Nikon 180-600 - How Good Is This Lens Really??? - Winter Birds In Flight

The weather has been kind again and delivered an Arctic blast, not everyones cup of tea but to a Wildlife Photographer its perfect. With the new Nikon 180-600 in the bag it was time to get in the hide and give it a run for its money.
A telephoto zoom is in my opinion a vital tool in the arsenal when it comes to walkabout, trekking and adventure photography.
The question is can it live with the big primes when it comes to image quality and light gathering? We head up into the hide in challenging weather conditions with somewhat sketchy light and see if we can bag some decent shots.
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Hi, I'm Simon Eardley. Welcome to my channel!
Wildlife photography doesn't have to be complicated. Join me on my adventures as I try to capture the magic of nature in both photograph and video form. I'll share with you the tips and tricks I've learned along the way, helping you capture the best images possible.
I also review the newest and best wildlife photography equipment to help you get the perfect shot, every time. From cameras to lenses to tripods and more, I aim to find the best gear for your needs that won't break the bank.
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MY SETUP / GEAR
CAMERA GEAR
Nikon Z9 mirrorless camera. amzn.to/3J73fTG
Nikon Z 180-600 5.6-6.3 VR amzn.to/423SPO3
Nikon 500mm F4 AF-S ED VR G
Ifootage TC9 Fastbowl Tripod amzn.to/3ZMDeip
Manfrotto 502 AH Video Head. amzn.to/3XIyMiI
Viltrox 13mm f1.4 STM Nikon Z Mount amzn.to/42hxluQ
Mindshift Backlight 36L Camera Backpack amzn.to/3QSxtvv
VLOGGING SETUP
Ulanzi and Coman Zero Y Travel Tripod amzn.to/3I3oEeY
Nikon Z30 + 16-50mm DX VR Kit amzn.to/3Thk41c
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GET IN TOUCH
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Get updates or reach out through social media!
Instagram: / simoneardleyphotography

[@robertlawrence7958]

That last image of the jay and woodpecker is absolutely stunning. Top notch photo. 👌👌👌

[@martinmoseley128]

Great Images at th end Simon, especially liked the Jay and Woodpecker shot. Very special that one!

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Martin

[@davidhateley9438]

Just watched the video great as always love the jay shots 👍👍

[@simoneardley]

Thanks 👍

[@paulbaldwin2290]

Wow some realy great filming and photos so clear if that's the lens well impressed! With the photographer to👍Great work Simon 👏👏

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Paul

[@aneurinlloyd1964]

Wonderful footage si and stills,i see the jays are still enjoying nye's acorns😊

[@simoneardley]

Aye, theyre still chomping on em !!👍🏼😃

[@Rob.1340]

Quality images and footage . Quality gear, quality all round. All the best. 👍📷😎

[@JohnFormstone]

Top work Simon. Some cracking footage and stills, as always. That final shot with the Jay and the woodpecker is an absolute gem. 👍

[@simoneardley]

Cheers John👍🏼

[@vincentspratling365]

Hi Simon. The Jays are fantastic shots. Great video

[@Gazzab6]

Hi Vince, hope all is well with you mate.

[@vincentspratling365]

@Gazzab6 Not doing to bad, thanks, mate 👍

[@Gazzab6]

@@vincentspratling365 had a bit of an owl fest today. 1 x Little Owl, 2 x Short Eared Owls and 2 x Barn Owls, all at the same location and in the same session 😀

[@vincentspratling365]

@@Gazzab6 awesome

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Vincent

[@gerard-drent]

I’m using the 180-600 for a while and I’m still pleased with it.

[@allanternent8862]

will look foward to the new year videos simon great as always

[@simoneardley]

Thanks 👍

[@mikephelpswildlifephotography]

Another lovely video pal and a happy new year 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@DavidJohnBlackwell]

Fantastic Simon great photos - glad your new lens is living up to your expectations. Don’t worry about your videos getting stale there’s loads of stuff you have yet to show us. I remember when you used to paint, make drinking mugs and walking sticks, spoons and things let’s have some more of that. I would also appreciate videos focussing on fieldcraft as well. So no problems with getting stale or anywhere near mate.

