Unbelievable Sharpness! Nikon Z 180-600mm Zoom Lens Review.

[@mekanicolas]

Its really nice to have you back, I was missing your videos and your reviews!!

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Thank you Meka !!!🙂

[@fly-pedro]

After using this same lens for 3 months I almost agree with your conclusions. Except the autofocus which is more than often very slow and not precise, especially for birds in flight.

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Hi Pedro, thanks for writing and sharing your experience. I can tell you that in my case the AF speed depended a lot on the camera and the contrast with the background. When using the Z50 or Z5, for example, the AF did not seem to be superior to that of the Sigma lenses, but when using it with the Z8, the Z7II, even the Z7, I had a very good experience. Now, at the time I also used the 600mm f6.3 Prime, and although it was faster, I think it was not worth the extra price. A hug and greetings.

[@musiqueetmontagne]

Great video Mario, great lens. I have this lens and can say hands down, it's the best value in the Z mount line up. It does everything well at every zoom range and aperture. To get better in the Nikkor range you have to spend 6, 10 and 14 thousand dollars for the exotic primes. The 600mm prime is lighter, a little sharper and quicker but still 6.3 and 3x the price. Beyond that are the 600 f4 TC or 400 f2.8 TC, both the price of a small car.. So great results to be had, just need to work a little harder with it but we have a zoom to help and lower the ISO if zoomed in. I'm glad you got this one, I know you'll love it. In good light my copy is surprisingly good with the 1.4 TC if used to make the object larger in the frame rather than for further distance shooting, Stopping it down with and without the TC by just a third stop also sharpens mine up a fair bit....Enjoy, cheers, Robert.

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Hi Robert !!! Unfortunately it's not mine..😭 I rented it from my local store along with the Prime 600 f6.3, for comparison. In my opinion, the Zoom is the better option, since the increase in sharpness and speed of the 600 doesn't justify its 2.5 times the price, especially given my camera which isn't one of the fastest AF. The 600 f4 and the 400 2.8 are definitely lenses on a different scale, even renting them for a week is the equivalent price of buying a small lens 😆. I'm not a big fan of teleconverters, I have one for my old Sigma 150-600 and I definitely always got better results cropping. Now, there is one that has me a bit curious, and that's the 800 f6.3 for 5,500 euros here in Germany, I'd really like to try it out and I hope to do so in a few weeks. But in summary, the 180-600 is a far superior lens to any of the Sigma and Tamron zooms I have owned. Robert, a big hug and have a beautiful weekend.

[@musiqueetmontagne]

@@MarioKilianPhotography Totally agree, the 600 prime isn't 2.5 times better and no zoom. A friend of mine is using an F-mount 400 f2.8 with TCs... Brilliant but so heavy. That costs less than the 600 f6.3.... The 800mm is a fab lens but very long, only for serious birding really. I'm very happy for what I want with the zoom and occasional 1.4TC. I'm not a TC person either but they are fine on good prime lenses, even f-mount. However, I was really surprised at the Z 1.4 TC on the 180-600, it gives you 840mm @ f9, stop it to f10 only and raise the ISO, even in good light, gives me more than acceptable results. For wildlife at a great price I would use a used D500 (aps-c)and the 200-500 f5.6, still a great value and quality combo for the price. I still use my DSLRs for a lot of stuff.

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

@@musiqueetmontagne Robert !! Do you have a D500? I had one in 2019, and at the beginning of the pandemic, while parked on the street in South America, all my equipment was stolen from my car, it was terrible !! But I remember that the D500 had an AF that worked impressively well. I agree with you that I don't really like interchangeable lenses either, hence the versatility of the Zoom, I think sooner or later I'll get one !!

[@adamromek5386]

Hi Mario, great video as always. I have this lens and I'm very happy with it. With Nikon Z8 it's a nice set. More videos about gear. Maybe you could do a video about camera settings for bird shots against the sky.

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Witaj Przyjacielu Adamie!! Jak miło cię słyszeć. Adamie, bardzo chciałbym nakręcić więcej filmów o tym obiektywie, ale tak jak pisałem do Roberta poniżej, wypożyczyłem go tylko na tydzień. Udało mi się nagrać 3 filmy, zanim zaczął się straszny deszcz tutaj, w Niemczech, ale wkrótce spróbuję nagrać więcej filmów, kiedy ponownie je wypożyczę. Adamie, obiektyw jest cudowny, jestem pewien, że z Z8 to najlepszy sprzęt na świecie do fotografii ptaków. Uścisk mój przyjacielu.

