Nikkor 600 TC or 800 PF?

[McStamp]

Many post have been written about these two lenses. I wonder: If money is not the killing argument, which lens would you prefer to shoot in the range of 800mm? Which would you chose in the range of 1000mm: 600 TC + 1,4 TC or 800 PF + 1,4 TC?

Self shooting with the 800 PF and I am quite satisfied with the quality and the handling. Still I lose one aperture compared to the 600, and I here that the 600 is quite better in quality than the 800. I am aware of Steve's video on the topic, but interested on your thoughts about this!

 

[ajrmd]

The 600 TC, no question if money were no object. I'd take the tradeoff of size/weight for utility and IQ any day. While I love my 800 PF, this is not even a question in my mind.

 

[JAJohnson]

If the subject fills the frame at 800mm, my natural inclination would be to prefer the 800 PF. However, reports of the performance of the 600 TC with 1.4 TC engaged seem compelling. Tough choice. At 1000mm, again I think it'd be a tough choice but I think the 800 PF might be better image quality, even with a somewhat smaller maximum aperture.

This is just my opinion!

 

[Ken Miracle]

I use primarily Z9 and Z6III. I started using the Z800 PF 5-1-2022 and took a lot of great photos. However I kept wanting a bit more versatility and when my dream lens went on sale I ended up selling the Z800 PF and buying the Z 600 f/4 TC which arrived 10-31-24.

I am a birder and bird ID photographer and on foot most of the time in all types of habitat and conditions and always hand held. The 600 TC appealed to me for low light, fast AF and the ability to go to 840 mm with the flip of a switch.

I just posted a few shots from a short birding walk to test out Z9 FW 5.10 update with the Z600 f/4 TC attached in the wildlife forum. https://bcgforums.com/threads/close-to-home-birding-walk-testing-z9-fw-5-1-and-z600-f-4-tc.41285/

 

[DougC]

To me, it’s weight vs versatility.

 

[Lance B]

I had the Z800 PF and it was fantastic. It is big and required carrying a shorter focal length as well which added weight and bulk to the bag. A great opportunity came up where I could sell my F mount 400 f2.8E FL VR and 800 pf and get near the price of the Z600 TC. I now have the Z600 TC and it was the best move I ever did. The Z600 TC bare is amazing and add the TC and it is every bit as good as the Z800 PF. I now only need one lens in the bag.

 

[Ken Miracle]

I forgot to answer one of the questions. I have a Z 1.4 TC but it has not been used since I got my Z800 back in 2022 I use to use it on the Z100-400 when that was the longest Z mount focal length lens I had.

If I need or want something with more than the 840mm of the 600 TC with the TC engaged then on the Z9 I go to DX mode if I want it in the field to help with AF or bird ID, or I can crop it later in post my computer.

I have the lens function ring set to toggle AF-area modes one direction and toggle between FX and DX the other so I can do all of that while looking through the viewfinder at the subject. No need to fumble around trying to put on a TC.

 

[BillW]

Many post have been written about these two lenses. I wonder: If money is not the killing argument, which lens would you prefer to shoot in the range of 800mm? Which would you chose in the range of 1000mm: 600 TC + 1,4 TC or 800 PF + 1,4 TC?

Self shooting with the 800 PF and I am quite satisfied with the quality and the handling. Still I lose one aperture compared to the 600, and I here that the 600 is quite better in quality than the 800. I am aware of Steve's video on the topic, but interested on your thoughts about this!

If you compare the 600 mm TC with its internal TC engaged, 840 mm, f5.6, to the 800 mm PF at f6.3, the difference is 1/3 of a stop, not a full stop.

I don‘t have the 600 mm TC. I have the 400 mm TC and 800 mm PF. So I can’t compare the 600 mm TC to the 800 mm PF.

I‘ve thought about the 600 mm PF, but think I prefer the somewhat smaller size and weight of the 800 mm PF. I’ve read that the 600 mm TC with its TC engaged (840 mm, f5.6) is a bit better optically than the 800 mm PF. I think that was Thom Hogan and/or Brad Hill, but don’t have time to check now. I don’t think that difference matters much to me, given how good the 800 mm PF is.

I would be interested to see how the lenses compare at longer focal lengths using TCs. The 800 mm PF is 1120 mm f9 if you add the 1.4x TC. I find that works well if you need the focal length.

The 600 mm TC is 1176 mm, f8, I believe, if you engage the internal TC and add the external 1.4x TC. It would be 1200 mm, f8, if you add the 2x TC and don’t engage the internal TC. I’d be interested to hear if anyone has compared these alternatives to the 800 mm PF with the 1.4x TC.

 

[Anjin San]

If If I were willing to carry the size/weight (which I’m not) and budget didn’t matter I would get the 600TC…faster and 2 lengths in 1 lens. From an IQ standpoint…I’ve seen output from both and it is just polishing the cannonball. Depending on who you ask…the differences at 2:1 in LR are either vanishingly small or really small…but at output it’s hard to say one is better IMO. But neither fits my needs and wants.

 

[McStamp]

If you compare the 600 mm TC with its internal TC engaged, 840 mm, f5.6, to the 800 mm PF at f6.3, the difference is 1/3 of a stop, not a full stop.

I don‘t have the 600 mm TC. I have the 400 mm TC and 800 mm PF. So I can’t compare the 600 mm TC to the 800 mm PF.

I‘ve thought about the 600 mm PF, but think I prefer the somewhat smaller size and weight of the 800 mm PF. I’ve read that the 600 mm TC with its TC engaged (840 mm, f5.6) is a bit better optically than the 800 mm PF. I think that was Thom Hogan and/or Brad Hill, but don’t have time to check now. I don’t think that difference matters much to me, given how good the 800 mm PF is.

I would be interested to see how the lenses compare at longer focal lengths using TCs. The 800 mm PF is 1120 mm f9 if you add the 1.4x TC. I find that works well if you need the focal length.

The 600 mm TC is 1176 mm, f8, I believe, if you engage the internal TC and add the external 1.4x TC. It would be 1200 mm, f8, if you add the 2x TC and don’t engage the internal TC. I’d be interested to hear if anyone has compared these alternatives to the 800 mm PF with the 1.4x TC.

Like you I own the 400 TC and the 800 PF. I must say that I am very happy with this combo. Still, when I see what the 400 TC is offering quality wise, I wonder if the 600 TC would mean a step higher than the 800 PF.

 

[Ken Miracle]

Like you I own the 400 TC and the 800 PF. I must say that I am very happy with this combo. Still, when I see what the 400 TC is offering quality wise, I wonder if the 600 TC would mean a step higher than the 800 PF.

Bokeh is better with 600 TC than 800 PF in many situations but the main reason for me is versatility of 600 f/ and 840 f/5.6 in one lens with as good or better quality and focus speed than either the 600 pf or the 800 pf and better low light capability for the 600 f/4 than the 600 pf f/6.3