f/2.8? Some complain that the 70-200 f/2.8 is too heavy for shooting their kids. Now they are buying a bigger, heavier, and much slower lens to do the same thing?

The hype doesn’t match reality from what I’ve seen. But I’m a pixel peeper, and perhaps most buyers of this lens are not.

Quite honestly I would not even consider this lens in my lineup as it just appears to be cheaply made. They should have came up with a 200-600 F/4 then I would be on one of these but not this one..

I guess I will find out hard way, being I am a pixeler. Yes, I would rather had a Z 200-600mm f/4 VR lens, alas not happening with Nikon.

Even though lens I proposed to go with it was flat out rejected, do to much X-factor (magnification); a Z 20-200mm (within 10x suggested limit) would be a great mating for fun (not work) travel.

Would you really though? The Canon RF 200-500 F4 is $12,000. If you and others are in the market for such a lens, the Z 400 TC or Z 600 TC is available in that price bracket. Those lens are a pixel peeper's dream. The 180-600 was never going to be the right lens for your needs.

 

[astirusty]

I am drawn to this thread by a family member who has ordered a 180-600mm lens for his Z50. Three points to make in response to comments in this thread --

1. This lens may very well be in short supply for years. Perhaps not, but I recall the entirely analogous Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6e (F mount) lens being out of stock more often than not for two years after its initial ship date.
2. This will find many homes with down-market camera bodies, not just Z8/Z9 bodies. At the $1900US price point, it is a very attractive value option for Z50 and Z5-7 owners who also see the Z50 and Z5-7 bodies as attractive value options.
3. The 180-600mm lens is less a niche product than some commenters assert. Based on my own experience having owned the Sigma "Bigma" (50-500mm) and now a Nikon 200-500/5.6E lenses, I use it for:

• wildlife (including airborne fowl)
• sports (no, it is NOT too slow. If you can use this lens for BIF then you can use it for sports as well)
• kids (and grandkids) in motion
• wildlife (including airborne fowl)
• moon and planets
• nature scenery

Just my two cents...

No one shoots BIF under HS stadium lighting at night or worse yet, in a gymnasium. As Fro demonstrated in his review, it’s good enough in good light if one has reasonable expectations. But it isn’t an f/2.8 or an f/4. The thing is f/5.6 at 180 mm! Who wants that vs a 70-200 f/2.8? Some complain that the 70-200 f/2.8 is too heavy for shooting their kids. Now they are buying a bigger, heavier, and much slower lens to do the same thing?

The hype doesn’t match reality from what I’ve seen. But I’m a pixel peeper, and perhaps most buyers of this lens are not.

Quite honestly I would not even consider this lens in my lineup as it just appears to be cheaply made. They should have came up with a 200-600 F/4 then I would be on one of these but not this one..

I guess I will find out hard way, being I am a pixeler. Yes, I would rather had a Z 200-600mm f/4 VR lens, alas not happening with Nikon.

Even though lens I proposed to go with it was flat out rejected, do to much X-factor (magnification); a Z 20-200mm (within 10x suggested limit) would be a great mating for fun (not work) travel.

Would you really though? The Canon RF 200-500 F4 is $12,000. If you and others are in the market for such a lens, the Z 400 TC or Z 600 TC is available in that price bracket. Those lens are a pixel peeper's dream. The 180-600 was never going to be the right lens for your needs.

Since I have seen a few sample images from 180-600mm vs. other Z lens; I think it will work just fine for my needs. Going by demand, if I don't like it, I can put it up for sale for more than I will pay for it. :-D

 

[astirusty]

I am drawn to this thread by a family member who has ordered a 180-600mm lens for his Z50. Three points to make in response to comments in this thread --

1. This lens may very well be in short supply for years. Perhaps not, but I recall the entirely analogous Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6e (F mount) lens being out of stock more often than not for two years after its initial ship date.
2. This will find many homes with down-market camera bodies, not just Z8/Z9 bodies. At the $1900US price point, it is a very attractive value option for Z50 and Z5-7 owners who also see the Z50 and Z5-7 bodies as attractive value options.
3. The 180-600mm lens is less a niche product than some commenters assert. Based on my own experience having owned the Sigma "Bigma" (50-500mm) and now a Nikon 200-500/5.6E lenses, I use it for:

• wildlife (including airborne fowl)
• sports (no, it is NOT too slow. If you can use this lens for BIF then you can use it for sports as well)
• kids (and grandkids) in motion
• wildlife (including airborne fowl)
• moon and planets
• nature scenery

Just my two cents...

