-The 500/5.6 PF holds up very well VS the 600/6.3 PF. The center and corner of frame are nearly identical with only a slight edge for the 600 at mid frame.
-The 600 PF is sharper then the 800/6.3 PF. The 800 sharpens up a bit at f/8 but the 600 still beats the 800. Not by much.
-The 600 PF with 1.4x TC (840/9) has nearly identical sharpness as the bare 800 PF @ 6.3 (mid & corner) but edge goes to 800 at critical center of frame. Stop 800 down to f/8 and it's clearly sharper then the 600 across the frame.
How much all of the above matters is up for debate. Both are excellent optics. Kinda wish the 800 was a tad better. As things are now the 600 + TC are almost as good which can complicate your lens choice if you can't have both.
p.5 #3 · Official 600PF image and discussion thread
let's see some more pictures people!
getting a bad case of GAS that I could temporarily appease with this lens..
currently have the 800 PF which I very rarely use. it's close enough in size to my 400 2.8 that it doesn't really offer advantage there, and if I want the best pic - I choose the 400. focal length hasn't really limited me with the built in TC + 45 MP for cropping
my thinking is the 600 6.3 would be a perfect walk around lens for birding, which I am less serious about than mammals/owls which often require the 400mm f2.8
I keep thinking the ability to have 1600mm f13 (z 800 + 2x) would be nice, but I've literally never used it yet... it should be an easy choice for me to sell the 800 6.3 for the 600 6.3 but it hasn't been the case
p.5 #4 · Official 600PF image and discussion thread
Quite honestly, if I were in your shoes and owned the 400TC, I probably would use just that lens and call it a day. Use a 1.4TC (+ the built in) for those times you want to get to 800 for the occasional bird shot.
As an owner of the 180-600, 600PF and 800PF, condensing down to just the 400TC is a mighty tempting proposition.
p.5 #5 · Official 600PF image and discussion thread
MatthewK wrote:
Quite honestly, if I were in your shoes and owned the 400TC, I probably would use just that lens and call it a day. Use a 1.4TC (+ the built in) for those times you want to get to 800 for the occasional bird shot.
As an owner of the 180-600, 600PF and 800PF, condensing down to just the 400TC is a mighty tempting proposition.
I also have those lenses and as much as I'd also like to own the 400TC for low light capability, I need the 180-600 zoom for video, the 600pf for a lightweight walkabout and the 800pf + TC's for high magnification shooting so for me the 400TC would end up being the jack of all trades but master of none, so to say.
p.5 #6 · Official 600PF image and discussion thread
MatthewK wrote:
Quite honestly, if I were in your shoes and owned the 400TC, I probably would use just that lens and call it a day. Use a 1.4TC (+ the built in) for those times you want to get to 800 for the occasional bird shot.
As an owner of the 180-600, 600PF and 800PF, condensing down to just the 400TC is a mighty tempting proposition.
my only issue is I find the big lenses too cumbersome to use. not really due to weight, but due to length.
a lot of what I do is walks with my girlfriend or solo walks just scouting with a thermal for owls. in those cases in public areas, the big lenses draw a lot of unwanted attention. I've been accused of poaching and using a gun... (back when I was on dating sites, my profile was banned a few times for having "firearms" AKA an RF 600 F4 in the pic..)
additionally it's just a lot of gear to carry to have a monocular, binocular, and then a 15" long lens either over the shoulder or strapped to the chest
the 600 6.3 looks like the perfect walk around lens. have considered the 400 4.5 but I probably would rarely use it at 400, and can't find any good comparisons of IQ between the 400 + 1.4x and the 600 6.3... I guess for a ~$3K difference in cost the IQ is probably minimal
Gary Irwin wrote:
I also have those lenses and as much as I'd also like to own the 400TC for low light capability, I need the 180-600 zoom for video, the 600pf for a lightweight walkabout and the 800pf + TC's for high magnification shooting so for me the 400TC would end up being the jack of all trades but master of none, so to say.
sadly this is kind of where I'm landing nowadays as well. the 400 TC is obviously the best lens optically, and creates great images
but I'm not a professional, make no money off it, and may be turning into a crotchety old birder who just wants to walk around with something light and get "decent" pics with a PF lens...
p.5 #7 · Official 600PF image and discussion thread
Poaching?! Good grief some normies don't have anything better to do.
I totally get where you are coming from, it's so liberating using a smaller/lighter lens, and since I dropped my 600 f/4 for the 500PF back in 2018 I've graciously sacrificed ultimate IQ and aperture for smaller lenses that are more fun to use. Now that I have the 600PF, my 800PF and 186 see less use, though neither are all that heavy, just larger and less wieldy.
I'd go for the 600PF in your case then. It's a sweet lens that I think you'll be happy with.
Also, need to hear more about thermals We have Saw-Whet Owls around here this time of year, but they're impossible to find.
p.5 #9 · Official 600PF image and discussion thread
Had a day to test out this lens with little to no light, I'll say I'm pretty impressed with sharpness along with ease of use/portability. I've tried all the big primes (400tc, 600tc, 800pf) and this 600pf is comparable IQ wise. Here's a few samples of it and I'll post more next week or so!
p.5 #10 · Official 600PF image and discussion thread
You guys weren't posting enough pictures so I had to buy my own copy to contribute
Probably the most fun Nikon lens I've ever shot with. I'll admit I didn't believe the hype, even as I was purchasing it. But I get it now. Having 600mm at only 1.33 stops slower than the $15K big prime, while weighing similar to a 70-200 - is remarkable.
