where there’s smoke there’s fire

The previously rumored Nikon Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S lens is now officially released and it does come with a built-in teleconverter as already reported a few months ago:

• Pre-orders:
  • Adorama
  • B&H Photo (lens hood | lens cap)
  • Amazon
  • Paul’s Photo
  • Service Photo
  • CA: Camera Canada
  • UK: WEX
  • DE: Erhardt | Calumet | Koch
• Features a built-in teleconverter that extends the focal length by 1.4x, allowing the lens to cover two focal lengths — 600 mm and 840 mm. The teleconverter switch located within easy reach of the right hand enables smooth changing of the focal length without altering the shooting posture.
• The focal length can be extended to 1,200 mm with the Z TELECONVERTER TC-2.0x, or 1,680 mm when the built-in teleconverter is used with it*¹.
• By using the built-in teleconverter and 2.3x crop for video recording with the Nikon Z 9, it is possible to shoot at a focal length equivalent to 1,932 mm*².
• The weight of approximately 3,260 g despite the addition of a built-in teleconverter makes the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S roughly 550 g lighter than the AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR.
• The total length of approximately 437 mm means the lens fits in a bag that can be carried on board international flights, so you can transport it with confidence.
• Color bleeding and flare are suppressed not only at infinity, but also with shooting at close distances, realizing superior sharpness and detail to the edges of the frame from the maximum aperture.
• Adoption of Meso Amorphous Coat with the highest anti-reflection performance in NIKKOR history, for significant reduction of ghost and flare.
• Adoption of the Silky Swift VCM (SSVCM) for the AF drive enables fast, highly accurate, and quiet AF control.
• VR performance equivalent to a 5.0-stop increase in shutter speed; an effect of 5.5 stops*³ is realized when the lens is used with the Z 9 with Synchro VR activation.
• Superior dust- and drip-resistant performance*⁴ is ensured by sealing adopted in various areas including movable parts of the lens barrel as well as a rubber gasket around the lens mount, while excellent anti-fouling performance is achieved with a fluorine coat on the surface of the front-most lens element.
• Operability similar to that of the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S frequently used by professionals enables smooth switching between lenses during super-telephoto shooting that requires photographers to decide on a lens in an instant.
• A design considering video recording including a focus-breathing compensation function which effectively reduces shifting of the angle of view when focusing, and stable exposure.
• Sample photos
• MTF charts and lens design diagram (click for larger view):

Read More »