800mm Z lens orders

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EricBowles said:
I an promise you that the lens is sharp and functions well. It does not need to be heavy to be an excellent lens. I have not used my 600 f/4 since getting the 800mm PF in May. My experience is I take the 800mm with me even if I "might" use it - such as a casual bird walk 800 miles from home. The 600 f/4 only went if I had plans to use it seriously.
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I don't doubt it's performance, and as long as I can use it in the rain without worry I'm good. It just feels so... not $7000. I'm going to hang up the 600 for a while and see what life is like without it. Maybe sell it eventually - who knows.
 
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Yes. I received one two weeks ago. I’m encouraged by Z9 availability at B&H and hope others can get the 800mmPF. I use a small store and mine was the first one they received.
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Whiskeyman said:
From what I'm hearing and reading, the $7000 is in the image quality, not in the build material's mass. ;)

Hopefully, this doesn't compromise the useful lifetime of the lens. :unsure:
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For 800mm it's a light weight lens, but it is a solid build. There are a number of nice design features such as the lens foot that is a contoured grip and the new lens hood latch. I don't have any issues with it.
 
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My limited experience with the lens is it is well built. The hood and “lens cover” are different but not bad. I bought an arca swift foot replacement that is longer than the original. I’m sure it wouldn’t fare well if you shotput it, but already have bumped it because it’s longer than I’m used to. It survived these minor bumps well. I wouldn’t put it in lesser build quality than my 500mm PF. And yes. Excellent photos.
 
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Calson said:
Nikon stopped taking orders from their U.S. dealers for the 800mm and the 400mm lenses. That would indicate that current orders are 100% of what they can produce in the remainder of 2022. I received my 800mm in June through the NPS priority program and placed my order with Brad at Berger Bros. the day I received the notification from NPS. My priority 100-400mm lens with B&H was received and then sold to another customer so now all my orders are with Berger Bros or Samy's.
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It's surprising that B&H would do that.
 
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cchuck said:
It's surprising that B&H would do that.
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I’m pretty sure that happened with my 800Z back in August. I called B&H in early August and was told that due to my spot in line, when they received more lenses I would get one for sure. Said it didn’t matter that I wasn’t NPS because of my place in line ( I ordered just before the notice from B&H went out but after they opened pre-orders. I got my pre-order notification before I got the notice that pre-orders were open.)

I’ll still order from them when advantageous, but my customer loyalty sure took a hit.
 
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I got an 800 mm PF in September. I was first on my local dealer’s list, but without NPS, so effectively behind US NPS orders. An 800 mm PF came through to my dealer for an NPS customer, who said he had changed his mind and no longer wanted it, as the Z 400 f2.8 with the internal TC was great and could get him to 800 mm as needed. So my dealer sold the 800 mm PF to me, as I was then first on his list. Quite lucky.
 
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BillW said:
I got an 800 mm PF in September. I was first on my local dealer’s list, but without NPS, so effectively behind US NPS orders. An 800 mm PF came through to my dealer for an NPS customer, who said he had changed his mind and no longer wanted it, as the Z 400 f2.8 with the internal TC was great and could get him to 800 mm as needed. So my dealer sold the 800 mm PF to me, as I was then first on his list. Quite lucky.
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I don’t know $13K vs $7k. Would love to have a 400mm 2.8 but it’s cost prohibitive. Saves for months to get the 800PF. Good for you to fall into some good luck. Love to see a couple of your shots here.
 
