Appealing to wildlife, bird, and sports photographers, along with creative landscape shooters and really anyone looking for a very narrow and focused field of view, super-telephoto lenses are some of the most fun and distinct-looking lenses around. Differing from lenses on the wide and normal end of the focal length spectrum, these longest of long lenses bring distant subjects closer and force you to work with more selective framing and a unique sense of visual compression.
Typically attributed to the higher end of the price range, Nikon's range of Z-mount super-telephoto lenses has actually been configured to achieve a better balance of price, performance, and size. They still have the exotic fast super-telephotos but the majority of Nikon's super-tele lineup are relatively accessible and portable compared to the SLR era of five-figure priced, double-digit weight lenses.
NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S
The lens that kicked off super-telephoto for Nikon Z, the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S is possibly the most well-rounded prime lens of this group, offering a useful balance of length, speed, and portability. This will be an ongoing theme for many of these lenses but the 400mm focal length featured with this first lens is likely the most versatile. It's wide enough for some compressed landscape use and for tracking birds from relatively close range as well as long enough for many sport situations.
The key to this lens's success is in its size and weight—Nikon dubs it the "smallest and lightest 400mm" they've ever created. Measuring 9.2" long and weighing 2.7 lb, this lens is more physically akin to a 70-200mm f/2.8. And, compared to the faster 400mm f/2.8 TC, this lens is 3.8 lb lighter and 6" shorter while just being 1.3 stops slower.
NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S
Keeping the concept the same but moving up a tier in length, the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S is another great example of tremendous length without the tremendous size. Differing from the 400mm f/4.5, though, this super-tele prime makes use of a space-saving Phase Fresnel element, which replaces several traditional glass elements, and keeps the dimensions and weight low. This lens measures just under 11" long and weighs 3.2 lb; compared to Nikon's flagship 600mm f/4 TC, this f/6.3 model is more than 6" shorter, about half as heavy, and just 1.3 stops slower.
In terms of focal length, compared to the 400mm, the 600mm offers a more selective field of view that will primarily appeal to bird photographers most. The 400mm is a bit more versatile for larger animals, sports, and if you intend of using teleconverters; the 600mm will home into the scene a bit more and is the better choice for details, smaller subjects, and working at even greater lengths.
NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S
And if you need to get even more selective than the 600mm or 400mm, there is the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S. This is the sole 800mm lens for the Z system, so its main competition will be against the former F-mount 800mm f/5.6. Compared to that SLR lens, the Z 800mm f/6.3 is 50% lighter and 16% smaller—15" long and 5.25 lb in weight. This lens, like the 600mm f/6.3, uses a Phase Fresnel element to achieve the dramatically light and small design that makes this lens much more portable than its predecessor.
Just like the 600mm being the more selective alternative to the 400mm, this 800mm is even narrower in field of view; it's main use will be for tracking birds in flight and photographing smaller wildlife from a comfortable range or more dangerous wildlife from a longer range.
NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S & NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S
Nikon's two other super-telephoto prime options are the aspirational and flagship NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S and NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S lenses. These two options are 1.3 stops faster, feature built-in 1.4x teleconverters, and each cost roughly $10k more than their same focal length siblings. For that last reason alone, these aren't realistic competitors to Nikon's 400mm f/4.5 and 600mm f/6.3 lenses—those lenses are a much better value and more realistic for most photographer's needs. The two flagship lenses, on the other hand, show off Nikon's optical capabilities and are reserved for high-end working shooters.
NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
Contrasting the prime, fixed focal length super-telephotos, Nikon also has a pair of super-telephoto zooms for those who need a bit of built-in focal length flexibility. Their first super-tele zoom was the NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S; a great general purpose telephoto zoom that tops out at a super-telephoto 400mm f/5.6 to suit wildlife and sports shooting.
This is a great "nature photography" lens for photographers who split time between wildlife and smaller moving subjects along with distant vistas and landscapes—the focal length range is ideal for general outdoor shooting. The couple drawbacks for this lens, compared to the primes, is the slightly higher weight for this zoom (3.2 lb, compared to 2.7 lb for the 400mm f/4.5) and the extending zoom design that belies its 8.7" listed length.
NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
For something with a bit more reach, there is the NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR. This one stands out among the other super-teles as it's the only non-S-Line lens—meaning it's a bit more affordable than even the 100-400mm but also isn't using Nikon's highest-grade optics. In practice, the 180-600mm is an outstandingly versatile lens and the added reach may be worth the sacrifice in speed and optics. One other caveat to this zoom is the bump in size and weight compared to the 100-400mm; this 180-600mm is 12.4" long and weighs 4.3 lb.
Just like the difference between a 400mm and 600mm prime, the differences between the 100-400mm and 180-600mm depend on how you're shooting and the subjects you're interested in. This longer zoom will be better suited to birding but starts at a longer focal length, shedding some of the landscape versatility.
NIKKOR Z Teleconverters TC-1.4x & TC-2x
Beyond the lenses themselves, there are also a pair of teleconverters for Nikon Z super-telephoto lenses: the Z Teleconverter TC-1.4x and the Z Teleconverter TC-2x. All of the aforementioned lenses are compatible with these teleconverters, which magnify the lens's focal length by 1.4x and 2x, respectively.
Working with teleconverters is an easy way to gain some focal length versatility; they are a lot smaller and more affordable than an entire second lens and can also help when deciding between lenses like the 400mm f/4.5 and 600mm f/6.3. This is true with the zooms, too, and gives a bit more of an edge for the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 that can now function as a 200-800mm f/9-11 with the 2x teleconverter to cover your birding needs. Pairing your choice of super-telephoto lens with one of the teleconverters is a smart way to increase the situational versatility of an otherwise fairly niche lens.
Considering the relative newness of the Nikon Z system, they've already built a robust super-telephoto foundation for birding, wildlife, and sports photographers to make full use of the cameras' continuous shooting AF, and VR assets. Photographers have their pick of anything from the fastest, most tech-forward super-teles to lightweight, nimble, and affordable options—super-telephoto is more accessible than ever with the Z system and beginner wildlife shooters even have some choices to make to suit their vision.
