Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR vs Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR

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NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR compared with NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR

	NikonNIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR	NikonNIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR
Overview
Released
Released	August 2023	April 2024
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	180–600 mm	28–400 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/5.6–6.3	f/4–8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32–36	f/22–45
Optical construction
Optical construction	25 elements in 17 groups; internal focusing	21 elements in 15 groups; internal focusing
Special elements
Special elements	Six ED elements and one aspherical element	Four ED and three aspherical elements
Coatings
Coatings	Fluorine coating on the front element	–
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	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	f/4–22 at 28 mm; f/8–45 at 400 mm
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades	Nine rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 13°40′–4°10′; DX 9°–2°40′	FX 75°–6°10′; DX 53°–4°
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Nikon Z mount	Nikon Z mount
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Native Nikon Z mount; FX/full-frame image circle, also usable on DX cameras	Native Nikon Z mount; FX/full-frame image circle, also usable on DX cameras
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	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	1.3 m	0.2 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.25×	0.35×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Stepping motor; automatic or manual focusing	Stepping motor; automatic or manual focusing
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	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	Minimum distances from focal plane are 0.2 m at 28 mm, 0.36 m at 35 mm, 0.5 m at 50 mm, 0.57 m at 70 mm, 0.6 m at 105 mm, 0.8 m at 200 mm and 1.2 m at 300–400 mm
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Nikon publishes maximum 0.25× without separately specifying focal length in its UK table	Maximum 0.35× at 28 mm
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	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	Lens-shift VR using voice-coil motors; five stops to CIPA standards in Normal mode at maximum telephoto. Up to 5.5 stops with compatible Synchro VR bodies, measured in Normal mode; this second claim does not separately specify a focal length
Video features
Video features	Quiet focusing, clickless control ring and suppressed focus breathing	Quiet stepping-motor autofocus; support for linear manual focus drive
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	95 mm	77 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	110 mm	84.5 mm
Length
Length	315.5 mm	141.5 mm
Weight
Weight	1,955 g	725 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Zoom and customisable focus/control rings, four L-Fn buttons, AF/manual switch and focus limiter	Zoom, focus and customisable control rings; zoom-lock switch; no physical AF/manual switch, as confirmed by Amateur Photographer
Zoom design
Zoom design	Internal zooming; Nikon states 70° rotation across the range	Extending 14.2× zoom; internal focusing
Filter detail
Filter detail	95 mm screw-in filters, 1 mm pitch	77 mm screw-in filters, 0.75 mm pitch
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust and drip resistance, not guaranteed in all conditions; fluorine front coating eases cleaning	Sealing around the mount and moving barrel parts provides dust and drip resistance; Nikon does not guarantee it in all conditions
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 110 mm maximum diameter × 315.5 mm from mount flange	Approximately 84.5 mm maximum diameter × 141.5 mm from mount flange
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 1955 g without tripod collar; 2140 g with collar	Approximately 725 g
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Removable collar; CameraLabs confirms two mounting threads and no Arca-Swiss dovetail	–
Lens hood
Lens hood	HB-109 included	HB-114 square hood included; Nikon permits shooting with it inverted
In the box
In the box	LC-95B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-109 hood and CL-C6 case; removable tripod collar	LC-77B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-114 hood and CL-C2 case
Release detail
Release detail	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	Nikon Canada states mid-April 2024 availability; earliest exact retail day and first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained