Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/2.8 VR

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NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR compared with NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/2.8 VR

	NikonNIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR	NikonNIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/2.8 VR
Overview
Released
Released	August 2023	October 2025
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	180–600 mm	16–50 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	12 elements in 11 groups; internal focusing
Special elements
Special elements	Six ED elements and one aspherical element	One ED and two 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/2.8–22 throughout the zoom range
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades	Nine rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 13°40′–4°10′; DX 9°–2°40′	DX 83°–31°30′; 24–75 mm equivalent angle of view in FX format
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Nikon Z mount	Nikon Z mount
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	APS-C
Compatibility
Compatibility	Native Nikon Z mount; FX/full-frame image circle, also usable on DX cameras	Native Nikon Z mount; designed for DX/APS-C format
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	0.15 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.25×	0.24×
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 0.15 m at 16 mm, 0.18 m at 24 mm, 0.21 m at 35 mm and 0.25 m at 50 mm
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Nikon publishes maximum 0.25× without separately specifying focal length in its UK table	Maximum 0.24× at 50 mm; no separate AF/MF figure 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	Lens-shift VR using voice-coil motors. UK maker states up to 4.5 stops under CIPA standards with a DX camera, Normal VR mode and maximum telephoto setting. Canada announcement gives 5 stops under CIPA2024 yaw/pitch testing with Z50II at telephoto in Normal mode; these claims use different stated test conditions
Video features
Video features	Quiet focusing, clickless control ring and suppressed focus breathing	Suppressed focus breathing and quiet focusing. Nikon Canada specifies Z50II Hi-Res Zoom for Full HD 30p/25p/24p only; Wide-area AF (L), no displayed focus point and electronic VR off
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	95 mm	67 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	110 mm	74.5 mm
Length
Length	315.5 mm	88 mm
Weight
Weight	1,955 g	330 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Zoom and customisable focus/control rings, four L-Fn buttons, AF/manual switch and focus limiter	Customisable control ring for focus, aperture, exposure compensation or ISO; physical zoom ring; no AF/manual switch, as confirmed by both reviews
Zoom design
Zoom design	Internal zooming; Nikon states 70° rotation across the range	Barrel extends while zooming, as confirmed by both reviews; internal focusing does not change length. Focal-length markings 16, 24, 35 and 50 mm
Filter detail
Filter detail	95 mm screw-in filters, 1 mm pitch	67 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	Designed for dust and drip resistance; resistance is not guaranteed under every condition
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 110 mm maximum diameter × 315.5 mm from mount flange	Approximately 74.5 mm maximum diameter × 88 mm from mount flange
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 1955 g without tripod collar; 2140 g with collar	Approximately 330 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-118 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-67B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap and HB-118 hood
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 late October 2025 availability; earliest exact retail day and first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained