thelordofthelight
Well-known member
IF it comes with an in built TC, it has to be a 5.6 at least. I also feel Nikon would reserve in-built TCs for only their cream tele lenses.
Nikkor 200-600 Coming soon (again)
- Thread starter RichF
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It will not have a TC
Helo48
Member
Hello folks
Just wait and see. Speculations don't help
Just wait and see. Speculations don't help
John Navitsky
Well-known member
i sure hope the built in tc becomes a theme in longer, higher end (S) glass
from repliable source, educated guess, or .. the 180-400 is a zoom w a built-in TC and the 200-600 TC could be its replacement
arbitrage
Well-known member
If it has a TC and is 600/5.6 on the long end then we are looking at a $10K+ lens....is that really what people are after? I thought everyone wanted a Sony 200-600 type lens??
John Navitsky
Well-known member
the comment that this is a derivative of suggested maybe they’d do two versions
thelordofthelight
Well-known member
The one thing that's tough to predict with Nikon these days is the pricing...see what they did with the Z9 and most importantly the 800PF.
As to the 2 lens theory, I'm not sure how they'd be able to justify. If the base model of the 200-600(or 180-600) is expected to be at least as good as the Sony version, then the higher end model must be truly a pro grade lens like a 180-400 type lens. The only practical option i can think of is something similar to what Sigma does with their contemporary vs sports model. Specs being exactly the same but the consumer version will be cheaper, extending zoom, basic coatings, basic weather sealing vs the enthusiast version that'll be internal zoom, better coatings and corrections, slightly faster AF motors, better weather sealing and an S line. This would mean, the consumer version will be under the Sony version in terms of price and performance and the enthusiast version will be above Sony..wow it's nice to speculate LoL.
That is some wild speculation! There is ONE 200-600 on the roadmap and I am virtually certain there will be ONE version of this lens. It will have to compete with the absolutely stellar Sony version. It is so good that I use it and bought a Sony body for that sole purpose (using Nikon D850 and four Nikkor lenses for the rest of my shooting). See my brief 200-600 review here: https://bcgforums.com/index.php?threads/in-praise-of-sony-200-600.23147/
Sony G (vs GM) lenses are also pro grade from what I can tell. The only difference I see is that GM are large aperture and G are smaller aperture (though the 100-400 GM seems to be the exception). As an owner of the 200-600 G I can assure you it is definitely professional grade in sharpness and build quality. (Maybe it's not fully weather sealed, I honestly don't know).
thelordofthelight
Well-known member
I have owned and used a Sony 200-600 lens and it's an excellent lens no doubt and definitely the best in class as far as consumer zooms are concerned however, when you compare it against professional zoom lenses like the 180-400/120-300 or Sony's own GM lenses, there is definitely a noticeable difference. In terms of optical performance, it is more like a Nikon 200-500 but the AF is awesome so are the handling aspects like short zoom throw, internal zoom etc. Nikon has a tough task of at least matching their 200-600 against the Sony version but looking at the performance of all the Z lenses, they'll most likely get it right.
fcotterill
Well-known member
As responded above already in this speculative thread, I agree 2 versions makes sense: eventually adding a S Line TC version! as you suggest. A fluorite element - if it's used, and this is likely - will whack one extra zero on the price of a S Line Telephoto!
I'm sure I'm not alone speculating how Nikon can add yet another Z Nikkor(s) to the impressive range already out in the wild. Fast 200 and 300 primes are certainly possible. There are however, excellent optics in these niches in the 200 f2G and 300 f2.8G, and notably the 120-300 f2.8E SR. The logical progression if Nikon is planning Z mount telephotos in this range, are integral Teleconverter upgrades with SR elements, ARNEO coatings et al.
Based on local experiences photographing African wildlife, the only other gap I can identify in the telephoto options of Nikon's Greater Ecosystem is to cover 300-700 but critically designed for excellent IQ with a TC. So speed of f4/5.6 ideally, but no slower than f4.8/6.7, which will trim weight and costs.
This range and flexibility will be extremely versatile for many situations in wildlife photography. Perhaps it should be a 300-600 f4.8S TC14, with a 125mm window, or 134mm if a f4.5/6.3.... full coverage from 300 out to 840mm... It will be heavy, but arguably approx 3.5 kg at its lightest.
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Pimpollo
Member
The Sony 200-600 beats a 500pf? Really? That's very interesting, my d500/500pf combination gave some good results which I was happy with. Quite why I sold it to get the R7 with the 7.1 100-500 lens I'll never fathom out. Decisions, decisions
Not an s-line, based on the Tameron, not shown in the profile on the road map. The 180-400 (FX AF-S f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR) was a $12,400k lens the 200-600 will not be this.
arbitrage
Well-known member
I read his comment as the 200-600 is superior to the 200-500. I don't think he meant to compare the 300 and 500PF to the 200-600. But the sentence could be interpreted either way.
I have comparison test shots of the 200-600 vs the 500PF both mounted on a Sony A1 body. They are very, very close and I have to view at 200-300% in LR to see any differences.
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arbitrage
Well-known member
Yes, as good as the 200-600 is, when I switch back and forth to one of my GM primes (I have both the 400 and 600) it is a very noticeable difference, not only for resolution (fine detail) but more importantly for AF speed and consistency. Even Bird Eye-AF activates more predictably for some unknown reason. I never realized this until two of my friends graduated up from their 200-600s to 600GMs....both remarked right away about the Eye-AF so I did a test of my own and noticed the difference of eye-af activating more consistently and more stable with the GM primes.
The 100-400GM also holds an advantage in AF and IQ to the 200-600 although I will admit that there is copy variation out there. I've owned two copies of the 100-400GM and my first copy was only on par at 400mm and behind at 560mm (with TC) compared to the 200-600. My 2nd copy of 100-400 was noticeably better at 400 and was a dead heat at 560.
And I agree that if Nikon was to make two zooms in this focal range the higher end one would have to be top tier, with built-in TC similar to the 180-400.
I really can't fathom them making two versions of a 200-600. If anything they would make a Z version of the 180-400TC in the future. But I'm sure the 200-600 will be similar to what is on the roadmap and similar to the Sony 2-6.
The cemeteries are filled with people who held their breath waiting for this lens.