Nikon Z 200-600 lens, WHEN?

DaveyJ

No real super telephotos yet!

PB_PM

When it's ready most likely. Given the production issues going on right now, even if it was announced you likely wouldn't get one till sometime next spring or summer.

Pistnbroke

Nikon are doing themselves no good by announcing they will not take orders for certain items. If you are lucky they are doing this to free up capacity for the 200-600 to go with the Z9

mhedges

200-600 isn't really meant for Z9 IMO. Its going to be more of a "value" if not "budget" lens.

The 400 and 600 primes and 100-400 will be the lenses targeted to Z9 buyers.

photobunny

Aye, not buying a 200-600 to shove on a Z9.

DaveyJ

The 200-600 is NOT for a Z9, it won't even be a S lens. I only own one S lens, and I own three Z cameras. Obviously I am a field camera person, not a S lens person. I have had GREAT luck with the 16-50, the 50- 250. So apparently the kit lens are good enough for what I do. I use the Z 6 II a lot now. But when the 200-600 comes out I will almost first try it on the Z 6 II.

MrFotoFool

Canon has an R 100-500 that is L series, but small enough aperture to be relatively affordable and handholdeable. There are a lot of wildlife photographers (myself included) who will go for a lens like this but not a 500 f4 or 600 f4. In SLR, a main reason I switched from Canon to Nikon a couple years ago was for the 500 f5.6PF. However if I was going mirrorless today (which I am not) I would likely choose Canon over Nikon for this lens (as well as their overall R lens coverage). If Nikon does not produce a sharp 100-500 or 200-600 I have a feeling they will continue to lose market share to Canon.

photobunny

MrFotoFool said:

Canon has an R 100-500 that is L series, but small enough aperture to be relatively affordable and handholdeable. There are a lot of wildlife photographers (myself included) who will go for a lens like this but not a 500 f4 or 600 f4. In SLR, a main reason I switched from Canon to Nikon a couple years ago was for the 500 f5.6PF. However if I was going mirrorless today (which I am not) I would likely choose Canon over Nikon for this lens (as well as their overall R lens coverage). If Nikon does not produce a sharp 100-500 or 200-600 I have a feeling they will continue to lose market share to Canon.

The Canon L 100-500 f/4.5-7.1 competes with the Sony 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 and the upcoming Nikon S 100-400 f/4.5-5.6. Canon took a 100-400 and added a extra 100mm because they could make that in the same 'budget' as the 100-400's it replies. The Nikon 200-600 will compete with the Sony 200-600 and Nikon 200-500, it will be a cheep lens that does the job like its competitors, but it likely wont be as small, light, weather sealed, as fast to focus, nor as bright an aperture as the S-line 100-400.

Edit: if you are happy with the 200-500 f/5.6 (which has a AF motor about half the speed as that in the 500 PF) then you'll be happy with the 200-600. The 200-500 doesn't get faster on the D5/D6, it isn't for that market. Maybe we'll see a Z90 come with the 200-600.

photobunny

Also just an aside. If you put the 1.4X TC on the 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 S you'll get the same light gathering (depending on t-stop) as the RF 100-500 f/7.1 with a wee bit more reach and likely about the same weight. Maybe it'll have one built in? Or a built in switchable 1.25x TC to give you a 100-400 + 125-500 in the same lens?

DaveyJ

I'll wait for the 200-600. I have used tele converters and found them introducing problems. Thom Hogan does NOT recommend them. That is WHY Nikon NEEDS to get to the 200-600. I would use it as much as anything on the Z50 camera. Also to say the least, Nikon NEEDS a &90. Full frame has it limitations. I know pros that use the D500 who own a huge fleet of cameras. Even my son and grandson still make a LOT of use of the D500 despite have a LOT invested in quadcopters and high end Sonys.

photobunny

TC's used to have problems. The 1.4x on the S 70-200 f/2.8 just gives you a 98-280mm f/4.0 with no compromised in image quality and AF speed. I would expect the same from the 100-400S. But do mind, the 100-400 S will be a £3000 lens and the 200-600 will be a £1000 lens so you may never want the 100-400 S anyway.

mhedges

I think we will be lucky if the 200-600 is "only" £1000. My guess is more like £1500

WestEndFoto

There is a compromise in image quality. It is just state of the art, so very good.

photobunny

mhedges said:

I think we will be lucky if the 200-600 is "only" £1000. My guess is more like £1500

Well the Sony is £1,599.00 but the 200-500 is £1299. Regardless, it isn't in the same arena as the 100-400 S will be and the Canon RF L 100-500 (which people call expensive because of the Sony 200-600... because the only thing people look at on a lens is f-stop and focal length; surely a £3000 500mm f/7.1 lens is worse than a £1500 500mm f/6.3.