[@simoneardley]

Cheers David 👍🏼

[@AdrianMoore-l2q]

great video and great shots

[@smiffy5467]

Great work Simon… cracking images. Your Calendar is looking great in our kitchen, wish I’d have waited until you dropped the price 😂😂 …. all the best.

[@simoneardley]

Haha, had to drop em to shift the leftovers!! Thanks for your custom

[@glennhunt3595]

Lovely a bit of basic "techno babble" then straight into a bit of practical application - really love that close up Jay footage Simon looking forward to more content in the coming year. 👍

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Glenn 👍🏼

[@johnfielding272]

Another insightful film Simon! Very enjoyable. I especially like the image near the end, of the jay with outstretched wings, with the gsw! A cracker.

[@briankirkup]

Terrific stuff Simon brilliant images. What a great place you have there. I am always on the lookout for your next video. Take Care. Stay Safe. B. K.

[@simoneardley]

Cheers Brian

[@9oldfingers349]

Fantastic, All the best success for 2025!

[@royparkes6182]

Glad to see you loving the 180-600, for the money its an awesome lens & as you the versatility it brings to the bag cannot be overstated. Would be interested in seeing you do a wildlife settings set up video for this lens👌

[@tomgodzik8951]

I love the Nikon Z 180-600mm lens. I bought it on eBay for $1600. I love the internal zoom. It was a great purchase for my use. ❤❤❤ Great video. ❤❤❤

[@davewelfare2907]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video from Canada. Cheers!

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Dave

[@sue.Hoo123]

Looks lovely in the snow ⛄️. You’ve achieved so much in the year you’ve been there 👍

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Sue

[@user-kk9cw]

Cracking video again Simon, love the hide set up I'll be booking on at some point soon.

[@simoneardley]

Look forward to seeing you here

[@michaelwallwork7482]

Another great vlog Simon. Love the Jay and goldfinch footage. I had a new bird on my bird table this week. A tawny! 🎉. I've been trying to get them down to my bird station for ages. I've never seen my badgers in daylight. And if I try using flash, it will just draw attention to them. So hopefully some day they'll appear in daylight🤞

[@leemanton3169]

Try using some fixed lighting for your badgers, I go to a hide local to me, and they have fixed lighting, and it doesn't bother the badgers.

[@simoneardley]

Love a Tawny owl Michael 🦉👌🏼

[@DavidHoe-e9k]

Great stuff Simon, thank you. As others have said that last shot of the Jay and Woodpecker is a stunner! Happy new year

[@simoneardley]

Thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the shots, especially the Jay and Woodpecker. Happy New Year to you too!

[@debbiewitt7028]

Fantastic video Simon!

[@simoneardley]

Many thanks Debbie

[@TheLiveNature]

If you have the right and good tools then you can achieve your goal, the captures were truly amazing with this type of camera and lens, a subscription from me, keep it up 🎬📸✅♻️🌳

[@simoneardley]

Thanks for the sub 👍🏼

[@user-stupotts]

Amazing pictures and video. Love it!

[@simoneardley]

Thanks for visiting

[@sggphotography]

Another super video Simon, what tripod head is that please ?

[@simoneardley]

Ifootage komodo k5s

[@steviebye1]

Happy New Year mate. Great shots as usual. Love a female black bird.

[@bardot777]

Pre ordered my 180-600 when they were announced. Got it first day of release. It has long been my goto lens. Only go for the 600f4 if I think I will need a teleconverter.

[@anteater74]

I love my 180-600mm on my Z8. I too have a 500mm f4 but in decent light the 180-600mm takes some beating!. The ability to shoot a lower fps too is great.

