Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200–500mm f/5.6E ED VR vs Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR

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AF-S NIKKOR 200–500mm f/5.6E ED VR compared with NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR

	NikonAF-S NIKKOR 200–500mm f/5.6E ED VR	NikonNIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
Overview
Released
Released	September 2015	August 2023
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	200–500 mm	180–600 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/5.6	f/5.6–6.3
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32	f/32–36
Optical construction
Optical construction	19 elements in 12 groups; internal focusing	25 elements in 17 groups; internal focusing
Special elements
Special elements	Three ED elements	Six ED elements and one aspherical element
Coatings
Coatings	Super Integrated Coating	Fluorine coating on the front element
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	Constant f/5.6 maximum and f/32 minimum; electromagnetic diaphragm for consistent exposure during high-speed bursts	f/5.6–32 at 180 mm; f/6.3–36 at 600 mm. The displayed minimum aperture can vary with the camera's exposure increment
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades	Nine rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 12°20′–5°00′; DX 8°00′–3°10′	FX 13°40′–4°10′; DX 9°–2°40′
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Nikon F mount	Nikon Z mount
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Nikon F mount with full-frame/FX coverage; also usable on DX cameras	Native Nikon Z mount; FX/full-frame image circle, also usable on DX cameras
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	Nikon lists TC-14E, TC-14E II and TC-14E III with autofocus only on f/8-compatible cameras; TC-17E II, TC-20E, TC-20E II and TC-20E III are compatible without autofocus	Supports Z TC-1.4× and TC-2.0×; Nikon cautions that autofocus or the electronic rangefinder may struggle depending on conditions
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	2.2 m	1.3 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.22×	0.25×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Silent Wave Motor with manual focus override	Stepping motor; automatic or manual focusing
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Minimum 2.2 m from focal plane throughout the zoom range; Photography Blog confirms full-range or 6 m–infinity limiter and internal focusing	Minimum focal-plane distances are 1.3 m at 180 mm, 1.36 m at 200 mm, 1.67 m at 300 mm, 1.94 m at 400 mm, 2.19 m at 500 mm and 2.4 m at 600 mm; limiter selects full range or 6 m–infinity
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Maximum 0.22× according to Nikon; Photography Blog's measured 1:4.3 is not substituted for the maker specification	Nikon publishes maximum 0.25× without separately specifying focal length in its UK table
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	4.5-stop CIPA claim in Normal mode on an FX DSLR at maximum telephoto; Sport mode assists tracking moving subjects	Optical VR rated at 5.5 stops to CIPA standards with an FX camera, Normal mode and maximum telephoto; CameraLabs achieved around four stops in its handheld Z8 test at 600 mm
Video features
Video features	–	Quiet focusing, clickless control ring and suppressed focus breathing
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	No	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	95 mm	95 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	108 mm	110 mm
Length
Length	267.5 mm	315.5 mm
Weight
Weight	2,090 g	1,955 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Separate zoom and focus rings, focus-distance window, focus-mode and range-limiter switches, VR controls and zoom lock	Zoom and customisable focus/control rings, four L-Fn buttons, AF/manual switch and focus limiter
Zoom design
Zoom design	Barrel extends when zooming; Photography Blog confirms the transport lock operates at 200 mm only	Internal zooming; Nikon states 70° rotation across the range
Filter detail
Filter detail	95 mm screw-in filters, 1 mm pitch; front does not rotate during focusing according to Photography Blog	95 mm screw-in filters, 1 mm pitch
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Both reviews describe a rubber mount gasket but no comprehensive weather sealing; main weather-resistance flag is false	Dust and drip resistance, not guaranteed in all conditions; fluorine front coating eases cleaning
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Nikon global specifies approximately 108 mm maximum diameter × 267.5 mm from mount flange, used for main values. The UK table instead lists 107.3 × 266.8 mm; this discrepancy is retained rather than averaged	Approximately 110 mm maximum diameter × 315.5 mm from mount flange
Weight detail
Weight detail	Nikon global specifies approximately 2,090 g without the collar, used for main weight; 2,300 g with collar is also confirmed by Nikon USA's launch release. The UK table instead lists 2,500 g without explaining its basis	Approximately 1955 g without tripod collar; 2140 g with collar
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Removable collar allows camera rotation; supplied foot and 90° rotation markings confirmed by Photography Blog	Removable collar; CameraLabs confirms two mounting threads and no Arca-Swiss dovetail
Lens hood
Lens hood	HB-71 included	HB-109 included
In the box
In the box	LC-95 front cap, LF-4 rear cap, HB-71 hood and CL-1434 case	LC-95B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-109 hood and CL-C6 case; removable tripod collar
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon USA's August 2015 release states mid-September retail availability; earliest exact global and first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained. Photography Blog's 16–35mm image captions are editorial errors within the exact 200–500mm review	Nikon USA states August 2023 availability; exact earliest retail day and first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained. Nikon describes it as a follow-up to the F-mount 200–500 mm; no cross-mount direct successor link inferred