[@NatureSoundsImages]

I still have the Sigma 150-600 C, but it has a lot of dust inside...😪, I will go for a new zoom like the Nikon.. new for me...but I will look for a used one, i gues I´ll find one !! Nice Photograph on that video Mario. kudos

[@99unclebob]

Hi Mario i have the SonyA74 and 200-600mm lens ,its a super good combination, your new Nikon 180-600mm is new and my Sony 200-600mm is already 4 or 5 years old , i have only had mine 2 years, the Nikon is very sharp ,clear and crisp photos, it is that bit nicer than my Sony, my friend has a Z8 and bought the 180-600mm and let me use it when we went out photographing birds one weekend in August it works really nice and like the Sony the internal zoom is fantastic , when Sony decides to update the 200-600mm i think by then should match the Nikon 180-600mm and i hope it stays the same 2.1 kgs, very good video, great photos of the soccer game and the birds, very sharp 👍

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Hi Bob !!! Thanks for your comment on the photos. Bob, the Sony 7IV is an excellent camera, a friend of mine who is a photographer in the sector uses exactly the same one and the 200-600 and the truth is that the image is incredible, I don't know when Sony plans to upgrade that lens, but I do know that when they do it will be something impressive. A hug Bob and have a good Sunday.

[@BigFoot-w4d]

The Sony 200-600 is sharper and superior AF - linear XD motor compared to Nikon’s STM.

[@papaschultz5678]

Thank's for the video Mario! What do you think about the speed of AF with this lens ? Is the AF(Z7) realy faster than the AF of the Sigma lens?

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Hi Papaschulz, the AF of the Z7 definitely works better and faster with the 180-600 than with the Sigma 60-600 and the 150-600, it could be that the FTZ generates a bit of noise, or that the Sigmas are specifically for DSLRs. Now, do I count it as faster? Well, I couldn't tell you, I'm going to measure it over the weekend and see how much the difference is. What I do know is that sensorially it gives the impression that it is quite a bit faster... A hug and have a good weekend.

[@papaschultz5678]

@@MarioKilianPhotography Thank your for your answer. Have a nice week-end too.

[@sinskpenduroteam8256]

I have the old 500 F mount, i guess is time to change to this one !! Thanks Mario, great photos and thank to show the jpeg and not edited raw photos. !!

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Great !! the 200-500 was an amazing zoom !!

[@luzr6613]

Seems to be a great lens for the right conditions, subjects and environment... and if all of that is a match for your shooting, it's a no-brainer. I'm glad that it wouldn't work for what I do because otherwise I'd want it - something that always causes me pain and discomfort😂. Internal zoom is a great thing - peace of mind when conditions are rough. Surprised by how light it is too - very annoying (i'm @ 3.6kg with my comparable reach). Nice vid, Mario, and the slo-mo duck was very cool. Cheers and have a great day!

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Hi Jo, how nice to hear from you. This lens is definitely not your style. I think the lens you are currently using is perfect. Just look at your photos on Instagram. Beautiful!! A hug, my friend.

[@luzr6613]

@@MarioKilianPhotography I liked the new format of your video too - meant to mention that. The lenses i'm using are all from between 2004 and 2007 - i was lucky to get them as a set of six for a great price. They are very high quality - fast and heavy - but what does let them down is the AF which is always slow and, in low light, often doesn't work at all. But most of the time, because of what and how i shoot, none of that is a problem. Are you going to get that lens you were using in the video to replace the Sigma, or have you already?

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

@@luzr6613 Wow, we're more or less the same, most of my lenses are from my DSLR..😁😁. I'm thinking of changing some of them to the new Z line, that's why I'm testing them in advance, but judging by the price this 180-600 is the best value for money option, I loved the 600 prime f6.3 but cost twice the price...

[@amiklc1481]

What special on this if compare nikon p1000

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Well, they are actually two completely different things, the 180-600 is a lens only, so it can be used on any Nikon Z mount camera. That means you can use for example a 46mp Full Frame camera like the Z8, which in turn has a faster focusing speed, is much sharper, is weather resistant, and has an f6.3 aperture at 600mm. The P1000 is just a lens integrated into a compact 16mp camera with a 1/2.3 inch sensor, and is developed for a different market than the one that buys lenses. Big Hug.

[@roybixby6135]

Love the 180-600 but its hardly the sharpest lens ever ... 🦘

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Hi Roy, of course not, if you consider the whole universe of primes, I only compare it in the Zoom category up to 600mm, and in my opinion it does an excellent job, my only problem is that the lens seems to have been designed for the Z8, not for the previous generation. A hug Roy and have a nice weekend.

[@BigFoot-w4d]

The 180-600 isn’t a sharp lens at all.

[@MegaBriarpatch]

It's not as sharp as a prime telephoto, but it's sharp for a $2K internal zoom lens. Plenty sharp enough.

[@prokremelskidezolati1426]

Sharpest zoom? The 100-500mm (Canon) :)

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Amazing Sharp lens already. I love the fact that it starts at 100mm and the speed of the AF, if you want to get the best out of the Nikon the best is to use a Z8, Big Hug.

[@prokremelskidezolati1426]

@@MarioKilianPhotography 👍👍👍😀

[@livejames9374]

@@prokremelskidezolati1426 zoom? Probably a 70-200 or 120-300. For $1000 more than the 180-600, compromised TC use and less reach, the 100-500 better be sharper.

[@jorgepinogarciadelasbayonas]

LOL! Why are Canon customers always trying to convince users of other brands? Is it a personal self-esteem complex? I don't want those dark zooms for a very expensive price from Canon.