Lens sharpness
One of the most important qualities of a telephoto lens is its sharpness. I’ve always been very satisfied with the image sharpness of my “old” Nikon 600mm lens, but the new version offer now great sharpness also in the edges. I also experienced a higher percentage of the total images which were crystal sharp, than with my “old” Nikon 600mm. For a photographer, this is exactly what I want and strive for – crystal-sharp images (if not panning).
Cheetah in Zimanga, South Africa
Nikon D4S, 600/4.0, 1/5000 sec at f/7.1 and ISO 640
AF-speed and accuracy
The AF-system in the new Nikon 600mm lens is very fast and reliable and works great with the Nikon D4S camera. Tracking birds in flight was not a problem and the overall sharpness was superb. After 10 days of shooting with this lens, I could conclude that a significantly higher portion of my images were sharp, compared to what I had experienced earlier. I’ve not done any scientific research on this, but it’s very pleasing to browse the images after a long day shooting and enjoy great sharpness and image quality. Even photographing bats after sunset was possible and also animals like crocodiles at night (with focus light).
The AF-accuracy is best when using the center AF-point, so I mostly used the d9 setting with the center AF-point selected. I also tried to use the AF group setting but felt more comfortable using the d9 setting. When shooting directly into the sun it’s still very difficult for the AF-system to focus, but that was not a surprise.
Cape gannet at Bird Island
Nikon D4S, 600/4.0, 1/20 sec at f/5.0 and ISO 125
VR-system
The VR-system is upgraded with the latest technology. The VR-ring has been removed and changed to a switch, which in my opinion is an improvement. The VR-ring was a weak point for the “old” Nikon 600mm lens and also collected dirt and small sand particles. The main settings for the VR-switch are VR Normal and VR Sport. I used the lens in VR Normal mode most of the time. This setting worked very well and might have been one of the reasons why overall image sharpness was very high on this test shooting.
VR Sport is a real blessing for everyone panning their subjects. I’m one of those photographers, and I enjoyed panning at shutter speeds down to less than 1/10 sec and still get great results. For the first time, I’ve been satisfied using VR when panning with a Nikon 600mm lens! With my «old» Nikon 600mm lens I had to shoot faster than 1/100 second or deactivate VR to avoid the «ghost effect». This is a much-appreciated upgrade from the «old» Nikon 600mm lens and is very suitable for panning actions.
Panning Wildebeest at 1/10 second
Nikon D4S, 600/4.0, 1/10 sec at f/4.5 and ISO 64
Closest AF-distance
The closest AF distance with the new Nikon 600mm is now improved from 4,8m to 4,4m, which is about a 10% improvement. This is not a huge improvement, but very good for a 600mm lens (4,5m on the newest Canon 600mm lens). For some reason, it is still not possible to use the AF on the closest distance (4,4m), so I had to use manual focus from the last centimeters to the closest focus distance during this test shooting. This is the same situation as I’m used to with my «old» 600mm where AF at the closest focus distance (4,8m) is only possible with manual focusing.
Emerald-spotted dove
Nikon D4S, 600/4.0, 1/800 sec at f/6.3 and ISO 3200
Shooting Backlit
I enjoy photographing wildlife in backlit, and one of my biggest questions regarding the new Nikon 600mm f/4.0 was how it performed in backlit conditions. One of my “top 3″ reasons for switching from Canon to Nikon back in 2010 was the great backlit capabilities with the Nikon telephoto lenses, due to the Nano Crystal Coating technology. My «old» Nikon 600mm has been excellent in backlit situations, and the new version of the 600mm f/4.0 lens is even better. Shooting directly into the sun gave me amazingly great image quality. The flares and/or discolors were almost invisible or not visible at all. This was something that pleased me with the new Nikon 600mm lens. The new lens hood is also improved and gives better shade when shooting backlit (not directly into the sun).
