Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR vs Nikon NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II

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NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR compared with NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II

	NikonNIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR	NikonNIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II
Overview
Released
Released	August 2023	March 2026
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	180–600 mm	70–200 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/5.6–6.3	f/2.8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/32–36	f/22
Optical construction
Optical construction	25 elements in 17 groups; internal focusing	18 elements in 16 groups; internal focusing
Special elements
Special elements	Six ED elements and one aspherical element	One ED, one Super ED, two aspherical, one aspherical ED, one fluorite and one SR element
Coatings
Coatings	Fluorine coating on the front element	Meso Amorphous Coat and ARNEO Coat; front-element fluorine coating
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/2.8–22 throughout zoom range
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades	11 blades with rounded aperture
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 13°40′–4°10′; DX 9°–2°40′	FX 34°20′–12°20′; DX 22°50′–8°
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; full-frame FX 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	Compatible with Z TELECONVERTER TC-1.4× and TC-2.0×
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	1.3 m	0.38 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.25×	0.3×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Stepping motor; automatic or manual focusing	Silky Swift VCM multi-focusing drive
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	Distances from focal plane; 0.38 m at 70/85 mm, 0.5 m at 105 mm, 0.6 m at 135 mm and 0.8 m at 200 mm
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Nikon publishes maximum 0.25× without separately specifying focal length in its UK table	Maximum 0.3× at 70 mm or 0.25× at 200 mm; no separate AF/MF distinction published
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	Maker six-stop claim under CIPA2024 yaw/pitch/roll testing with Z6III, Synchro VR enabled, at telephoto end in Normal mode; support depends on camera
Video features
Video features	Quiet focusing, clickless control ring and suppressed focus breathing	–
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	90 mm
Length
Length	315.5 mm	208 mm
Weight
Weight	1,955 g	998 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Zoom and customisable focus/control rings, four L-Fn buttons, AF/manual switch and focus limiter	AF/manual switch, programmable function controls and focus limiter FULL (infinity–0.38 m) or LIMIT (infinity–5 m); control-ring clicking requires compatible camera/firmware
Zoom design
Zoom design	Internal zooming; Nikon states 70° rotation across the range	Internal zoom maintains barrel length and balance
Filter detail
Filter detail	95 mm screw-in filters, 1 mm pitch	–
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust and drip resistance, not guaranteed in all conditions; fluorine front coating eases cleaning	Dust and drip resistance is not guaranteed in every situation
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 110 mm maximum diameter × 315.5 mm from mount flange	Approximately 90 mm maximum diameter × 208 mm from mount flange
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 1955 g without tripod collar; 2140 g with collar	Approximately 998 g without tripod collar ring or 1180 g with it
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Removable collar; CameraLabs confirms two mounting threads and no Arca-Swiss dovetail	Removable collar with Arca-Swiss screw-clamp foot; maker advises against lever clamps. Protective collar cover included.
Lens hood
Lens hood	HB-109 included	HB-119 with filter-adjustment window
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-119 hood and CL-C3 lens case; removable tripod collar and protective cover
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	US maker states late March 2026; exact earliest retail day or first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained