600 TC and 600 PF - which or both, why?

[RichF]

Choices, choices, ... which 600 will be part of your kit?

 

[Peter_P]

I‘ve pre-ordered the Pf, primarily for weight and portability, but also because the Tc is probably out of my price range. I’d probably only take the Tc to static shoots anyway whereas most of my shoots are long walks. I sold my 500Pf last year and have been hoping for a Z600Pf ever since!

Just have to go through the Nikon ‘we’ve been inundated with pre-orders’ waiting time now!

 

[BillW]

The 600 mm TC is undoubtedly a great lens. But it's larger and heavier than I want. (I do love the idea of a built-in TC!) I also have the Z 800 mm PF and that gives me a lot of reach (including with the Z 1.4x TC). The 800 mm PF is about as big and heavy as I am willing to go.

I do a lot of my wildlife photography walking, hiking, kayaking, canoeing and traveling. So having a smaller lens size is generally important to me, even as it results in trade offs.

I also think the Z 600 mm PF will pair up nicely with the Z 100-400 or with the Z 70-200 & Z 400 mm 4.5. It will also be nice to have in situations where I may not want to bring the Z 800 mm PF along for various reasons.

I ordered the 600 mm PF on the day of announcement. Will be interesting to see how long it takes to get one.

 

[Geoff_G]

I chose no 600TC but getting the 600PF.
WHY? $$$$
The size, weight, and ergonomics of the PF lens has a lot of appeal to me and should serve my needs.
I preordered first thing but hoping there will be enough .... could be a long wait....

 

[jcollins]

You're missing the "I'm gonna buy a 600 TC when I win the lottery, but I'll settle for the 600 PF for now" option.

 

[Steve]

While the 600TC will remain my primary lens, I'll use the 600PF just like I did the 500PF: when I need a lighter, easier to handle alternative. I'll especially use it for smaller, closer range animals where I should probably stop down anyway, when hiking longer distances (or when I know the chances are slim and I don't want to lug around the big glass), shooting from the car (I'll use both, probably), for sure when I'm in my kayak, those sorts of situations.

 

[RichF]

I plan to use the 600 TC when I can travel heavy (near the vehicle). When I need to go any distance then I'll take either the 800 PF or 600 PF

 

[John_DE]

I have the 400TC, the 800PF and the 180-600. So, I will pass on the 600PF. We are fortunate to have so many choices.

 

[Garfield]

I was on a list for the 600TC but as the year progressed I decided that I was better off spreading that money around and getting a basket of "specialty" lenses instead. My 180-600 is better than expected and will easily become my mainstay lens. I'll keep the 100-400 as a short range/garden-critter lens will and eventually pick a up the 600pf for a lightweight but potent walkabout. My 800pf will be pulled out for long-distance/high mag nest shoots'n such. So I have no plans to buy any of the exotics but if I won the lotto I'd give serious consideration to picking up the 400TC for the flexibility and aperture.

 

[Anjin San]

Choices, choices, ... which 600 will be part of your kit?

Mine is the 180-600 because it's what works for me. For picking between the 2 lenses…you have a choice of heavy and 15K or light and 4.7K (I think). I can't speak for everybody but spending 15K on a lens that won't get almost exclusive use on outings for an amateur not making money with their camera seems foolish…at least by my standards. I understand other hobbies can cost more than photography…but I don't have those so they're not really a question for me. I'm not adverse to spending money…hence I have a Z8 and Z9 and more Z lenses than I actually probably need…but for wife and I these decisions come down to a bang for the buck analysis…and choosing either of the exotics means I have to have another lens that's a zoom along as well or else I'm missing opportunities. Some people head out for the day and have it in their mind "I'm only interested in Great Gray Owls" so only carry the long lens for that and skip anything else unless the sole lens they have works for it and are perfectly happy for a nice day in the woods if they come back with zero Great Gray Owl photos. Bride and I aren't like that…we head out to wherever and take the wildlife opportunities we get…and that means you need flexibility…and since we're both retired and 69 we aren't carrying as much as we might have when gray hair was just a distant possibility…so flexibility and weight become more important but the bang for the buck idea never disappears. That's the biggest reason we cancelled (before deposit was due thankfully) on a trip to Churchill for polar bears next October…while I'm sure it will be a great trip and we would get great photos…we decided the price vs benefit just wasn't there.