DaveyJ

I am guessing $1,500?? Sure Not $1,000. The Nikon 200-500 F5.6 I regard as the BEST Nikon for the price and my son and grandson who now have FAR more invested in camera gear than I do regard that 200-500 F5.6 as GREAT!

I do wish it had an Arca Swiss foot as that and a Black Rapid Strap are to me essential for the lens! So the 200-600 I hope is in the same league! Quality wise and price wise! The Z 50-250 lens makes this look possible. But I notice my 200-500 f 5.6 at 250 beats the 50-250 kit lens for the Z50 by a noticeable amount. BOTH though are really good. And when I am out in a a small boat like tomorrow, the 200-500 F5.6 will stay in my car as I don't want to risk it!

DaveyJ

Also the 500 F5.6PF does to me makes NO SENSE as I NEED zoom. And 200-600 perhaps the perfect range as I would try to use it on the Z50 AND the Z6 II.

DaveyJ

Looks like the 200-600 Z lenses in non S is not as popular as some believe. I have been very impressed with the non S kit lenses for Z Mount.

bcmmike

It would be nice if the 200-600 at least was announced, but I suspect that will be later rather than sooner. JMHO

PB_PM

It was bound to take a back seat to the 100-400 S lens, pro first, consumer stuff later.

DaveyJ

I have ordered the Z9 and the 100-400 Z lens. My Son is using his 200-600 Sony on his Sony A1 with excellent results.

bcmmike

PB_PM said:

It was bound to take a back seat to the 100-400 S lens, pro first, consumer stuff later.

Yep, gotta have some good glass for the Z9

photobunny

bcmmike said:

PB_PM said:

It was bound to take a back seat to the 100-400 S lens, pro first, consumer stuff later.

Yep, gotta have some good glass for the Z9

It would have been embarrassing for Nikon to release the Z9 without a native super tele. 70-200 is a wee bit too short for the intended subjects. Showing off the 400 f/2.8 TC with it and putting 2 more S-line super-tele lenses on the roadmap was also a sign that your big camera is getting bit toys to put on it.

bcmmike

photobunny said:

bcmmike said:

PB_PM said:

It was bound to take a back seat to the 100-400 S lens, pro first, consumer stuff later.

Yep, gotta have some good glass for the Z9

It would have been embarrassing for Nikon to release the Z9 without a native super tele. 70-200 is a wee bit too short for the intended subjects. Showing off the 400 f/2.8 TC with it and putting 2 more S-line super-tele lenses on the roadmap was also a sign that your big camera is getting bit toys to put on it.

Oh I agree and I understand. Having the Z9 and no the lenses would have been irrational at best.

DaveyJ

MANY of us who own F Mount lens do NOT want to use them on our Mirrorless Nikons. I own the Z50 and the two excellent kit lens, the Zfc and the one 16-50 kit lens and the Z 6 II and the 24-70 F4 S lens. That leaves me with NO LONGER Z lens. I have the F mount adapter #1 and have NEVER used it. I ordered the Z 100-400 and that is the lens I MOST need now. Nikon also NEEDS to have a firmware update on the Z 6 II. Firmware updates are NOT all that easy to do....

WestEndFoto

I suspect that update will come soon.

WestEndFoto

DaveyJ said:

MANY of us who own F Mount lens do NOT want to use them on our Mirrorless Nikons. I own the Z50 and the two excellent kit lens, the Zfc and the one 16-50 kit lens and the Z 6 II and the 24-70 F4 S lens. That leaves me with NO LONGER Z lens. I have the F mount adapter #1 and have NEVER used it. I ordered the Z 100-400 and that is the lens I MOST need now. Nikon also NEEDS to have a firmware update on the Z 6 II. Firmware updates are NOT all that easy to do....

Do you think you would feel the same way about an F-mount lens if you have the FTZii and never took it off the lens?