600 PF?

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PhilcTx

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When Nikon patented their 500 pf lens design they also patented a 600 pf.
The 500 pf has been out awhile and has been a success - but a 600 pf has yet to be announced or hinted.

Nikon's financial woes coupled with ramping up it's mirrorless camera and lens product lines may have diverted/max'ed out their available resources for a 600 pf - so perhaps the odds of a F-mount 600 pf are more remote now than when the patents were obtained.

Any recent insights into a possible 600 pf? When evaluating future big glass purchases this could be an influence.
 
It was just within the last month 500PF production finally caught up with demand. The rebates resulted in more shortages. The PF element of a 600 PF would likely be larger than that of the 500PF. Given the resources it took to make the 500 PF, I have doubts we'll see a 600 PF in F mount. Nikon has been clear, they are throwing most of their resources into mirrorless as they either think that's their future or they wish it to be (just as they tried to force the move from DX to FX). It's very possible that a 600 PF in S mount might have a smaller PF element (maybe similar in size to the 500 PF) which would solve some of the manufacturing problems.
I think we may still see some upgrades to F mount lenses but I'm not expecting many more. An updated 24-120 f4 E would get my attention and a 600 PF in F mount might as well but only if it was f5.6. The former seems more likely than the latter.
 
If I was going to patented the ( PF ) line I would protect any possible upcoming options just in case even if I had no intent to build it at the time of filling. The last thing I would want is a third party selling a ( PF) 600...lens under another brand.

I'm not saying they are not working on it but this could be a possibility. Lets hope I'm wrong...
 
Quite a few wildlife photographers will welcome a 600 PF, which needs a 108mm window. Nikon admitted to technical challenges with mass-production of the ~90mm phase-fresnel element, so - all still being still equal with factory tech - a 600 f5.6 version might be too problematic for Nikon to meet demand. Judging from forum threads over the past few years, a 400 f4E PF will be as welcome, if not more so by some of us.
There's not much more to say that's already said :)
 
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It's very possible that a 600 PF in S mount might have a smaller PF element (maybe similar in size to the 500 PF) which would solve some of the manufacturing problems.

Could be done, but it would mean the lens to be around F/7.1 fastest aperture...
However who knows looking at the release of slow aperture Canon RF lenses Nikon could chose that route too.

If we want it to be F/5.6 the 600 lens would need a 110ish frontelement which would take away more or less the advantage of the PF concept. (Light, small and cheap)
 
Nikon may still surprise us with a Z 600 PF.Then every one would rush for Z since there is no alternative to 600 PF from Sony or Canon.


We tend to think based on the possibillities of current tech, but ‘another’ sensor with better sensitivity, needing less amplification, with a lot better signal to noise ratio might stirr things up and make a 1000 dollar 800mm F/11 lens an (Very) interesting option.

Who knows what the future brings us..
Interesting times!
 
It was just within the last month 500PF production finally caught up with demand. The rebates resulted in more shortages. The PF element of a 600 PF would likely be larger than that of the 500PF. Given the resources it took to make the 500 PF, I have doubts we'll see a 600 PF in F mount. Nikon has been clear, they are throwing most of their resources into mirrorless as they either think that's their future or they wish it to be (just as they tried to force the move from DX to FX). It's very possible that a 600 PF in S mount might have a smaller PF element (maybe similar in size to the 500 PF) which would solve some of the manufacturing problems.
I think we may still see some upgrades to F mount lenses but I'm not expecting many more. An updated 24-120 f4 E would get my attention and a 600 PF in F mount might as well but only if it was f5.6. The former seems more likely than the latter.
Can you imagine the spike in Z camera sales with a lens like that available though?
 
It'll be interesting to see what they do with this and the 200-600 regards aperture (if the 600PF ever becomes). I'm hoping they stick to 5.6 as opposed to creeping up like the others... 200-600 F/5.6 with a good Z body, IBIS, a FTZ that works better regards F mount AF... that's my transition point i feel.

wishes....
 
It'll be interesting to see what they do with this and the 200-600 regards aperture (if the 600PF ever becomes). I'm hoping they stick to 5.6 as opposed to creeping up like the others... 200-600 F/5.6 with a good Z body, IBIS, a FTZ that works better regards F mount AF... that's my transition point i feel.

wishes....
I have a feeling the 200-600 is going to be F/6.3, but I hope I'm wrong.
 
Can you imagine the spike in Z camera sales with a lens like that available though?
Add working animal eye detect and tracking like Sony or Canon and I am in! Until then I am a bit circonspect when it comes to wildlife photography and Z cameras. I have yet to see a warm endorsement by any credible wildlife shooter (Other styles of photography seem great though).
 
It would be a 600mm f/6.3 at best and would compete with equally fast 150-600mm lenses from other companies. I prefer a 600mm f/4 that is usable with a 1.4x or 2x teleconverter to provide 840mm and 1200mm respectively. I have the 500mm PF lens and have used it only on one occasion with a 1.4x teleconverter and even then the lens and camera were supported by a monopod. Tough to focus with a f/8 maximum aperture.
 
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