When Was The Last Time Z 800mm Were Delivered To Customers In The USA?

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Best I can tell there hasn't been a second batch yet. According to what I read on Thom's site, they are making 300-400 per month at most. Even though I'm usually near the top of the list at my dealer, I don't think I'll see one until Sept/Oct at the earliest unless a lot of people get tired of waiting and cancel.
 
They usually call me from corporate to get my approval before shipping a new batch but for some unknown reason they didn't do that this time.
 
I hate to bring this up for fear of being stoned. But I remember reading an article on Nikon, and how they produce the glass used in their premium lens. ie. the 800's, 600's, 400's etc... Nikon has their own special formula, and process. Selecting the sand, heating temperatures, cooling times etc... Much like KFC, or Coke with their special formulas. Its been years, and my memory isn't like it use to be. Also (disclaimer) I know nothing about making glass. One point of the article was that it takes years...thats years to make a batch of glass. When Nikon starts a batch they project how much glass they think they will need several years down the road that's the quantity they start batch processing. The amount of glass Nikon has available to produce these lens was decided years ago. If they didn't for see the huge demand back then..... I can see where they are probably "glass" limited. Nothing is going to change that, its not like you can just start another production line, hire more people.... If they have used up all the available glass there is nothing to do but wait for the next batch to become available. Not sure how often they start a batch, weekly, monthly ? I can see where it might be a long wait. Especially when you throw in the yet to be announced 600 mm. Not sure if the 200-600 would qualify for the "special glass" or not.
 
Mine arrived on June 18. I put in my order the day that NPS notified me that the lens was available. Glad to have the lens as it will take Nikon another 6-8 weeks to get my 600mm f/4E lens repaired with a new autofocus part.
 
Well someone can have mine. I ordered one from Nikon USA within minutes of product activation on the site and entered an NPS priority request next morning. No word to date. My main shooting season of the year that it would be used is gone now. Plus I'm tired of micro-managing my cc balance to make sure there's room to pay for it whenever Nikon decides to ship it. So called and canceled my order. May re-order this winter through my LCS and see how it goes. Assuming I don't stumble across a used Sony 600mm f4 that I can afford before then.
 
I hate to bring this up for fear of being stoned. But I remember reading an article on Nikon, and how they produce the glass used in their premium lens. ie. the 800's, 600's, 400's etc... Nikon has their own special formula, and process. Selecting the sand, heating temperatures, cooling times etc... Much like KFC, or Coke with their special formulas. Its been years, and my memory isn't like it use to be. Also (disclaimer) I know nothing about making glass. One point of the article was that it takes years...thats years to make a batch of glass. When Nikon starts a batch they project how much glass they think they will need several years down the road that's the quantity they start batch processing. The amount of glass Nikon has available to produce these lens was decided years ago. If they didn't for see the huge demand back then..... I can see where they are probably "glass" limited. Nothing is going to change that, its not like you can just start another production line, hire more people.... If they have used up all the available glass there is nothing to do but wait for the next batch to become available. Not sure how often they start a batch, weekly, monthly ? I can see where it might be a long wait. Especially when you throw in the yet to be announced 600 mm. Not sure if the 200-600 would qualify for the "special glass" or not.
The technology involved in making special types of glass is fascinating. You are correct, the delay is ~1 year apparently in the Hikari factory. But many steps etc are not disclosed.

The long lead-in times are between casting the penultimate optical elements, which have to anneal naturally under controlled temperatures. This is after the sequence of processing steps, which aim to homogenous the mix. A certain percentage of final glass is rejected if flawed (inclusions, bubbles etc). This is more challenging with wider elements.
See these links and official Nikon video


Nikon's production of Phase-fresnel elements is not known, except they have admitted they had challenges with production yields with the PF element in the 500 PF, which was also backordered for months.
 
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I just spotted this post on another forum and it sounds encouraging:

“I am in the US and a NPS member. I ordered on the same day it was announced about a few hours later. Yesterday I got the email from NPS saying the order will be shipped and at my retailer within 10 days. The retailer is a local store.”
 
I just received the same shipping notification. My NPS order was about 5 hours after ordering opened up. So it seems clear that another shipment has just arrived in the US.
 
I just received the same shipping notification. My NPS order was about 5 hours after ordering opened up. So it seems clear that another shipment has just arrived in the US.
That sounds about right, I got mine this time last month. At least it seems like there are monthly batches which did not appear to be the case earlier.
 
This is pretty cool that we are all sharing our individual information and when we put it together we are starting to gather some “intel” as investigators say. This should be helpful to the many people who have been waiting with no sense of when/if shipments are coming. If another shipment shows up around this time next month we may be on to something. LOL.
 
This is pretty cool that we are all sharing our individual information and when we put it together we are starting to gather some “intel” as investigators say. This should be helpful to the many people who have been waiting with no sense of when/if shipments are coming. If another shipment shows up around this time next month we may be on to something. LOL.
It's something, I guess, but if actual production is in the 400-500 units per month (worldwide) range that I heard quoted by a reliable source, it'll be a while to fill all current orders let alone new ones.
 
NIKON Rumors - Another batch of the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens is now shipping in the US

 
While I thought that orders for the 800PF were suspended, when I checked nikonusa.com just now, it refers you to bhphotovideo.com which allows you to place an order and bestbuy.com allows a pre-order.
 
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NIKON Rumors - Another batch of the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens is now shipping in the US

Just saw that
 
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
 
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