Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR
Ultra-Light Ultra-Tele
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
Z9 Z8 Z7 II Z6 II Zf Z7 Z6 Z5 Z fc Z50 Z30
Z System Z Lenses All Nikon Lenses Flash
Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S (takes Nikon 46mm filters in a rear filter slot, 84.2 oz./5¼ lbs./2,385 g, 16.4'/5m close focus, 0.16 × macro ratio, $6,495). bigger. I'd get mine at Adorama or at B&H, or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you get it elsewhere. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never, ever buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, dropped, incomplete, gray-market, store demo or used lens — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new lens. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to play with your exotic new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
April 2022 Better Pictures Nikon Mirrorless Mirrorless Lenses All Nikon Lenses Nikon Flash All Review
Why Fixed Lenses Take Better Pictures
Sony vs. Nikon vs. Canon Full-Frame
Introduction top
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
|
This Z 800mm f/6.3 VR lens is an affordable ultralight ultratele. It sells for a fraction of the price of Nikon's older $17,000 AF-S 800mm f/5.6 VR FL.
Just like lighthouses of 200 years ago and overhead projectors of the 20th century, it uses a Fresnel lens, developed by Augustin Fresnel in France in the 1820s to save a load of weight by eliminating unneeded glass.
It works great with Nikon's TC-1.4× and TC-2× teleconverters, making an 1,100mm f/9 or a 1,600mm f/13 lens, each with great performance.
Just turn the focus ring at any time for instant manual-focus override.
I'd get my Z 800mm f/6.3 VR at Adorama or at B&H, or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
New intro top
Nikon's first Z-mount Fresnel lens since the AF-S 500mm f/5.6 of 2018.
Longest lens ever for Z mount.
Good intro top
Very inexpensive; 60% less expensive than the older AF-S 800mm f/5.6 VR FL.
Featherweight.
Focus lock buttons
AF/MF switch.
Focus limiter switch.
Programmable control ring in addition to the programmable focus ring.
Image Stabilization rated 5 stops improvement.
Bad intro top
Still not free.
Fresnel lenses tend to have more flare than regular lenses, significant if you shoot into the sun. We'll see how well this works when I get mine; I don't expect any problem.
Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR on Nikon Z9. bigger.
Compatibility top
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
I'd get my Z 800mm f/6.3 VR at Adorama or at B&H, or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This lens works only on Nikon's Z-series mirrorless cameras.
Specifications top
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
I'd get my Z 800mm f/6.3 VR at Adorama or at B&H, or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Name specifications top
Nikon calls this the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S:
NIKKOR: Nikon's brand name for all their lenses.
Z: For Nikon's mirrorless cameras.
S: Subliminally suggests sexual satisfaction. The "S" designation has no other purpose than subliminal seduction; Nikon and electronics and automobile and every kind of marketer have been using letters like "S" and "X" in model numbers since the 1940s for this same reason. Nikon called their first 1946 rangefinder lens mount the "S" mount, then went whole-hog to the "F" SLR mount in 1959, used "S" again when they updated their AI lenses to AI‑S in 1983, created AF‑S SWM lenses in 1998 and here it is again.
It also has:
AF-P: Stepper (Pulse STM) autofocus motor: silent and ultra fast.
D: Couples distance information to the 3D Matrix Meter.
E: Electronic diaphragm. Silent operation.
ED: Magic Extra-low Dispersion glass for reduced secondary chromatic aberration.
G: Gelded; has no aperture ring.
IF: Internal focusing; nothing moves externally as focused.
Nano Crystal Coat (N): Magic anti-reflection coating that has a variable index of refraction that's far more effective against ghosts and internal reflections than traditional multicoating.
PF: "Phase Fresnel." 1822 lighthouse technology to reduce lens weight.
SR: Short-wavelength Refractive, a new optical material that helps reduce spherochromatism.
Optics specifications top
Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR internal optical construction. Fresnel, ED and SR elements. bigger.
22 elements in 14 groups.
One Fresnel element for weight savings.
Three ED extra-low dispersion elements, which help reduce secondary axial chromatic aberration.
One SR ("Short wavelength Refractive") element with a very high refractive index in blue and ultraviolet that helps reduce spherochromatism.
Internal focussing. Nothing moves externally as focussed.
Nikon Super Integrated multiCoating (SIC).
"Nano Crystal Coating" for even better contrast.
Fluorine fr9ont coating to resist dirt and smudges.
Diaphragm specifications top
9 rounded blades.
Electronically actuated.
Stops down to f/32.
Filters specifications top
Rear drop-in holder for Nikon 46mm filters.
While you can use any brand, they can't be too thick or the holder won't fit back into the lens. Stick to Nikon's 46mm filters with your exotic lens and be happy.
Here's Nikon's 46mm NC (no color) clear filter, and here's Nikon's drop-in polarizer.
Focal Length specifications top
800 mm.
When used on DX cameras, it sees the same angle of view as a 1,200 mm lens sees when used on an FX or 35mm camera.
See also Crop Factor.
Angle of View specifications top
3⅙º diagonal on FX.
2º diagonal on DX.
Focus Scale specifications top
No.
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infinity Focus Stop specifications top
No.
You have to focus somehow to get precise focus at infinity, just like at every other distance.
Depth of Field Scale specifications top
No.
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infrared Focus Index specifications top
No.
Close Focus (distance from subject to image plane) specifications top
16.4 feet (5 meters).
Maximum Reproduction Ratio specifications top
1:6.25 (0.16 ×).
Image Stabilizer specifications top
Rated 5 stops improvement.
Caps specifications top
Special LC-K106 Front Cap, included.
Standard LF-N1 Z-mount rear cap, included.
Hood specifications top
HB-104 hood included.