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BillW said:
I got an 800 mm PF in September. I was first on my local dealer’s list, but without NPS, so effectively behind US NPS orders. An 800 mm PF came through to my dealer for an NPS customer, who said he had changed his mind and no longer wanted it, as the Z 400 f2.8 with the internal TC was great and could get him to 800 mm as needed. So my dealer sold the 800 mm PF to me, as I was then first on his list. Quite lucky.
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You have to love a story with such a happy ending! :D
 
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eft said:
I presume you got the lens :) . Would you mind sharing if you are NPS and when you put your order in?
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I did get it Friday 10/21. I ordered on 4/6/22 the day it went on sale. Ordered with my LCS. I was not NPS at the time I ordered, however I applied for NPS on 4/1 and was accepted on 4/12, so as soon as I got the acceptance email on 4/12, I went in and added the priority request to my order.
So that being said, I'm pretty sure NPS considered my order as being 4/12, not 4/6, because every time I sent an email to try to get info they basically would just confirm that "yes, we are confirming your NPS priority request from April 12th"
 
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So it's pretty obvious what has gone on and continues, i.e., that Nikon's policy of prioritizing lens sales to NPS members has led to an apparently endless cycle of new NPS memberships, new automatically prioritized NPS orders for the 800 PF, and bagel for non-NPS photographers who ordered the lens, even those of us who put ourselves at the top of a list early last April and paid deposits. I find this annoying, but hey, Nikon is free to run its business any way it chooses, I guess.
 
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GrandNagus50 said:
So it's pretty obvious what has gone on and continues, i.e., that Nikon's policy of prioritizing lens sales to NPS members has led to an apparently endless cycle of new NPS memberships, new automatically prioritized NPS orders for the 800 PF, and bagel for non-NPS photographers who ordered the lens, even those of us who put ourselves at the top of a list early last April and paid deposits. I find this annoying, but hey, Nikon is free to run its business any way it chooses, I guess.
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I Understand your frustrations and find it rather annoying as well. I am a keen amateur photographer and fairly successful businessman. I could not afford to be a professional photographer and really admire people like Steve who have diversified to earn the living they deserve. However, over the past 15 years I have always paid for and owned high end Nikon equipment. In the UK I was a member of Nikons NPU, (Nikon Professional Users.) which had no great advantages but does log with Nikon every item of equipment purchased. Similar to NPS you needed to have purchased a set number of "Professional" range equipment but not be a full time photographer.
I ordered a Z9 and a 800pf on the day they were announced, similar to the dates in the USA. I constantly chased up my order, up until around a month ago, with no indication when I may receive either. I spoke with Nikon at the UK Photography Show and expressed my frustration. They agreed it was not a great situation for long term customers like me but could not help further. I put to them the question, that if I applied for NPS membership and lied about my situation, knowing my purchase history, would I be accepted. They salesperson I spoke to smiled and said he could not give an official response.
A month ago, I got a call from my camera shop to say my 800pf was in stock for me. (This is not linked to the conversations with Nikon.) I was delighted as I did not expect it before the new year and with trips to India and Africa coming up I am very happy. 1 week later, I got another call and was told my Z9 was in stock. Now a happy owner of 2x Z9s and the 800pf:)
It appears that orders for non NPS members are now being delivered in the UK but I do fear the same situation will arise the next time in demand equipment is released.
I am very interested to know whether the NPS members out there ALL earn the majority of their income from photography?
There could be a scenario where a keen photographer was selling pictures commercially but having another successful business, he or she would be lying to claim photography as their main income. This seems unfair to me.
 
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DGettisNC said:
I did get it Friday 10/21. I ordered on 4/6/22 the day it went on sale. Ordered with my LCS. I was not NPS at the time I ordered, however I applied for NPS on 4/1 and was accepted on 4/12, so as soon as I got the acceptance email on 4/12, I went in and added the priority request to my order.
So that being said, I'm pretty sure NPS considered my order as being 4/12, not 4/6, because every time I sent an email to try to get info they basically would just confirm that "yes, we are confirming your NPS priority request from April 12th"
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Thanks for letting us know and for your transparency.
 
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For informational purposes for anyone still tracking this. I have no thoughts or comments on who-gets-what-when, just reporting facts in case they help someone out. I know that I've been pretty curious the last month or two.

I procrastinated until May 2, 2022 before placing an order for an 800PF. I just got shipping notices from NPS US and my order is likely arrive for my pickup at the dealer perhaps this week.
 
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