 

[Marco74]

I have the 600TC and the 500PF.
One of my friends has just ordered the 600PF, which will arrive at the end of this month. (he has special contacts that put him first on the distribution list).

I vote not to buy the 600Pf, but I'm not sure. I'm curious to test it.
My friend also has the 600TC. His idea is to see how much the 600PF is good; then, he has three ideas.

1) Sell it immediately if the 600PF is not good enough for him.
2) Keep it for light travel excursions, but keep the 600TC when he needs the best of the best, and the extra weight is not a problem.
3) In the case that the 600PF will exceeded expectations, he will sell the 600TC to buy the 400TC.

On my side, I love the 500PF also because it works great with the 1.4TC. I'm unsure if replacing it with the new 600PF is a good idea.

I'm afraid that if I had to have two lenses with the same focal length, out of laziness, I would often leave the heavier one at home but lose the countless advantages of the 600TC. In that case, maybe it would be better to sell it.
Also, I'm afraid that the multiplied 600PF will become too dark (F.9). With a big difference in the blur compared to the 5.6 of its Big Brother, the quality of the 500PF remains acceptable.

Only after having had the chance to play a bit with my friend's 600PF and talking about it extensively together will I have clear ideas.

 

[Loggitie]

I own the 600TC, and I'll use the Z400 + TC 1.4 if I want to be light. But I could change my mind, you know, GAS .
I had the 800PF but sold it (7000€) when I got the 600TC. The 600PF costs 5800€ here in Europe, the 800PF is now at 6600€, coming from 7300€. Both are at f6.3, so I hesitate to re-buy a 800PF, really excellent for small birds, instead of a 600PF.

 

[flashpixx]

Dont have the 600TC and dont intend to purchase - too expensive and too heavy.
Have pre orderd the 600pf to go with the 400 f4.5 I already have

 

[Fishboy1952]

I had the 180-600 on order with Nikon, but it kept getting delayed with no information. Then I saw the 600 PF being released and Steve’s initial assessment of that lens. I promptly cancelled the zoom and ordered the prime with my local B&M store.
While I would love to own the 600 TC, my current age, being retired (fixed income), and my preference to hand hold totally makes that lens out of the question based on weight and cost. The 600 PF is pricier than I’d like, but I can make it work.

 

[Calson]

The 600mm f/4 TC lens would be interesting but for my owning the 800mm PF that provides the same capabilities in a much lighter package, so no need to use a tripod much of the time. I have owned several 600mm f/4 lenses over the years but I have seldom used them with a 1.4x teleconverter attached to have 840mm focal length and the resulting field of view.

The 600mm f/4 with a 1.4x TC was attached to one camera and the other had a 80-400mm (now a 100-400mm) zoom attached. I often used the 500mm PF along with the zoom lens to have 80-400mm and 500mm focal lengths out in the field. These worked equally well on a small boat.

If I had a Z 500mm PF option it would be of interest but not a 600mm one that is too short without a teleconverter and too slow with one attached.

What I am very interested in getting is the Sigma 60-600mm when this lens is available for the Z mount. On the Sony mirrorless cameras it has received excellent reviews by users.

 

[marlowtravelsoften]

I put owned a 600TC but after waiting almost a YEAR now I still don't actually own one since it hasn't shipped yet.

Now that I've gotten the salt out of my mouth, I own the 500PF and don't see the 600PF offering me a huge advantage over my existing lens for the cost so I'm not planning to order it.

Also, I don't want to wait 2 years to get another Nikon product (maybe there's still some salt left in there after all).

 

[JAS]

I have the 500PF, 800PF and 100-400Z. My next need is another Z9 or a Z8. Given that, the 600PF is not an option even though I would like one.

