Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4E FL ED VR
- The Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4E FL ED VR is a prime lens for Full Frame (FF) format, compatible with Nikon F FF and APS-C cameras (and also mirrorless Nikon Z via adapter).
- This lens is available exclusively in the Nikon F mount.
- The lens is filterable with 40,5mm drop-in filters (to be placed in a dedicated housing in the back of the lens), there is the image stabilization and the focus takes place via AF Motor (AF-S Silent Wave Motor).
- The lens is in production (since 2015 - today).
- Price range*: $$$$
- Equivalences**: a 600mm f/4,0 mounted on a Full Frame camera will remain so, mounted on a Nikon APS-C camera it will have a field of view, a Depth of Field and a "out of focus portion" of the image roughly equivalent to that of a 918mm f/6,1 lens on Full Frame.
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*Price range - legend: $: <400$ | $$: 400$ - 1000$ | $$$: 1000$ - 2000$ | $$$$: +2000$
**Equivalences - explanation: the concepts of "equivalent focal length" and "equivalent aperture" were born with the aim of allowing similar photos to be taken (in terms of framing and Depth of Field) with two cameras with sensors of different sizes without changing the distance from the subject (otherwise the perspective would also change) and placing the Full Frame format as a reference in the equivalence. The "equivalent focal length" helps the photographer to understand what field of view it will have (i.e. what the lens + camera combination can see and capture) and consequently what is the equivalent angle of view. The "equivalent aperture" helps the photographer to understand the equivalent Depth of Field (DoF) and how much "out of focus portion" the image will have. The equivalent "mm" are obtained by multiplying the focal length by the crop factor of the camera used [NIKON APS-C: 1.53x] and in a similar way the equivalent "f/" aperture is calculated. It is important to remember that a lens NEVER changes its physical characteristics, a 600mm f/4 always remains a 600mm f/4, regardless of whether it is mounted on Full Frame, APS-C, Medium Format and so on. ONLY the field of view changes. Exposure is also independent of the sensor format, so regardless of the sensor format of the camera on which the lens is mounted (as long as the lens can be mounted on multiple formats), with the same aperture, the shutter speed and ISO will also be the same.
Specifications
COMPATIBLE MOUNT
Nikon F
Focal length | Angle of view
600mm | 4°
Format
FF
Maximum aperture | Minimum aperture
f/4 | f/22
Aperture
9 blades
Minimum focusing distance
4,4 m (14.44 ft)
Maximum magnification | Reproduction Ratio
0,14x | RR 1:7,1
Image stabilizer
Yes
Focus
AF Motor (AF-S Silent Wave Motor)
Filter diameter
Ø40,5mm drop-in filter
Optical construction
16 elements in 12 groups
Type
Prime lens
Weather sealing
Yes
Lens hood
Supplied
Tripod ring
Yes
Extenders
Supported
Weight | Dimensions (diameter x length)
8.4 lb | Ø6.5″ x 17″
Other features
- Distance scale window
- Selector with 3 choices of focus modes (A/M; M/A; M). M/A: The autofocus is excluded by rotating the lens focus ring. A/M: as M/A, but the focus ring must be further rotated to exclude autofocus (it is used to avoid accidental changes). M: Manual focus
- 2 focus range limitations: FULL range | ∞-10m
- Full-time manual focus: the lens can be manually focused even when in autofocus mode (AF)
- "Memory SET" button on the lens body to storage and saving desired focus positions
- Selection switch for the function (AF-L; MEMORY RECALL; AF-ON) of the Function button (x4, the same is present in 4 different positions, every 90° along the circumference of the lens. The assigned function can be performed by pressing any of the 4 buttons). AF-L: Focus lock (or, if applicable, other custom function based on the camera used). MEMORY RECALL: To recall the last saved focus position. AF-ON: Lens AF start
- Activated/deactivated acoustic signal switch (to enable or silence the acoustic signal done during the operations of setting and recall of memory)
- Selector with 3 choices of Vibration Reduction (VR) mode (OFF | NORMAL: standard stabilization | SPORT: to photograph subjects who move quickly in an unpredictable way)
- Automatic panning detection provided
MTF chart
The MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) chart is useful for having an objective representation of the contrast and resolution of a lens from the center to the edges compared to an ideal system. Click on the link to view it:
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(remember that the MTF curves are calculated at full aperture, by closing the aperture basically all lenses are fine)
Video-reviews and Reviews
For obvious reasons this is just a selection of the main and most significant video reviews and reviews available online for the Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4E FL ED VR.
If you are interested in this lens, I invite you to find out more by reading the reviews in full / watching the video reviews on the websites / YouTube channels of the respective creators linked here:
Review 1
(Well-structured analysis, with a lot of amazing samples, of the Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4E FL ED VR that examines many aspects: image quality; bokeh; vignetting;...)
Review 2
(Technical review that analyzes and schematically compares the performance of the Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4E FL ED VR with the previous Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4 G ED VR)
Review 3
(Detailed, well-structured and technical analysis, with samples, even at full resolution, of the Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4E FL ED VR)
Review 4
(Well-structured and technical analysis of the Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4E FL ED VR)
Notes:
- Always view / read reviews with a critical attitude, remembering that the various evaluations must be parameterized with each other by the date the lens was tested and with which camera the lens was reviewed. A 20-year-old lens considered excellent on today's dense sensors will probably still be very good, but it is equally likely that in terms of contrast and resolution it has now been surpassed by more modern lenses.
- Reviews, although really useful for getting a general idea of a lens without ever having tried it directly, are not an exact science. If you just look at the numbers and the negatives there are some lenses that with all their flaws appear to be pure rubbish. Some are actually really poor, but for others there may be precise design choices behind them to obtain a certain rendering of the blur or performance / size ratio otherwise impossible to have if the lens were perfectly corrected for vignetting, distortion, Chromatic Aberration, Spherical Aberration, astigmatism and so on.
- The good intention is to keep all the links working, but if that is not the case I thank those who will report the broken ones. Everything on the web is by its nature not lasting. Modifications and deletions of contents are not rare and especially for the older lenses, a lot of history is being lost. Thanks for the collaboration! :)
PROS and CONS
Brief summary of the main PROS (✅) and the related CONS (❌) for the Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4E FL ED VR highlighted in the various video-reviews and online reviews:
✅ PROS
Really excellent overall image quality as well as build, with a quick and quiet autofocus motor, an efficient image stabilizer and an incredible bokeh
❌ CONS
Demanding dimensions, weight and price