800mm Z lens orders
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Over 7 months now. No sign of it. I am in India.
henryp
Member
I paid local store for two 800mm PF lenses in February of 2022. (Numbers one and two on the list - first day orders.) I got a call today that one has arrived!!!
eft
Well-known member
Which region?
I just got a call from one of my camera stores back east, they got in an 800PF and were going down the wait list. I passed on it, since I was able to buy one yesterday. Seems there's been a supply drop of 800PFs in the last couple of days!
For anyone interested, it's Ace Photo in Herndon, VA.
For anyone interested, it's Ace Photo in Herndon, VA.
MatsNilsson
New member
I just got mine today and ordered it in late summer 2022, no NPS, and I live in Sweden. Serial # 200054**
ricardo00
Well-known member
My local camera store called me yesterday and said they got their first non-NPS copy and it was mine if I still wanted it (I had put in my deposit on April 1, 2022). So guess Nikon sent out a recent batch of lenses for non-NPS in the US (and the rest of the world). Tried it out yesterday with a few local birds, even tried it with the 1.4TC on our local white-tailed kites with the tripod. Fun new toy to play with. Good luck to those who are still waiting and hope everyone who got one has time to enjoy it!
PS. I will be posting on my flickr 800mm album if anyone is interested:
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/60519499@N00/albums/72177720305660828]
PS. I will be posting on my flickr 800mm album if anyone is interested:
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/60519499@N00/albums/72177720305660828]
Ordered mine on 9 April 2022 and picked it up from my local shop yesterday. A bit cold here for a long outdoors tryout, but will get something in the next couple of days.
Now let's hope that 600 TC are shipped soon.
P
philippe
Guest
Deleted
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fcotterill
Well-known member
The usual excuses...[machine translated interview, published 26 January 2023]
"However, there is still a shortage of some materials, especially lenses, which continue to cause customers to wait for a considerable amount of time. One of the reasons for this is that the transition to the Z system has received more support from customers than we expected based on past figures. The "NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S" released in November is a lens that costs more than 2 million yen, but we received far more orders than we expected based on past experience. Regarding products that have been kept waiting, we will strive to improve so that we can deliver the products as soon as possible... "
Takuhide Tsuji, Director and Executive Officer Director of Marketing Headquarters
https://www.phileweb.com/sp/interview/article/202301/26/915.html
Also https://digicame-info.com/2023/01/post-1610.html
"However, there is still a shortage of some materials, especially lenses, which continue to cause customers to wait for a considerable amount of time. One of the reasons for this is that the transition to the Z system has received more support from customers than we expected based on past figures. The "NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S" released in November is a lens that costs more than 2 million yen, but we received far more orders than we expected based on past experience. Regarding products that have been kept waiting, we will strive to improve so that we can deliver the products as soon as possible... "
Takuhide Tsuji, Director and Executive Officer Director of Marketing Headquarters
https://www.phileweb.com/sp/interview/article/202301/26/915.html
Also https://digicame-info.com/2023/01/post-1610.html
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Kip Cotter
Active member
Ordered one April 6th, 2022 and just got the call last Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. Haven't seen sunshine yet to give her a fair try! Took it down to the river to shoot some ducks real quick and I'm a bit out of practice. For any BIF, it was hard to get them in the lens unless they were out there a ways. Just need to get back into it - camera has sit for the last 3 months. I've no doubt the lens will be as capable as I am to use it, as long as the conditions are respected. I will say my initial impression was that it was harder to use than say my old D500 with a 500mm PF on - in the sense that I was having some trouble getting the flying birds in frame. Just a knee-jerk impression here - I've no doubt that it'll be super with a bit of practice and even some use (if an extensive outing) on the gimbal.
I can't believe how light it is!!! Just need some light to try it out.
eft
Well-known member
I am enjoying this lens vicariously through those who have received their copy.
However, I ran into someone who had one and he let me hold it
. My first impression was that it felt much lighter than my 200-500mm, which I believe is the same weight. The "only" difference was my lens ring)foot and FTZ. This was a huge relief for me. The balance with the Z9 felt great.
Eric, I never understood this logic. If 10 lenses are manufactured, and 2 are used to fill NPS orders, that leaves 8. De factor, non-NPSers must wait for another 2 lenses to be manufactured before they can expect their number to come up on the list. It may be that "on paper" or "as policy" NPS orders don't bump others, but the "separate allocation theory" only works in practice if production/supply exceeds demand.
