Review : Nikkor AF-S 600mm f/4 G VR

[Sar NOP]

Hi all,
I bought this lens in December 2008 and after having extensively used it for the last 6 months I will be happy to share my personal opinion on this particular glass.

I still remember in 1986 when I just finished my high school Nikon announced their very first 600mm f/4 AI-S. For more than two decades, I'd been dreaming about this kind of lens : today my dream comes true !
Despite the short supply worlwide, I managed to get mine in just 24h from an authorised Nikon Australia !!! The owner of the shop personally came to deliver the special parcel to me !

Inside the tripple cartons, a lovely metal case :








It took me more than 5 minutes to unwrap the lens and its hoods !







I was very surprised by the size of the lens (from left to right : 600 VR, 200-400 VR & 70-200 VR).

[Sar NOP]

Before buying this 600 VR, I have tried in the field two Nikkor 600mm f/4 : the AI-S and the AF-I models. So I already had an idea about IQ and weight/size of such glasses.




Compared to the AF-I 600mm f/4 (on the left), side by side...



Compared to the AF-S 500mm f/4 VR (on the left), side by side...



The 600 VR is huge and does look very impressive.

[Sar NOP]

Here's my personal opinion :

What I really like :
* Fantastique AF speed, as fast as my 70-200 VR. Stunning performance considering its size and weight,
* Extremely sharp wide open and outstanding contrast and colours rendition,
* Very useful and efficient VR II,
* Superb brightness in the viewfinder, brighter than my 200-400 VR, probably from its massive front element,
* Buttery smooth and exquisite bokeh,
* Truly fine professional instrument with top class craftmanship.


What I like less :
* Size and weight. Top class tripod and head needed to get stelar results,
* VR ring (I prefer the reliable small switch on the 200-400 or 70-200),
* Nearly impossible to handhold,
* Price, price and price.


I will post some pictures taken with the bare lens and lens+TC(s) later...

[JM Tran]

Excellent write up, not many of us can hope to own such massive rocket launchers

[Sar NOP]

D2Hs, 1/160", f/4, 200 ISO, Handheld.



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[TEITZY]

I think you can probably afford to update your bodies now too

Thanks for the write up Sar. That thing is huge. Perhaps if I sell a kidney I might be able to afford one

Cheers
Leigh

[I @ M]

Headspin material.

Thanks for sharing, I know what I will be dreaming about tonight.

[Sar NOP]

I think you can probably afford to update your bodies now too

I put too much money in glasses now can't afford a new FX pro body anymore...but am still waiting for a real pro DX body, maybe a D3H ???

[dh52726]

untill i saw the last pic on the first post i did not realise how big that thing is! just wow!

[jim]

Thanks Sar. To me this is a fascinating look at the (presently) unattainable.

[Lani]

Thanks for posting this, really interesting. I did have to laugh when I saw it in comparison to the 70-200, that feels big enough after a couple of hours, I can only imagine lifting that monster.
Thanks again.

[kiwi]

You may have inspired me to do a review of my 400, which in a lot of ways is quite similar to the 600, just maybe, lol

Great review, my mentor has a 600 and is blown away with it's IQ. Have you tried it with a D3 in DX mode ? The IQ is stellar and I would have thought shooting at noiseless iso1600 would appeal ?

[Sar NOP]

Another one with TC-14EII :

D2Hs, 1/400", f/5.6, @840mm, 400 ISO, Monopod.



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[Allann]

Excellent review mate. It looks very similar my Canon 600/4, and it too is an amazing bit of glass. I ahve to agree with your pros and cons, but when you look at it, it is so worth it, the shots are absolutely stunning.

[Sar NOP]

Have you tried it with a D3 in DX mode ? The IQ is stellar and I would have thought shooting at noiseless iso1600 would appeal ?

A few months ago, I took about 500-1000 photos with the D700 at high ISO, in both FX and DX modes : IQ is much better, straight from the camera, than with my D2Hs.


D700, 1/200", f/5.6, @600mm, 4000 ISO, Handheld, FX Mode.



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D700, 1/500", f/8, @1020mm (600+TC-17EII), 2500 ISO, Handheld, DX Mode.


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[Sar NOP]

Another one with Kenko 2x :


D2Hs, 1/250", f/11, @1200mm, 400 ISO, Tripod. Manual focus.



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[Sar NOP]

Extreme set up : 600+TC-17EII+Kenko 2x = 2040mm (3060mm effective !).


D2Hs, 1/250", f/32, @2040mm, 400 ISO, Bean Bag. Manual focus.



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[Allann]

That is amazing, no other words to describe that. Wow.

[TEITZY]

Impressive IQ with the Kenko 2x TC (they're actually useable ).

Cheers
Leigh

[mcdesign]

Leaves me a bit speechless! Wow!