Case specifications top
CL-C3 case included.
Size specifications top
5.6" ø maximum diameter × 15.2" extension from flange.
140 mm ø maximum diameter × 385 mm extension from flange.
Weight specifications top
84.2 oz.
5¼ pounds.
2,385 g.
Announced specifications top
12:08 AM, 06 April 2022, NYC time.
Promised for specifications top
April 2022.
Included specifications top
Lens.
LF-N1 Z-mount rear cap.
CL-C3 Case.
Model Number specifications top
20108.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
April 2022
Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR Controls. bigger.
Getting a Legitimate U. S. A. Version top
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
I'd get my Z 800mm f/6.3 VR at Adorama or at B&H, or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This section applies in the U. S. A. only.
Your box should have "US" on the UPC sticker by the model number (BK means black).
Most importantly you need a USA Warranty Card, and the serial number must match the one on the back of your camera bottom of your lens, otherwise you have no warranty.
If you don't have this card, if the card doesn't say "VALID IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES" or the serial number on the card doesn't match the one on your camera lens exactly, you got ripped off with a gray market version from another country. All legitimate camera lenses come with printed warranty cards, even if you prefer to register online. (The serial number on the box doesn't have to match, but if it doesn't it means you bought from a shady dealer who took cameras lenses out of boxes and then resold these used lenses cameras as new.)
Shifty dealers may include color copies of a card from a legitimate U. S. A. product in a gray-market box, hoping you won't check serial numbers and catch their fraud. A card with the wrong serial number means nothing other than that you have no warranty coverage.
Nikon stopped offering 5-year lens warranties in 2021 in an effort to save themselves money at our expense.
Always be sure to check your box, warranty card and serial numbers while you can still return it, or just don't buy from unapproved sources or at retail so you'll be able to have your camera serviced and get free updated firmware as needed.
This is why I never buy anyplace other than from my personally approved sources. You just can't take the chance of buying elsewhere, especially at any retail store, because non-USA versions have no warranty in the U. S. A., and you won't even be able to get firmware or service for it — even if you're willing to pay out-of-pocket for it when you need it!
Nikon U. S. A. enforces its trademarks strictly. It's unlikely, but possible that US customs won't let your camera back in the country if you bought a gray-market version in the U. S. A., carried it overseas, and try to bring it back in. (If you take the chance of buying one overseas, be sure you have a receipt to prove you bought it overseas and be prepared to pay duty on it.)
If a gray market version saves you $2,000 it may be worth it, but for $100 or less I wouldn't risk having no warranty or support.
Get yours from the same places I do and you won't have a problem, but if you take the risk of getting yours elsewhere, be sure to check everything while you still can return it.
Performance top
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
I'd get my Z 800mm f/6.3 VR at Adorama or at B&H, or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Filters, use with performance top
It comes with a rear drop-in holder for Nikon 46mm filters.
While any brand of 46mm filter should fit the holder, if the filter is too thick the holder won't fit back into the lens. Stick to Nikon's 46mm filters, which are all thin, with your exotic lens and be happy.
Here's Nikon's 46mm NC (no color) clear filter, and here's Nikon's drop-in polarizer.
Sharpness performance top
Lens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness; every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness and blame crummy pictures on their equipment rather than themselves. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that.
If you're not getting ultra-sharp pictures with this, be sure not to shoot at f/11 or smaller where all lenses are softer due to diffraction, always shoot at ISO 100 or below because cameras become softer at ISO 200 and above, avoid shooting across long distances over land which can lead to atmospheric heat shimmer, be sure everything is in perfect focus, set your camera's sharpening as you want it (I set mine to the maximum) and be sure nothing is moving, either camera or subject. If you want to ensure a soft image with any lens, shoot at f/16 or smaller at ISO 1,600 or above at default sharpening in daylight of subjects at differing distances in the same image.
People worry waaaaay too much about lens sharpness. It's not 1968 anymore when lenses often weren't that sharp and there could be significant differences among them; ever since about 2010 all new lenses are all pretty much equally fantastic.
Like all Nikon and Canon exotic ultra-teles, this lens is ultra sharp corner-to corner at every aperture, limited of course by diffraction at the smaller apertures. In the lab, it should be the sharpest at f/6.3, with diffraction dulling it from f/8 and smaller.
Nikon's MTF chart at 10 cyc/mm and 30 cyc/mm. The solid lines are the sagittal (radial) and the dotted lines are the meridional (tangential) measurements.
Teleconverters performance top
It works great with Nikon's TC-1.4× and TC-2× teleconverters, making an 1,100mm f/9 or a 1,600mm f/13 lens, each with great performance.
Tripod Collar performance top
The tripod collar is permanently attached.
Recommendations top
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
I'd get my Z 800mm f/6.3 VR at Adorama or at B&H, or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you get it elsewhere. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never, ever buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, dropped, incomplete, gray-market, store demo or used lens — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new lens. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to play with your exotic new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken.
© Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten. Ken Rockwell® is a registered trademark.
Help Me Help You top
I support my growing family through this website, as crazy as it might seem.
The biggest help is when you use any of these links when you get anything. It costs you nothing, and is this site's, and thus my family's, biggest source of support. These places always have the best prices and service, which is why I've used them since before this website existed. I recommend them all personally.
If you find this page as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you may have had to take, feel free to help me continue helping everyone.
If you've gotten your gear through one of my links or helped otherwise, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time. Thanks!
If you haven't helped yet, please do, and consider helping me with a gift of $5.00.
As this page is copyrighted and formally registered, it is unlawful to make copies, especially in the form of printouts for personal use. If you wish to make a printout for personal use, you are granted one-time permission only if you PayPal me $5.00 per printout or part thereof. Thank you!
Thanks for reading!
Ken.