Cape Gannets shot directly into the sun
Nikon D4S, 600/4.0, 1/6400 sec at f/6.3 and ISO 200
Shooting with 1.4X Extender
In my photography, I sometimes need an extender when shooting small birds or animals from a distance. With my “old” Nikon 600mm lens I use the Nikon 1.4X III Extender, with nice results especially when stopped down to f/7.1. With the Nikon 2.0X III Extender, I have to stop down to f/11 to achieve good image quality, but it’s still not 100%. So I use the 1.4X Extender regularly in my photography, but the 2.0X Extender rarely.
For the test shooting with the new Nikon 600mm f/4.0, I was only allowed (by Nikon) to use the 1.4X III extender, and the image results with this extender was impressive. The AF-system works slightly slower (as expected) with the 1.4X III Extender, but is still fast enough to follow moving animals. When the lens is stopped down to at least f/5.6 (usually f/5.6 or f/7.1) the image quality with the Nikon 1.4X III Extender is great.
Wild dogs in South Africa
Nikon D4S, 600/4.0 + 1.4X Extender, 1/800 sec at f/7.1 and ISO 3200
Lens hood
The outer diameter of the lens hood is reduced from 19,5 cm to 18 cm, and the lens hood is also 0,5 cm longer than the «old» Nikon 600mm version. This results in better shading for the sun, and the lens also fits better in the camera bag. Thus for those of you flying around with camera gear, it will be easier to bring the new Nikon 600mm f/4.0 lens in your hand luggage.
The weak point of the lens hood is in my opinion the locking system. On my «old» Nikon 600mm I have destroyed the locking screw 2 times since 2010 (almost every second year), because of seawater, rough use, etc. The locking system on the new Nikon 600mm has not been changed (at least not on the beta version). During the test shooting, I lost the lens hood once, which is not fun if you drop it into the sea.
Impala at sunset
Nikon D4S, 600/4.0, 1/3200 sec at f/5.6 and ISO 3200
Lens weight
The new Nikon 600mm f/4.0 is now weighing 3810g, which is approx. 1 kg (25%) lighter than the “old” Nikon 600mm. For me, the reduced weight was a blessing and much appreciated! It feels more like carrying a 300/2.8 lens and it’s easier to handle without a tripod. Many photographers will appreciate this improvement a lot, especially for those with bad shoulders or backs. The new Nikon 600mm also feels more balanced with the weight slightly moved toward the lens mount. I’m not sure if other photographers will feel the difference, but after handling 600mm lenses for hundreds of hours out in the field it makes at least a difference for me.
African penguin at Bird Island
Nikon D4S, 600/4.0, 1/4000 sec at f/4.5 and ISO 400
Tripod mount
The lens tripod mount is redesigned and moved closer to the lens mount / camera. In my opinion, this redesign is an improvement compared to the «old» Nikon 600mm. With the movement of the weight and lens tripod mount closer to the camera, the lens feels more balanced and easier to handle. The lens tripod mount has now also some rubber and more rounded corners, so it feels much better to carry the lens around.
Giant kingfisher
Nikon D4S, 600/4.0, 1/800 sec at f/7.1 and ISO 1000
Improvements
My overall impression of this new telephoto lens is very good, and it’s difficult to find anything to dislike. The optical quality is excellent, the AF-system is fast and reliable and the VR-system has been upgraded to a new level. So is there anything to improve with this amazing telephoto lens at all? In my opinion, the answer is yes. Not big changes, but still I want to address them:
1. The lens hood locking system is in my opinion the weakest point on the lens and should be redesigned.
2. Implementing an AF-Range feature is my strongest suggested improvement for this lens – or more precisely, the communication between the lens and the camera. AF-Range is a feature where the photographer can choose the closest and farthest distance the AF can work within.
3. The VR sound is for some reason more noisy on the new Nikon 600mm than on my old Nikon 600mm. Even though this is a minor issue, pro telephoto lenses must be as quiet as possible.
4. The AF-sound when it hits the edges (farthest and closest focusing distance) is also noisier than I’m used to on my old Nikon 600mm lens. This is a similar issue as the previous point, and most photographers would most likely not notice it. Maybe this is only a minor issue found only on the beta version. I hope to find out soon.
Hammerkop in Zimanga
Nikon D4S, 600/4.0, 1/500 sec at f/7.1 and ISO 2000