The ebay sale of "international" copies of the lens continues:
The price is now $7005, which is still $505 higher than list price, but I bet there are people who view this premium increasingly as insignficant. The fly in the ointment, however, is the gray market status of these lenses, which means that Nikon USA supposely will refuse to do repairs on them even for a price. My understanding is that Nikon is the only company that has this particular policy.
When I was shopping for a new pocket camera, a Sony RX100VII, I read that if you buy a gray market copy (usually about $300 cheaper) Sony USA will not honor the warranty but will work on the camera for a fee. I ended up buying a US warranteed copy anyway, but the cheaper copies were a temptation.
NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S (International Model) 18208201082 | eBay
Superb S-Line optics, powerful VR, fast, quiet autofocus, premium weather sealing and a weight balance optimized for fluid panning all combine in this marvel of lens design. Flashes & Flash Accessories.
www.ebay.com
The price is now $7005, which is still $505 higher than list price, but I bet there are people who view this premium increasingly as insignficant. The fly in the ointment, however, is the gray market status of these lenses, which means that Nikon USA supposely will refuse to do repairs on them even for a price. My understanding is that Nikon is the only company that has this particular policy.
When I was shopping for a new pocket camera, a Sony RX100VII, I read that if you buy a gray market copy (usually about $300 cheaper) Sony USA will not honor the warranty but will work on the camera for a fee. I ended up buying a US warranteed copy anyway, but the cheaper copies were a temptation.
But the problem that led to this is the pro customer was getting bumped to the top at a store level anyway because they are a volume buyer and have a close working relationship. It was potentially taking 100% of the lenses with no allocation left for regular customers. And it leads to some bad behavior across stores where some stores could not provide gear for their high volume pro customers. With this approach, Nikon is able to take care of the professional segment with reduced impact on everyone else.
In reality the mix is very different and very product specific. The number of Z9 owners includes a high percentage of professionals and all the initial pro orders were filled within about 60 days. Most of the 400mm and 600mm orders are by professionals and both are very low volume lenses. The 800mm PF - like the 500mm PF - has limited production due to the specialty manufacturing for PF lenses - and is still a low volume lens. Out of the other 7 cameras and 26 lenses, it's a non-issue. I'm sure my 26mm f/2.8 pancake order won't affect anyone.
DRM
Well-known member
I read that differently, and in my opinion it’s worse. Rather than making excuses, I see them unintentionally stating that they continue to under value what they actually have in their Z mount line.
The number allocated to a store does not change but fulfillment of NPS orders before the plebes can get a lens means that there is a delay to some of those who spend more on Nikon equipment than NPS members.
arbitrage
Well-known member
Thanks for bringing this up. I've tried to argue this point with people on here and on FM forum for years. Just as you say unless supply exceeds demand then NPS orders 100% take away from non-NPS supply. And with Nikon any hot new product has demand far outstripping supply. Anytime an NPS order comes in late there is going to be one less lens going to some store that could have gone to a non-NPS customer. If production of the hot item stays constant and If there were no NPS orders then non-NPS people will get the hot item sooner than if there are NPS orders.
Seems NPS members always try to defend this policy. No need to defend it....it is what it is and people like myself who can't become NPS even if I wanted to may make a choice to not buy Nikon because of it. I am a member of SPS and CPS because they value my business....Nikon values professionals which is fine but if they would instead value sales/profits then they'd give me NPS access. Because I'll spend a lot more than 90% of the professionals out there. Just another choice the companies have to make....no right or wrong....Sony and Canon do it the other way round.
eft
Well-known member
I thought NPS orders that were made via a store got fulfilled at the store. Then the store sells to customer. Maybe it depends whether you purchase from Nikon direct or via a retailer.
Anyway, my experience from these forums and talking to a retailer is that NPS orders bump non-NPS even if they are made months after the non-NPS order. The only exception I can think of is that the freeze on new orders for the 800mm is possibly preventing NPS members from ordering and therefore bumping existing non-NPS orders.
Warren D
Well-known member
I believe that the NPS Photog makes the order with Nikon and says which store they want to deal with. The item is shipped to the store, the photog pays the store. Lately, it does seem that Nikon USA is selling more so any NPS orders directly to Nikon are fulfilled by them. According to the "rules" of NPS, a store is not obligated to prioritize NPS sales. I suspect very bad things would happen to a store who didn't.
Nikon announced they are building a new plant in Japan to build lenses among other things. Should be up and running in a few years......
....about the time my Z800 arrives.