The IQ is definitely on par with the 400TC/600TC/800 PF. If you have enough light to use it, it's great.
Michigan weather is awfully grey this time of year and my subjects are lame, so I'm excited to take it down to SC next week.
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S lens600mmf/6.31/1000s1000 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S lens600mmf/6.31/500s2800 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S lens600mmf/6.31/80s8000 ISO0.0 EV
p.5 #11 · Official 600PF image and discussion thread
nmerc_photos wrote:
I've been accused of poaching and using a gun... (back when I was on dating sites, my profile was banned a few times for having "firearms" AKA an RF 600 F4 in the pic..)
This made me roll my eyes a bit. I used to be in the army and I was taking photos by a river once and was accused of being an Air Force trainee gone AWOL first (weird since I wasn't a trainee and not even in that branch of service) and then of being a spy despite being on a remote area of Fort Leonard Wood. I'm not sure what "intelligence" I was gathering at the Big Piney river...
p.5 #12 · Official 600PF image and discussion thread
nmerc_photos wrote:
You guys weren't posting enough pictures so I had to buy my own copy to contribute
Probably the most fun Nikon lens I've ever shot with. I'll admit I didn't believe the hype, even as I was purchasing it. But I get it now. Having 600mm at only 1.33 stops slower than the $15K big prime, while weighing similar to a 70-200 - is remarkable.
The IQ is definitely on par with the 400TC/600TC/800 PF. If you have enough light to use it, it's great.
Michigan weather is awfully grey this time of year and my subjects are lame, so I'm excited to take it down to SC next week....Show more →
Very nice. I’m picking mine up next Tuesday.
p.5 #13 · Official 600PF image and discussion thread
nmerc_photos wrote:
You guys weren't posting enough pictures so I had to buy my own copy to contribute
Probably the most fun Nikon lens I've ever shot with. I'll admit I didn't believe the hype, even as I was purchasing it. But I get it now. Having 600mm at only 1.33 stops slower than the $15K big prime, while weighing similar to a 70-200 - is remarkable.
The IQ is definitely on par with the 400TC/600TC/800 PF. If you have enough light to use it, it's great.
Michigan weather is awfully grey this time of year and my subjects are lame, so I'm excited to take it down to SC next week....Show more →
"Having 600mm at only 1.33 stops slower than the $15K big prime, while weighing similar to a 70-200 - is remarkable."
p.5 #14 · Official 600PF image and discussion thread
bs kite wrote:
"Having 600mm at only 1.33 stops slower than the $15K big prime, while weighing similar to a 70-200 - is remarkable."
It's a remarkable lens for sure!
In Sony land we will finally have a lightweight prime at 500mm or longer option from next week, although it took Sigma to bring it on
p.5 #16 · Official 600PF image and discussion thread
bs kite wrote:
Hi Chris
Hi Robert,
Sorry to spam the 600PF thread, but I am kind of looking out for this Sigma "500PF" lens. I hope it turns out well and finds a place in my bag for trips. I did contemplate a Z8 with 600PF, but the price is too steep, and running two systems is not ideal.
While I am here though, I have to say that part of me wishes I had stayed with Nikon when the Z9 was still the only option. I would have instantly traded it in for the Z8 as soon as that had come out.
A Z8 with the 800PF is a killer combo, I see so many images with that lens that draw me in, the colors and the clarity are really great, Nikon has the best colors for wildlife photography. They just know how to capture the mood of a natural scene.
The 800PF is by far my favorite lens, is has something easy and gentle in its rendering, while having all the sharpness and clarity you can want, and is lightweight and not too big.
My guess is, that if I had the Z8 with 800PF, I would use that for all hiking and travelling as well.
With Sony, the 600GM with the 1.4TC is too big and too heavy to take along at all times. It is a fantastic lens, with buttery smooth bokeh and insane detail, and works incredibly well with further out subjects. It has no weak points and I expect it to be less affected by atmospherics than the 800PF (I have had little issues in this area).
But my humble opinion is that Nikon takes the prize for color and capturing the mood and light of a scene.
Perhaps one day, when I can bring myself to let the 600GM go, I will get the Z8+800PF and shoot happily ever after....
Edit: I forgot to say, the Z400mm f4.5 is also a Z mount lens that I would get for sure, I just love the colors and rendering from that lens, it stands out i.m.o.
I would get the Z8, 800PF and 400PF with the 1.4TC
p.5 #18 · Official 600PF image and discussion thread
Hi folks, can somebody take a measurement from me please? More specific the total length without the lens hood of the Z8 with the 600mm PF attached on it?
How are you getting this level of "magnification? Are you cropping? Are you using a 1.4X TC? Are you using an extension tube? Or is it all of the above?
(back when I was on dating sites, my profile was banned a few times for having "firearms" AKA an RF 600 F4 in the pic..)
some normies don't have anything better to do.
We have Saw-Whet Owls around here this time of year, but they're impossible to find.
