Official Nikon 600mm TC Info + My Full First Look Review

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I picked up my copy of the 600TC yesterday. I also have the 800PF. Interestingly, I prefer the 600TC on the Z9. The overall balance is just right. With the 800PF on the Z9, the lens is so light that I lose stability while hand holding. The 800PF actually feels better on a Z6ii. I did not expect this. Initial impressions comparing the lenses: While the 800PF is an amazing lens, I prefer the 600TC for its focal length flexibility, smooth bokeh, faster focusing speed, the incredibly useful Fn Ring, and the image quality. It's light enough to hand-hold for quite a while (the 800PF is a whole lot lighter however). For a walk-around birding lens the 800PF is unbeatable. Having said all of the above, I'm going to sell the 800PF. The 600TC is that good.
 
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I'd be interested in how it handles relative to the 600mm FL since it is a bit lighter and with a shorter hood. While I think the 600mm FL is superb, I most frequently grab the 500 PF instead because I can get into position much more quickly. I also find the 600mm just too unwieldy for international travel, so it gets left at home. I have the 800mm on order since April, but am hoping it is a good compromise with long reach, image quality, and nimbleness. But I often get tempted to put in my order for the 600 Z.
 
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padrepaul said:
Indeed! Have to try them out first, and compare sharpness; the lightness of the 800 is incredible and its such a wonderful lens. Its a dillema.
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Having shot with the 800 PF since the start of september I can really understand your dillema. I love the the handling and the light weight of this lens. The new 600 TC is out of my budget right now, but if I were to buy it now I don’t think I could part ways with the 800 PF 😊
 
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arbitrage said:
I saw on FM forum that the first few guys picked up their 600s yesterday and a few more have notifications from NPS that theirs are on the way.

Anyone got theirs yet? Steve?
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I am still waiting! I have not get any notice yet, I am a NPS and I ordered it the next day of the announcement!
 
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Tim Karels said:
I'd be interested in how it handles relative to the 600mm FL since it is a bit lighter and with a shorter hood. While I think the 600mm FL is superb, I most frequently grab the 500 PF instead because I can get into position much more quickly. I also find the 600mm just too unwieldy for international travel, so it gets left at home. I have the 800mm on order since April, but am hoping it is a good compromise with long reach, image quality, and nimbleness. But I often get tempted to put in my order for the 600 Z.
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I find the 600 TC significantly easier to maneuver than the 600 FL. I believe it's about 1.5 pounds lighter and the center of gravity sits back more towards the camera. As a result, it feels as if it has shed more weight that 1.5 pounds. It's really quite hand-holdable.
 
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arbitrage said:
I saw on FM forum that the first few guys picked up their 600s yesterday and a few more have notifications from NPS that theirs are on the way.

Anyone got theirs yet? Steve?
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In my hands now. We're taking it out tomorrow morning :)

BTW - The Hejnar foot for the 800PF fits it perfectly. Tell Chris I sent ya :) (I don't get a commission, I just like to let him know that I appreciate and recommend his stuff)

www.hejnarphotostore.com

Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S Lens

www.hejnarphotostore.com
 
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I'm NPS and ordered around 2-3 hours after the announcement and haven't heard anything from them. Seems like guys who ordered after me received notification already, hard to understand how this works :)
 
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Kjellis said:
Having shot with the 800 PF since the start of september I can really understand your dillema. I love the the handling and the light weight of this lens. The new 600 TC is out of my budget right now, but if I were to buy it now I don’t think I could part ways with the 800 PF 😊
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Tim Karels said:
I'd be interested in how it handles relative to the 600mm FL since it is a bit lighter and with a shorter hood. While I think the 600mm FL is superb, I most frequently grab the 500 PF instead because I can get into position much more quickly. I also find the 600mm just too unwieldy for international travel, so it gets left at home. I have the 800mm on order since April, but am hoping it is a good compromise with long reach, image quality, and nimbleness. But I often get tempted to put in my order for the 600 Z.
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Few years back, the new Canon EF 600 f/4 III was my birding lens. Big news at the time about how they cut almost 2lbs, moved the elements/weight rearwards, and made the lens hand-holdable. Thought it was so light and nimble... Well, then along came the 500PF, making the 6.9lb 600III suddenly look and feel like a boat anchor. No way I'm ever going back to a chunky f/4 setup again, at least not until I'm relegated to using a tripod. The built-in TC makes it very enticing though.

Perhaps when they release a grip-less Z9, the total weight may fall to a manageable level that makes a 600 f/4 a more hand-holdable proposition.
 
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