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.



Crop 100%

[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

[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 ???

[I @ M]

Headspin material.

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

[dsaini]

Thanks for the review mate.

One doesn't get the right feeling of the size till its put against 70-200.

[Sar NOP]

Today, I did a quick first test of the combo 600 VR+TC-20EIII on my favourite subjects : birds.
Compared to the Kenko 2x, the new aspherical 2x TC works better on the 600 (better AF speed).

All the images have been shot handheld !





Superb Fairy-wren female











New-Holland Honeyeater












Unidentified bird

[Paul G]

Particularly nice shot of the species in the last shot on page 1 Sar! Be careful though that the lifesavers on the beach don't nab you when shooting these featherless birds

[Sar NOP]

Particularly nice shot of the species in the last shot on page 1 Sar! Be careful though that the lifesavers on the beach don't nab you when shooting these featherless birds

The lifesavers had no chance to nab me because I was in the bush about 250 metres away and there was a big lagoon between me and the beach !

[kiwi]

Outstanding, you must have arms like popeye

[joeyvaldezjr]

great review sr.

Any moonshots you can share with this lens?

[Sar NOP]

great review sr.

Any moonshots you can share with this lens?

Yes, I have a few moonshots taken with stacked converters (600 VR+TC-17EII+Kenko 2x), but don't know where the files are. I will need time to find them...

[rellik666]

Blimey! Thanks for making me feel totally inadequate!

Roo

[mongo]

Even more impressive than the last lot of images Sar (if that is possible) !

Mongo recently bought a 20EIII largely on your earlier review of this TC and have found it to be quite excellent on nearly all lenses it fits. It does slow the AF on the 200-400 (which Mongo expected) but it has a tendency to “hunt” on that lens so manual focus is quicker. Mongo thinks the camera body it partly responsible for that. Still, very happy with the results.

[Sar NOP]

Yes Mongo, camera body makes all the difference with the combo 200-400+TC-20EIII.


My very first attempt with stacked 2x converters on the 600 VR :

600 VR+TC-20EIII+Kenko 2x, 1/100", f/22 (effective value), @2400mm (3600mm equivalent in 24x36 !), 640 ISO. MF & Tripod.
1280x850 px

[mongo]

No one can stacks them like you do Sar. Well done.

Mongo is working on getting a new boby in the near future.

[Sar NOP]

Mongo is working on getting a new boby in the near future.

What kind a new body are you looking for, Mongo ?
I'm currently looking for a used D2X (or D2Xs) for its 2x crop mode, so I won't need to stack converters anymore...