A Review of the Nikon 180-600mm Z f/5.6-6.3 VR Lens

Nikon has released some incredible lenses for wildlife photographers and birders over the last couple of years, and the new 180-600mm Z f/5.6-6.3 VR looks to be another one to add to the list. Just like the Sony 200-600mm G Lens, this lens has a short throw and internal zoom, which are huge benefits when compared to Sigma and Tamron. This brilliant video from Jan Wegener discusses the performance of the lens and image quality you can expect.

Jan Wegener has had the opportunity to use the Nikon 180-600mm Z f/5.6-6.3 VR Lens for over a week with the Nikon Z9 and has taken over 20,000 images. 

Weighing in at 4.7 lbs or 2,140 g, the lens is quite heavy but also sits nicely in the hand and can be used handheld. The weather-sealing is also good, given it's not an S line lens. The internal zoom is a huge benefit for this lens, especially when on a tripod or gimbal head. The lens has a very short throw from 180-600mm, which is very handy for quickly finding your subjects. 

When shooting in low light, this lens is best used with slightly higher shutter speeds, which will increase your ISO. However, in good light, you can easily use shorter shutter speeds due to the built-in stabilization.

When testing the lens in different light conditions, it performs very well and is sharp. It may not be as sharp as some of the S line lenses. However, for the very reasonable price of $1,696.95, it is incredibly sharp. The autofocus is very capable, though it may struggle in low light at times. It performs well in general, though. Check out the video above for more.