Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S with TC1.4 or Nikon 180-600 f/5.6-6.3 VR

[Dwcurrier]

I just bought a Nikon Z8 kit with 24-120 S lens. Now I am trying to decide if I should purchase the 100-400 or 180-600. I need a wildlife lens that’s also suitable for BIF. I like the 100-400 because it’s fast and easy to handle with great features. I’ve shot with it before and it’s a great lens. I have not seen the 180-600 but the reviews have been strong. I really like the reach but wonder if a 100-400 with a TC1.4 might get me the best of both? I realize I would lose a stop with the TC1.4 which renders the 100-400 f/6.3 at 400. I can handle the additional cost of the 100-400 plus TC but the 180-600 is much more affordable. Please provide me any feedback you think would be helpful.

 

[Cameron T]

180-600 is better, as covered in many of the topics. You can search for them and read them all for more in depth info.

 

[Dwcurrier]

Cameron do you have hands on experience with either lens?

 

[JAJohnson]

I just bought a Nikon Z8 kit with 24-120 S lens. Now I am trying to decide if I should purchase the 100-400 or 180-600. I need a wildlife lens that’s also suitable for BIF. I like the 100-400 because it’s fast and easy to handle with great features. I’ve shot with it before and it’s a great lens. I have not seen the 180-600 but the reviews have been strong. I really like the reach but wonder if a 100-400 with a TC1.4 might get me the best of both? I realize I would lose a stop with the TC1.4 which renders the 100-400 f/6.3 at 400. I can handle the additional cost of the 100-400 plus TC but the 180-600 is much more affordable. Please provide me any feedback you think would be helpful.

Given what you’ve described of your situation, the 180-600 seems to be a better choice. I’ve found its image quality to be surprisingly good. And, of course, it’s Nikon’s most affordable Z lens option for 600mm, and you won’t need a TC. With practice, you can shoot with it handheld, too.

If you really don’t require 600mm most of the time, the 100-400 is an excellent choice with superior image quality. In that case using a TC when you want to have the additional reach is a good idea.

I hope my comments are helpful!

 

[craigg0215]

I owned both lenses for a period of time so I was able to compare them side by side. While both lenses are very good, each has advantages depending on what your targets are. I shoot a lot of small birds so I like the extra reach of the 186. I also like the fact that the 186 is an internal zoom while the 100-400 is not. If you shoot butterflies. dragonflies and the like, the 100-400 has a much closer minimum focus distance and is better suited to this type of subject. The 100-400 is an S-line lens which technically has better weather sealing and more programming features, but as you note, it is more expensive. For birds in flight I like the extra reach of the 186 and the short throw to zoom in or out. You can definitely get close to the same focal length with the 100-400 with a 1.4 TC, but my experience was that the 186 was sharper than the 100-400 with the 1.4 TC. I ended keeping the 186 and sold the 100-400 and have not regretted my choice.

As a side note, on a recent trip to Custer State Park in South Dakota the 186 was the lens I used the most with my 800pf being the second most used. Most of my subjects were mammals and ranged in size from prairie dogs to bison. Fully 77 percent of my images that I took with the 186 were at 400mm or longer.

Good luck with your decision! It sure is nice to have really good lens choices to pair with the Z8.

 

[fulltimewanderer]

Dwcurrier, I own both lenses, just recently purchased the 180-600. So far quite happy with both, for me they both fill different needs. I’m not a fan of TC’s and very seldom will mount one, so I definitely would not use a TC on the 100-400 and probably not on the 180-600. Steve has a video out that he tested the 180-600 against the 100-400, 400 4.5, 600 TC and the Sony 200-600. I highly recommend that you watch this video. I think that he will answer your questions and provide you with an answer. Both lenses have pros and cons, 100-400 is lighter but lens length increases as you zoom, 180-600 is heavier but has internal movement for the zoom.

 

[Lance B]

I have both the 100-400 and the 180-600. If you need reach/600mm, just get the 180-600, it is better than the 100-400 + 1.4x TC. The only time I may suggest the 100-400 is if you do more close up shooting ie under say 1mt as it will focus down to .75mt and has a reproduction ration of up to .38x. The 180-600 can only shoot down to 1.4mt and a reproduction ratio of .25x.

So, if you shoot small birds or birds at a distance, then the 180-600 is a better option. I shot a 32 shot sequence with the Z9 + 180-600 of a Peregrine Falcon on it's way back to it's nest with prey for it's young and they are all sharp as a tack. See them here, click on each image and then use "Auto" or "Original" under the image to see at full screen size:

32 Shot Flight Sequence of Peregrine Falcon by Lance B

pbase.com

A few from that sequence:

A one off shot of the Peregrine

I also did a flight sequence of an Osprey being chased by an Australian Magpie. One of the shots:

Here is my gallery of some of my 180-600 shots:

Nikon Z 180-600 f5.6-6.3 by Lance B

pbase.com