[@StephenBrooks-e9m]

Beautiful images and video. That’s a cracking lens, I’m looking at Canons equivalent. Happy new year to you both

[@simoneardley]

You too Stephen 👍🏼

[@boblaird8475]

Brilliant video again. Look forward to more especially bush craft ones

[@aynsleycooper365]

Lovely images Simon, and good luck for the coming year. If I can get my health issues lined up appropriately I'll try and visit. Your Calendar is up in our kitchen! A

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Aynsley, get well soon

[@markk1873]

Love my 180-600 works well with the 1.4tc too

[@akseone1]

I am literally about to put a order in a Panamoz ! This lens is included I am glad it has your seal of approval. Very excited to see what I get with it ! Wonderful images.

[@simoneardley]

You'll love it 👍🏼

[@allanforsyth1933]

Could not agree more Simon. £ for £ it is a banging lens and my fav purchase to accompany the Z9.

[@simoneardley]

You wont regret it Lee👍🏼📷

[@ShotbyAras]

I also tested this lens with my Z6III and its very good

[@57sapke]

Great content, thanks 👍I wonder where you bought the camouflage cover for the lens.

[@nigelbramley6289]

Tell you what Simon, I've used mine with the 1.4x converter and it blew me away, even hand held. It's great just carrying around nature reserves with it being so light. Fantastic video as always, but that image of the Jay and Woodpecker was sublime. Wishing you all the best for 2025.

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Nigel 👍🏼

[@russellwebb3672]

Surprised it has taken so long for you to join us in the 180-600mm club, cracking lens even with the 6.3 love mine.

[@colintraveller]

You must be one of those with deep pockets .. Who has no conception of Money !!! .

[@russellwebb3672]

@@colintraveller Nope, i'm a pensioner who worked hard and saved for what I have got as did my Scottish wife.

[@Gazzab6]

@@colintravellerit was only £1300

[@Gazzab6]

@@russellwebb3672 well said Russell.

[@Gazzab6]

Wow, your new lens looks to be a great purchase and what a fantastic price. The internal zoom feature is a game changer. I had it on my old Sigma 50-500mm lens and was always reluctant to extend the zoom and retract it when it was raining for fear of water getting inside the lens. You certainly managed to get some great images with it and the footage of the Jay near the beginning was outstanding. I noticed you were wearing the Decathlon Forclaz MT100 down jacket. I’m guessing you have recently purchased it as I can’t remember seeing you wearing it in any of your previous videos and it’s not listed in your clothing and accessories list in the description. It jumped out at me because I have just bought one and I’m really impressed with it. I bought the dark blue one but after seeing yours I wish I had bought the green version especially for being out in the field - what was I thinking 😏. It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on it after a couple of months of use.

[@craigmitchell905]

thanks for the info man....peace

[@mickbryan8908]

Another great video and I agree great lens. Don’t know if you’ve seen the articles about the foot coming loose. A cable tie works wonders. Looking forward to next weeks. Cheers.

[@simoneardley]

Yeh, heard that Mick 👍🏼

[@cliftonwhittaker260]

It started snowing this morning as I was getting out of bed... really coming down. The temp didn't get up to 29F until noon and that's when I went out on the back porch to shoot birds. It was still snowing hard and continued until dark. I got 1,150 images captured and I haven't even looked at all of them yet, but I did post one on FB. I'm going to have to come back and look at your video again because I kept dozing off. Being out in the cold all afternoon and then coming into a warm house and eating a good supper will do that for me. Thanks for the great pictures, Simon, and I'll get back to you later.

[@simoneardley]

Good luck with the editing Clifton !!😃👍🏼

[@michaelingledew]

Hi Simon, thanks for this video. I bought this lens and had it on my Z8, TBH, I struggled gettng sharp images from it and have had it on the shelf for a while, your video has inspired me to give it another go. Cheers Mike

[@simoneardley]

Its a great piece of glass Michael

[@leemanton3169]

Another great vlog and some great images, Simon. I'm toying with the idea of moving to nikon mirrorless this year and may also look at the 180-600 mm. Currently have a d800 with the Sigma 150-600 mm contemporary lens.

