800mm Z lens orders

[NorthernFocus]

I just got my NPS shipping notification. I assume a lot of NPS orders for the 800 got cancelled in favor of the 600mm TC because my NPS request was in July. I had originally had an order with Nikon store that I had placed within minutes of the announcement and NPS request the next morning. But had to cancel that order(it's a long story ). I had a parallel order with my LCS and asked NPS to shift my priority request to that order. They let me do it but told me I went to the bottom of the NPS priority list as of that date. Which I wasn't happy about since I'd had my request in from day one.

Anyhow, for frame of reference apparently they're now filling NPS request from July. Which is right up to when they stopped taking orders.

 

[eft]

Anyhow, for frame of reference apparently they're now filling NPS request from July. Which is right up to when they stopped taking orders.

Thanks for the intel and congrats on finally getting word of delivery. The sooner these NPS orders get fulfilled, the sooner us mere mortals will be able to share in the excitement .

 

[ingweDave]

I just got my NPS shipping notification. I assume a lot of NPS orders for the 800 got cancelled in favor of the 600mm TC because my NPS request was in July. I had originally had an order with Nikon store that I had placed within minutes of the announcement and NPS request the next morning. But had to cancel that order(it's a long story ). I had a parallel order with my LCS and asked NPS to shift my priority request to that order. They let me do it but told me I went to the bottom of the NPS priority list as of that date. Which I wasn't happy about since I'd had my request in from day one.

Anyhow, for frame of reference apparently they're now filling NPS request from July. Which is right up to when they stopped taking orders.

Im not sure how the system differs over here in the UK. I am not NPS and placed an order on the first day, I received my lens 6 weeks ago. I think there is a good deal of luck in choosing a store that will get a reasonable allocation but is not the highest profile.

 

[lukemeup]

Meanwhile Canada still didn't get any (?) shipments it seems.

 

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the intel and congrats on finally getting word of delivery. The sooner these NPS orders get fulfilled, the sooner us mere mortals will be able to share in the excitement .

Nikon's whole system is weird. I think where you stand in the que has more to do with the retailer than anything else. I've had better luck with our tiny shop here in town than with any of the large on-line options. After this particular fiasco the only thing I might possibly buy from the Nikon Store in future will be refurbs.

Im not sure how the system differs over here in the UK. I am not NPS and placed an order on the first day, I received my lens 6 weeks ago. I think there is a good deal of luck in choosing a store that will get a reasonable allocation but is not the highest profile.

I agree. Per my reply above all of the info I've ever seen indicates that where you order makes as much/more difference than when.

Meanwhile Canada still didn't get any (?) shipments it seems.

I'd be surprised if that is the case. But who knows. Nikon isn't exactly known for transparency.

 

[Alistair]

I'm in New Zealand, ordered mine late April. I am 3rd on the list at retailer. I contacted the NZ importer 3 wks ago , they told me mid September.

Did your 800mm show up by any chance?

 

[ssheipel]

Meanwhile Canada still didn't get any (?) shipments it seems.

As of when I cancelled my 800 order for the 600 S ,Vistek had received no 800s for any of its orders across the country.

 

[lukemeup]

As of when I cancelled my 800 order for the 600 S ,Vistek had received no 800s for any of its orders across the country.

Camera Canada got one back at launch. Nothing since. Radio silence from Nikon.

 

[eft]

Camera Canada got one back at launch. Nothing since. Radio silence from Nikon.

This is what our local camera chain is saying also. They said Z9 deliveries were really dry until some point a few months ago when they suddenly seemed to catch up. This is my (perhaps naiive) hope for the 800mm too.

I met a guy recently who said he got one through connections at London Drugs. But he also said it was really soft compared to his PF500 so I took his story with a grain of salt.

 

[NorthernFocus]

This is what our local camera chain is saying also. They said Z9 deliveries were really dry until some point a few months ago when they suddenly seemed to catch up. This is my (perhaps naiive) hope for the 800mm too...

I suspect that release of the 600mm TC relieved a good bit of demand. If I could justify it to myself I'd go that route myself.

 

[lukemeup]

I suspect that release of the 600mm TC relieved a good bit of demand. If I could justify it to myself I'd go that route myself.

I've actually put myself on the list for 600 TC today. See what arrives first, decide when it does. I can technically swing it (but as a non-pro it's a tough decision).

 

[DsD]

I hear ya Dan! The longer the 800 pf drags out the more I seem to be talking myself into switching to the 400/2.8. A bit less than 1.5 pounds heavier and more versatile. Hope the weight isn't that much of a killer for handholding and with the 1.4 teleconverter I can basically get to 800mm. Thom seems to think it is on par w/ 800 pf acuity and is still faster. I don't remember what Brad's take was on that though. 3 lens in one seems ideal but not sure if I want to commit the funds seeing I'm getting axed from my job at the end of December. But if I'm going to be prematurely retired I might as well have fun while being poor! Tough decisions.