No one shoots BIF under HS stadium lighting at night or worse yet, in a gymnasium. As Fro demonstrated in his review, it’s good enough in good light if one has reasonable expectations. But it isn’t an f/2.8 or an f/4. The thing is f/5.6 at 180 mm! Who wants that vs a 70-200 f/2.8? Some complain that the 70-200 f/2.8 is too heavy for shooting their kids. Now they are buying a bigger, heavier, and much slower lens to do the same thing?

The hype doesn’t match reality from what I’ve seen. But I’m a pixel peeper, and perhaps most buyers of this lens are not.

Quite honestly I would not even consider this lens in my lineup as it just appears to be cheaply made. They should have came up with a 200-600 F/4 then I would be on one of these but not this one..

I guess I will find out hard way, being I am a pixeler. Yes, I would rather had a Z 200-600mm f/4 VR lens, alas not happening with Nikon.

Even though lens I proposed to go with it was flat out rejected, do to much X-factor (magnification); a Z 20-200mm (within 10x suggested limit) would be a great mating for fun (not work) travel.

Would you really though? The Canon RF 200-500 F4 is $12,000. If you and others are in the market for such a lens, the Z 400 TC or Z 600 TC is available in that price bracket. Those lens are a pixel peeper's dream. The 180-600 was never going to be the right lens for your needs.

As for Canon, the company is dead to me. Canon stuck me and several others with a multi-defect flagship (at time) DSLR camera. A grease slinging, random eTTL exposure, random focusing expensive barge.

 

[Barleyman]

I am drawn to this thread by a family member who has ordered a 180-600mm lens for his Z50. Three points to make in response to comments in this thread --

1. This lens may very well be in short supply for years. Perhaps not, but I recall the entirely analogous Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6e (F mount) lens being out of stock more often than not for two years after its initial ship date.
2. This will find many homes with down-market camera bodies, not just Z8/Z9 bodies. At the $1900US price point, it is a very attractive value option for Z50 and Z5-7 owners who also see the Z50 and Z5-7 bodies as attractive value options.
3. The 180-600mm lens is less a niche product than some commenters assert. Based on my own experience having owned the Sigma "Bigma" (50-500mm) and now a Nikon 200-500/5.6E lenses, I use it for:

• wildlife (including airborne fowl)
• sports (no, it is NOT too slow. If you can use this lens for BIF then you can use it for sports as well)
• kids (and grandkids) in motion
• wildlife (including airborne fowl)
• moon and planets
• nature scenery

Just my two cents...

No one shoots BIF under HS stadium lighting at night or worse yet, in a gymnasium. As Fro demonstrated in his review, it’s good enough in good light if one has reasonable expectations. But it isn’t an f/2.8 or an f/4. The thing is f/5.6 at 180 mm! Who wants that vs a 70-200 f/2.8? Some complain that the 70-200 f/2.8 is too heavy for shooting their kids. Now they are buying a bigger, heavier, and much slower lens to do the same thing?

The hype doesn’t match reality from what I’ve seen. But I’m a pixel peeper, and perhaps most buyers of this lens are not.

Quite honestly I would not even consider this lens in my lineup as it just appears to be cheaply made. They should have came up with a 200-600 F/4 then I would be on one of these but not this one..

I guess I will find out hard way, being I am a pixeler. Yes, I would rather had a Z 200-600mm f/4 VR lens, alas not happening with Nikon.

Even though lens I proposed to go with it was flat out rejected, do to much X-factor (magnification); a Z 20-200mm (within 10x suggested limit) would be a great mating for fun (not work) travel.

Would you really though? The Canon RF 200-500 F4 is $12,000. If you and others are in the market for such a lens, the Z 400 TC or Z 600 TC is available in that price bracket. Those lens are a pixel peeper's dream. The 180-600 was never going to be the right lens for your needs.

As for Canon, the company is dead to me. Canon stuck me and several others with a multi-defect flagship (at time) DSLR camera. A grease slinging, random eTTL exposure, random focusing expensive barge.

Plus, Canon has some great f/11 telephoto lenses. ;-)

 

[earthbound_ca]

Your f/4 would cost $8,000. Are you ready to pay for it?

Oh boy. You had to ask. In three, two, one... (lol)

 

[shuncheung]

Your f/4 would cost $8,000. Are you ready to pay for it?

Oh boy. You had to ask. In three, two, one... (lol)

Obviously you guys have absolutely no idea who Lens Wizard is. He is a billionaire lens collector who has every expensive lens Canon, Nikon, Sony and Leica make. Even a $80,000 lens is a piece of cake for him. In fact, for each lens he owns two samples, one in his house in the US and the other one stored in Asia. ;-)

 

[adski]

Odds are the new lens will be a lot more popular than the z8 was. The product works very well, and the price cannot be beat.

I doubt that is the case. There will be demand for the 180-600, but such long a lens is a niche product. And IMO the 180-600 will not be that useful without the AF from the Z9 or Z8 behind it. If more people own the 180-600 than the Z8, are they all Z9 owners?