 

[Vincent_VdB]

I have the 600mm TC and love that lens to bits. It sure is not a lightweight lens but it gives me the quality I am after and love that build-in TC.

 

[DRM]

I am interested to see what the 600 PF proves to be, but a 500 f/4 TC might be my ideal wildlife lens. I will hold off on the PF for awhile to see if the 500 f/4 TC materializes. My two year photography budget wouldn’t cover both and I can make do with what I have, so I can wait.

 

[Jamie Baker]

I’m sticking with my 600 f4 E and 500 f5.6 PF, used on a D850 and D500 for now. I do have a Z6 and a handful of smaller focal length Z lenses. HOWEVER, someday in the future when I have to go all mirrorless I’ll definitely get the 600 PF, it will undoubtedly be the ultimate birding lens!

 

[Franc_alps]

I own the Z600TC and it's a beautiful lens and before i owned the G600 af-s vr ii model, the newer Z line it's another world not so much about image quality but it's a lot lighter balanced so well in the hands that i use it almost freehand also in lower shutter speed because of the VR Z ecosystem and the versatility with the TC is something so special. I also own the Z400/4.5 another special lens so light and very well adapted like never before (to me) with the 1.4X optically and focus speaking. So, yes, i'm little surprised on this quickly 600PF announcement and surprised by the very low weight but for now i'm not interested i want to see (hoping not only video but some old style web article) some field review later i could be interested for winter hiking excursion in the snow. Will see for sure this will be a great lens for the next years to come: well done Nikon.

 

[JustinGriggs]

I would absolutely love to get the 600 TC to replace my old 600 F4G, but alas I'm a college student and seasonal wildlife biologist - not exactly the demographic that can drop $15,000 on a new lens. I am interested in selling my current 600 in favor of something a bit lighter and more maneuverable in the field and debating between the 600 PF and 800 PF. I had been pretty set on the 800, but one of my friends works with Nikon and shot some of their preview photos for the 600 and her thoughts and results of it are incredibly persuasive. I'm going to have the chance to test drive the 800 soon, I'll probably be making my decision based on that and working on selling the 600 F4G.

Until then I'll keep pumping the iron with the old brick and taking offers on a gently used kidney to get a 600 TC

 

[JoelKlein]

What’s the reason the 600TC is so slow in filling orders? It isn’t a PF element, now a year later even the much more popular 800pf is available

 

[Marcepan]

What’s the reason the 600TC is so slow in filling orders? It isn’t a PF element, now a year later even the much more popular 800pf is available

I think the reason is fluorite lens - long term preparing process. Among others of course.

 

[fcotterill]

What’s the reason the 600TC is so slow in filling orders? It isn’t a PF element, now a year later even the much more popular 800pf is available

No specifics on how Nikon manufactures these top tier Z Exotics ie 400 TC and 600 TC.
However, each of the E FL Exotic telephoto is assembled and fine-tuned by a skilled maestro. In all their key attributes, these exotic telephotos are bespoke optics. Each is assembled and tested (at least in the final stages) by one in a small team of these skilled technicians, who sign off on each new prime.

I know a Nikon ambassador/ NPS pro who shook the hand of the elderly gentleman who had built his 600 f4E (on a factory tour circa 2018) - back checked on the serial number.

The production of the big fluorite elements is also time consuming and exacting, which pushes up the cost of an exotic telephoto - into the 5 figure RRP realm.

Fyi see the closing description "Bonus: the Nikon 800mm AF-S f/5.6 E FL ED VR inspected at arm's length"

Visite d’usine : sur la ligne d’assemblage du NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S à Nikon Tochigi au Japon

Nous avons visité l'usine Nikon, dans la préfecture de Tochigi, à moins de 200km au nord du Japon. C’est dans cette région montagneuse, qui regroupe plusieurs domaines skiables, que Nikon fabrique notamment ses optiques NIKKOR haut de gamme comme le dernier NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S.

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