Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S vs Nikon NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S

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NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S compared with NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S

	NikonNIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S	NikonNIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S
Overview
Released
Released	February 2022	October 2023
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Prime	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	400 mm	600 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/6.3
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/32
Optical construction
Optical construction	25 elements in 19 groups, including seven elements in four groups in the built-in teleconverter	Twenty-one elements in fourteen groups
Special elements
Special elements	Two ED elements, two fluorite elements, one super-ED element and one SR element	Two ED, one SR and one Phase Fresnel element
Coatings
Coatings	Meso Amorphous Coat, ARNEO Coat and fluorine coating on the front element	Nano Crystal Coat and fluorine-coated front element
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	f/2.8–22 without the built-in teleconverter; f/4–32 with it engaged	f/6.3–32
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades; electromagnetic aperture control	Nine rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 6°10′ at 400 mm and 4°30′ at 560 mm; DX 4° and 2°50′ respectively	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	–	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	Built-in 1.4× converter selects 400 mm or 560 mm; also compatible with Nikon Z TC-1.4x and TC-2.0x converters	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	2.5 m	4 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.17×	0.15×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Silky Swift VCM autofocus with internal focusing; FULL and infinity–6 m focus limiter positions	Stepping motor for quiet autofocus
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Maker minimum focus 2.5 m; Cameralabs measured approximately 2.41 m, retained separately from the maker figure	Internal focusing; minimum 4 m; range limiter FULL (4 m to infinity) or 10 m to infinity
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Maker maximum reproduction ratio 0.17×; Cameralabs measured approximately 1:3.9 with the built-in converter engaged	Maximum 0.15×
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Lens-shift VR rated 5.5 stops under CIPA conditions on an FX camera in NORMAL mode, with or without the built-in converter; Synchro VR supported on Z9	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	Maker focus-breathing compensation claim; Cameralabs nevertheless observes visible breathing on the Z7	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	46 mm	95 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	156 mm	106.5 mm
Length
Length	380 mm	278 mm
Weight
Weight	2,950 g	1,390 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Configurable control ring, L-Fn controls, Memory Set button and Fn ring for focus recall, A–M switch and lockable built-in converter lever	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
Filter detail
Filter detail	46 mm drop-in filter system, not a front screw-in thread	95 mm screw-in filters, 1.0 mm pitch
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Maker sealing around movable barrel parts and mount gasket; dust and drip resistance is not guaranteed under all conditions	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 156 mm maximum diameter × 380 mm from the mount flange	Approximately 106.5 mm maximum diameter × 278 mm from the lens mount flange
Weight detail
Weight detail	Maker approximately 2,950 g; Cameralabs measured 2,936 g including tripod foot, plus 232 g for the hood	Approximately 1390 g without tripod collar; 1470 g with it
Tripod mount
Tripod mount	Rotating tripod collar and foot; Cameralabs notes that the standard foot lacks an Arca-Swiss profile	Removable tripod collar
Lens hood
Lens hood	–	HB-105A included
In the box
In the box	LC-K105 front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HK-42 hood, LN-3 strap and CL-L3 case as listed by Nikon UK; Japan lists LN-3 or LN-4 strap	LC-95B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-105A hood and CL-C6 case
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon Canada specified late February 2022 retail availability; January's announcement date is not used as the on-sale date	Nikon USA's October 2023 announcement states late October availability. Exact earliest global and first UK retail day unconfirmed, so month precision retained