The Sony 200-600 is one of the most popular birding and wildlife lenses today. You’ll find it on all bodies, from a6000 to the a1. I have an a1 + this lens, and I have a Z6 mk i, and a Z9, with a 180-600 on order. It won’t go on the z6, but that’s not to say I wouldn’t put it on a Z6/7ii or good APS-C body (a D500 replacement) if one comes along.

Your post highlights the situation for Sony as well as for Nikon. Sony's 200-600 is popular for birding and wildlife because Sony do not have as many super tele selections as Nikon have now. I have a Z9 also, and I have a 600mm/f4 AF-S VR and a 500mm/f5.6 PF in the F mount; I also have the 400mm/f4.5 and 800mm PF in the Z mount. Hence I don't have much interest in the 180-600.

On the other hand, Sony has more bodies with pretty good AF for action photography, besides the A1, there is also the A9 and even some APS-C bodies. For Nikon, if you get the 180-600 but do not pair it up with either the Z8 or Z9, it is kind of meaningless. Did you see the current thread that some Canon user wants to buy the 180-600 plus an inexpensive ~$1500 Nikon body with decent AF to go with it: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4725376? Sadly, the simple answer is that no such "inexpensive" body exists today.

What Nikon will introduce in the future remains to be seen, but at this point, I seriously doubt that a niche lens such as the 180-600 will outsell the popular Z8, which is a very general-pupose camera. I am planning to get a Z8 also in the future; some people have multiple Z8s, but I don't see very many people with multiple 180-600 lenses.

A lot more people can afford this lens than a true exotic, nevermind a bag of them. I think you underestimate how much poor people aspire to take pictures of things _despite_ their crappy bodies.

 

[LTheWafflePWN]

Odds are the new lens will be a lot more popular than the z8 was. The product works very well, and the price cannot be beat.

I doubt that is the case. There will be demand for the 180-600, but such long a lens is a niche product. And IMO the 180-600 will not be that useful without the AF from the Z9 or Z8 behind it. If more people own the 180-600 than the Z8, are they all Z9 owners?

The Sony 200-600 is one of the most popular birding and wildlife lenses today. You’ll find it on all bodies, from a6000 to the a1. I have an a1 + this lens, and I have a Z6 mk i, and a Z9, with a 180-600 on order. It won’t go on the z6, but that’s not to say I wouldn’t put it on a Z6/7ii or good APS-C body (a D500 replacement) if one comes along.

Your post highlights the situation for Sony as well as for Nikon. Sony's 200-600 is popular for birding and wildlife because Sony do not have as many super tele selections as Nikon have now. I have a Z9 also, and I have a 600mm/f4 AF-S VR and a 500mm/f5.6 PF in the F mount; I also have the 400mm/f4.5 and 800mm PF in the Z mount. Hence I don't have much interest in the 180-600.

On the other hand, Sony has more bodies with pretty good AF for action photography, besides the A1, there is also the A9 and even some APS-C bodies. For Nikon, if you get the 180-600 but do not pair it up with either the Z8 or Z9, it is kind of meaningless. Did you see the current thread that some Canon user wants to buy the 180-600 plus an inexpensive ~$1500 Nikon body with decent AF to go with it: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4725376? Sadly, the simple answer is that no such "inexpensive" body exists today.

What Nikon will introduce in the future remains to be seen, but at this point, I seriously doubt that a niche lens such as the 180-600 will outsell the popular Z8, which is a very general-pupose camera. I am planning to get a Z8 also in the future; some people have multiple Z8s, but I don't see very many people with multiple 180-600 lenses.

A lot more people can afford this lens than a true exotic, nevermind a bag of them. I think you underestimate how much poor people aspire to take pictures of things _despite_ their crappy bodies.

I agree with this, but well... I don't consider my Z7ii all that crappy, nor myself all that poor, I guess.

 

[JConrad]

LensWizard, post: 67219017, member: 557983"]Quite honestly I would not even consider this lens in my lineup as it just appears to be cheaply made. They should have came up with a 200-600 F/4 then I would be on one of these but not this one..

[/QUOTE]
But that’s a totally different lens. That’s like saying, “why did they release the 70-200/2.8, they should have released a 70-200 f/1.4.”

A consumer telezoom for lightweight reach that is accessible to casual wildlife shooters (or serious shooters who don’t have huge cash reserves or want something lightweight) is not the same as a gigantic and heavy lens that would likely be north of $15,000. There’s a market for the latter, but it’s a different lens.

 

[PaulBearer]

Now it's up to about 7, maybe 8.

And I'm not talking about the days when their electronics couldn't last much beyond a warranty period. Yes, I hold a grudge.