[@simoneardley]

You wont regret it Lee

[@nigelmorley8092]

Glad you are liking the lens Simon. I love mine. Perfect walk around lens and I've used it on various things, including Otters in Mull as, as you say, so flexible, incredibly light etc. In good light I have to look very hard to see any difference in quality vs my 800mm or 100-400mm (both S lenses). I personally think it's the best value lens ever and been reduced lately too seems crazy. FYI that final Jay vs Great Spotted Woodpecker is one of your very best. Stunning shot. Good to hear your looking to do some more stick making !! That'll get the million of views rolling in 🙂

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Nigel 👍🏼

[@GalleryWildUK]

Can’t believe it! No Fig rolls 😮

[@simoneardley]

🤣🤣

[@jamesgrove]

Great lens for the Mountain Hares, if you can handle the wind on the plataeu you’ll get some great images, if its the place well off the beaton track, was lovely last year.

[@zamalek1235]

Thanks Simon for all that you do. Lovely pics again😀 I have this Lens just the lens what is the mount and attachment please. That looks a great purchase

[@richardmoult9781]

Another great video, you have a lovely set up there! Knew you would love the 180-600, who needs anything else in all but very low light ?

[@simoneardley]

Very true Richard 👍🏼

[@ronscarbel5062]

Great lens. I keep my big 600 f/4 with TC on my Z9 and the 180-600 on my Z8. When the z9 combo gets too heavy to lug around I grab the Z8 and this lens. Very pleased. New to your channel via Dan Willis. Great video. Thank you for sharing.

[@simoneardley]

Totally agree, cheers Ron

[@gregorydobson4307]

Great video simon, being a canon man I've got the 150 - 600mm f5-6.3. still looking to get a prime lens but i guess with modern cameras you can still get good results even with higher iso.

[@simoneardley]

Very true Gregory

[@NikCan66]

Great vlog but just wondering is there a major difference in quality between lenses at 600mm f4 z and this zoom lens.

[@simoneardley]

The 600 is sharper but theres not a lot in it. The big difference is the light gathering

[@dannymacamaturephotographe6352]

cracking video Simon good to know you are not going to make any predictions Badgers & Foxes ?

[@simoneardley]

Just wishful thinking Danny!!😆📷🤞🏼

[@keithwilson7358]

Simon agreed getting down low makes a massive difference when you built the hide did you consider having a trap door to an enclosed pit so you could be comfortable at low level? Another great video mate

[@simoneardley]

Its a possibility Keith🤔

[@TheGalah-z3k]

The 180-600 is a cracking lens. Just migrated from a 200-500 on D500 to the 180-600 on a z8. Have found this step to be a great piece of kit with sharp images and a host of versatility. The bird in flight images I have been shooting are as good as or better than what I achieved with the 200-500. Very nice images especially the Jay.

[@glenaleksis4589]

I just got mine, what is that mount you are using?

[@eltwilliams1116]

Glad to gear the lens good for you simon. Unfortunately i tried 3 lenses. All was not to par😢. I had enough and just went for 400 4.5 and 1.4 teleconver. No issues at all. I do miss the versatility of a zoom

[@simoneardley]

Thats a shame Elt, guess I was lucky

[@natures-nomads]

It’s a cracking lens, it’s glued to my wife’s body. I can’t get a look-in :-)

[@simoneardley]

Haha, its a cracking lens hence the kidnap!!😀😀

[@sandrafawcett1648]

Did you all have a good Christmas and new year and did you see Andy

[@simoneardley]

All good Sandra thanks, Andy Green ?

