Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR vs Nikon NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S

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NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR compared with NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S

	NikonNIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR	NikonNIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S
Overview
Released
Released	August 2023	October 2023
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	180–600 mm	600 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/5.6–6.3	f/6.3
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32–36	f/32
Optical construction
Optical construction	25 elements in 17 groups; internal focusing	Twenty-one elements in fourteen groups
Special elements
Special elements	Six ED elements and one aspherical element	Two ED, one SR and one Phase Fresnel element
Coatings
Coatings	Fluorine coating on the front element	Nano Crystal Coat and fluorine-coated 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/6.3–32
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades	Nine rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 13°40′–4°10′; DX 9°–2°40′	FX 4°10′; DX 2°40′
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	Nikon Z mount; full-frame FX and DX cameras
Image circle detail
Image circle detail	–	Physical 600 mm focal length; 900 mm full-frame-equivalent angle of view on DX, as both reviews note
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	Nikon Z TC-1.4× and TC-2.0× supported; Nikon states 840 mm and 1200 mm respectively with AF and VR retained
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	1.3 m	4 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.25×	0.15×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Stepping motor; automatic or manual focusing	Stepping motor for quiet autofocus
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	Internal focusing; minimum 4 m; range limiter FULL (4 m to infinity) or 10 m to infinity
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Nikon publishes maximum 0.25× without separately specifying focal length in its UK table	Maximum 0.15×
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; 5.5-stop CIPA rating in Normal mode on FX, or 6.0 stops in Normal mode with a body supporting Synchro VR. Sport mode stabilises the viewfinder during continuous shooting. VR settings accessed through the camera, as TechRadar notes
Video features
Video features	Quiet focusing, clickless control ring and suppressed focus breathing	Quiet operation, stable exposure and reduced focus breathing according to Nikon
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	95 mm	95 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	110 mm	106.5 mm
Length
Length	315.5 mm	278 mm
Weight
Weight	1,955 g	1,390 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Zoom and customisable focus/control rings, four L-Fn buttons, AF/manual switch and focus limiter	One L-Fn and four L-Fn2 buttons, memory-set button, programmable control ring, focus ring, A/M and focus-limit switches; memory recall requires the latest compatible camera firmware according to Nikon's launch announcement
Zoom design
Zoom design	Internal zooming; Nikon states 70° rotation across the range	–
Filter detail
Filter detail	95 mm screw-in filters, 1 mm pitch	95 mm screw-in filters, 1.0 mm pitch
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust and drip resistance, not guaranteed in all conditions; fluorine front coating eases cleaning	Rubber gaskets protect moving parts and the mount against dust, dirt and moisture. Nikon says dust and drip resistance is not guaranteed in every situation or condition
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 110 mm maximum diameter × 315.5 mm from mount flange	Approximately 106.5 mm maximum diameter × 278 mm from the lens mount flange
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 1955 g without tripod collar; 2140 g with collar	Approximately 1390 g without tripod collar; 1470 g with it
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Removable collar; CameraLabs confirms two mounting threads and no Arca-Swiss dovetail	Removable tripod collar
Lens hood
Lens hood	HB-109 included	HB-105A included
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-95B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-105A hood and CL-C6 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 USA's October 2023 announcement states late October availability. Exact earliest global and first UK retail day unconfirmed, so month precision retained