 

[ssheipel]

I've actually put myself on the list for 600 TC today. See what arrives first, decide when it does. I can technically swing it (but as a non-pro it's a tough decision).

It's now "late November" the timing Nikon gave for "shipping" the new 600, so I'm expecting everyone to get theirs in the next couple of days. Given I really can't afford it at this very moment I'm sure the 600 will be the lens that defies the world's product delivery woes!

 

[RockvilleBob]

I received an email from Nikon saying my 800 order is being shipped to my dealer. Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[Ralph]

Nikon's whole system is weird. I think where you stand in the que has more to do with the retailer than anything else. I've had better luck with our tiny shop here in town than with any of the large on-line options. After this particular fiasco the only thing I might possibly buy from the Nikon Store in future will be refurbs.


I agree. Per my reply above all of the info I've ever seen indicates that where you order makes as much/more difference than when.


I'd be surprised if that is the case. But who knows. Nikon isn't exactly known for transparency.

I think your right Dan. When I ordered my 500 PF they were no where to be found so i ordered from my neighborhood store. They said they had not had much trouble getting them. Received mine in a few months and this was at the heart of the pandemic .

 

[NorthernFocus]

I received an email from Nikon saying my 800 order is being shipped to my dealer. Happy Thanksgiving.

When did you order, Bob?

 

[Nextlife1]

This is what our local camera chain is saying also. They said Z9 deliveries were really dry until some point a few months ago when they suddenly seemed to catch up. This is my (perhaps naiive) hope for the 800mm too.

I met a guy recently who said he got one through connections at London Drugs. But he also said it was really soft compared to his PF500 so I took his story with a grain of salt.

You are right to be skeptical—I have a very good copy of the 500 PF and my 800 PF is considerably sharper.

 

[Whiskeyman]

... Could Nikon build a new production line or 2? ...

Which causes a new line of inquiry for me; how many lens production plants and lines does Nikon have? And how many are they using? Are any dormant and/or being retooled to produce another line of lenses?

I may have missed it in this thread or another, and if so, I'm sorry for asking, but does anyone here know the answers to these questions?

 

[GrandNagus50]

Which causes a new line of inquiry for me; how many lens production plants and lines does Nikon have? And how many are they using? Are any dormant and/or being retooled to produce another line of lenses?

I may have missed it in this thread or another, and if so, I'm sorry for asking, but does anyone here know the answers to these questions?

Second or third (or fourth) hand information from other forums: for the 800 PF there is a bottleneck that is the manufacture of a particular element or elements related to the PF design. There is only one machine or process unit handling this, and it takes many months for the elements to be made. Nikon decided not to invest in a second machine (or whatever) because of the expense, and it will take a long time to catch up on all of the outstanding orders, which is why Nikon stopped taking new orders for the lens.

I don't know anything about the situation with the 600 f4Z, but historically, the manufacture of these big, expensive telephoto lenses is done in small batches and a lot of the assembly is done by hand by very skilled workers, of which there are a limited number.

Supposedly, Zero Covid restrictions in China are not a major factor in the slow release of gear generally.

 

[Stumpy]

Did your 800mm show up by any chance?

No, I called the retailer in mid Sept. they told me early 2023 !!!

 

[Alistair]

No, I called the retailer in mid Sept. they told me early 2023 !!!

Yes, me too.

 

[RockvilleBob]

When did you order, Bob?

Hey Dan. My NPS membership came through a few months ago. I ordered the lens from Service Photo on April 6 but the shipment is due to NPS. I am guessing Nikon must be very close to shipping the NPS orders for the 800 since my membership is recent, just a few months.

 

[eft]

Any USA/Canada (non-NPS) NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S orders been fulfilled since November? If so, please note when you ordered and where. Thanks!
~ the eternal optimist

 

[Keith2012]

I ordered from B&H Photo at 12:12 a.m. Central Time on April 6, the day of the launch. I’m still waiting on mine.

 

[Bubbahotep]

I'm like Keith. I ordered mine on April 6 at a local camera shop and am still waiting. The local camera shop thinks it could be sometime in spring when I'll get mine. I'm not happy but I also don't have a Expeed 7 camera body to go with it yet. I was hoping the Z8 would be announced by now so I can make a decision on which body to buy. I have a Z6 now which I can use as a stop gap. I'll use it to focus on perched birds instead of those in flight.