[@peterscott6672]

Been out myself as a newbie to bird photography, starting with a Sony A6000 with 70/350 seems good to me but I think I need a bit more reach for birding so this video has given me good for thought , was looking to get one on your hides and the waterproof mat for laying on can you let me know how I go about buying them from you. Thanks Peter Scott and this is my real name

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Peter, theyre available at www.tragopan-shop.uk

[@grahamtomkins3467]

Good video Simon. What trail camera are you using please

[@simoneardley]

Cheers Graham, theyre Ceyomur cameras.

[@grahamtomkins3467]

@@simoneardley thank you

[@andyheywoodsphotographya-h7913]

Nice video Simon all the best for 2025, i must admit i use my 200-500 zoom lens more than my 500 f4 like you say its way more versitile and lighter, in fact most of my images on the wall at home were with the zoom mind i wish the 200-500 was internal zoom like that 180-600 just brilliant, oh and those jay and woodpecker shots were supurb 📸👍

[@Ben_Stewart]

I'll never say no to a chap eating soup and snapping pictures with the 180-600.

[@simoneardley]

Wise words Ben!!🤣

[@jfphotography69]

Just picked up the Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 vr s, which was on sale with a free Nikon 105mm Arcrest II filter. The lens is fantastic, small, light and insanely sharp with fast AF. Paired it up with the Z9 for my walkaround lens. Will still be using my fantastic Sigma 500mm f4 sports for early morning low light conditions. But it's much easier to carry the 600mm PF than the 500mm f4, especially on long hikes.

[@simoneardley]

Youre right there, those older primes are so heavy

[@jfphotography69]

@simoneardley The new f/4 and f/2.8 primes are not any lighter, and also cost an arm, a leg, and a kidney.

[@jonathanclyne2427]

Looking forward to a bit of bushcrafting... You'll have to borrow Billy dog for a bit of an adventure!

[@simoneardley]

Haha, he's a top dog is Billy 😃🔥

[@CliveWooton]

Another brilliant video love listening to you your so interesting can't wait for the next one .best wishes clive .🦉🦅🦆🐧🐦‍⬛🪿

[@simoneardley]

Cheers Clive

[@deanlowe2580]

Just moved over from sony a7iv and 200-600 to the Nikon z8 and 180-600, it feels like a big step up and I'm loving it so far.

[@NikCan66]

Tried Sony against Canon 1dx Mark iii and Nikon D5 and Z9 cameras. Found Sony top end build quality and ergonomics not on par with Canon or Nikon top quality products

[@DavidHoe-e9k]

I'm in the process of switching from that exact setup too, sold the a7IV and 200-600, and Z8 should be here next week. Undecided between 180-600 and 600mm f6.3 PF though. Glad to hear it feels like a step up!

[@MaxVenterra]

I actually moved from the Sony A7IV and the 200-600mm to the Z8 and the 180-600mm and I feel that the Sony lens was so much sharper😢 (maybe I have a bad copy🙃)

[@KWTImages]

Try a session with Auto capture with the 180-600 👌👍

[@simoneardley]

I'll give it a bash Keith

[@Lara-zt7hw]

I love my lense! But does anyone also have the issue that you can slightly move the lens on the camera? It is wiggling on my Z8 to the left and right 🤔 never had that with other lenses

[@daleroyal6449]

Best £1200 iv spent on a lens@ its not far behind on quality to a prime👍🏼

[@Aym3887]

ואוו ‏‪19:06‬‏

[@bardot777]

Why on earth did you finish with that rubbish Jay Woodpecker shot.😂😂😂😂 Well done mate.

[@simoneardley]

🤣🤣📷👌🏼

[@colintraveller]

Foxes , I haven't a single fox in the fields in 2 yrs .Where i stay !! Same with Rabbits

[@simoneardley]

Hopefully they'll return Colin🤞🏼

[@lumberjack3008]

I am not a fan of mine, bad purchase. AF isn’t fast enough.