Decided to buy a Nikkor 600/4 IF-ED (input on the G and D II)

Decided to buy a Nikkor 600/4 IF-ED (bought first AS-F now)

I decided to buy a Nikkor 600/4 IF-ED, this was after looking what would make sense for me.


First created in 1977, ... skipping to 1996.
Even if the glass before is very good optically and I would probably do 80% of my pictures OK with them, for BIF it seems I would like AF-S.
My preference seems to go to the AF-S 600/4 D IF-ED II which was made from 2001-2007, weight of 4750gr and a D version (I like weird experiments with mirrorless and dumb adaptors). From my remark before a G does not seem bad, but I prefer D over G. The E clearly is the sharpest, lightest and out of budget + trap into Nikon cameras (which are great btw). The AF-S 600/4 D IF-ED or AF-I while capable seem to be pretty old and heavy compared to the D II.
VR seems not clear to me, I would use tripod use only for the 600 and can miss shots (I`m not selling them at the moment). Tripod VR from the G would be nice obviously.


I do not believe that a 400/2.8 D IF-ED II will do for me, my experience with 500mm is that I need to work on my approach to the subject, but even then 500mm is not enough.
Also AF-S 500/4 G IF-ED VR, AF-S 500/4 D IF-ED II are lenses I consider, but since I have a 500mm it is better of the same. I do not consider 800mm.


Now budget wise there was an acceleration, which puts me in summer 2016 for a budget for a good second hand recent lens, that is based on this recent price decrease of the G.


Any input for the AF-S 600/4 D IF-ED II and how it compares to the G (apart from the obvious VR difference)?

Why pay an UNGODLY sum of money like that for one when you can get an used AIS for about $3000 including a case you could drop it off a cliff in and it would not even scratch the case? Get the last version that had the detachable lens shade. It also has an integral 160mm UV filter in front to protect the softer ED glass front element. The depth of field on this lens is so shallow and the contrast so high that manual focusing is a SNAP. And it is so sharp you photograph the hairs on a fly's ass at 300 yards at twilight. And trust me, there is no need to fear having to actually focus a lens by yourself, especially when the light levels get low and the AF goes teats up.

And VR or not, don't kid yourself, unless you are Arnold Swarzenegger after a second bowl of Wheaties you will not be able to hand hold this beast it at less than 1/2000 sec. Trust me on this one! A monopod or a tripod is a must for that much metal and glass!

Here is mine with a TC-300 attached. All told, about 19 pounds exclusive of the tripod. Add about 3 lbs for my MOVO gimbal head and this is a killer nature rig. Add a camp stool and some camouflage netting and your done.



This was taken with the same basic D700/lens rig as above minus the TC and on a monopod instead of a tripod at about 1/200 second @ f/5.6 with fill flash.

Nikon AI s 600mm F 4 If Ed Lens with Trunk Case from Japan 30441 | eBay

Buy a used on ebay (that will take much better pictures because less glass), a used 300mm f/2.8, 300mm f/4.5 EDIF with teleconverters, AND pick up a Tamron 150-600mm for under 3.5k. It's your money but 6k seems like a lot unless you can write it off on your taxes or something.

STM said:

Why pay an UNGODLY sum of money like that for one when you can get an used AIS for about $3000 including a case

Click to expand...

I was looking what the dealers were offering and one holds a NIKON AF-S NIKKOR ED 600mm F4 D + Case @ 3 500,00 € for the moment. That seems a good deal from the quality of dealer it comes from. I'll visit them + the heavy old lens soon (and indeed it is under the budget foreseen).
They also have 2500 € for a MF lens.

STM said:

And trust me, there is no need to fear having to actually focus a lens by yourself, especially when the light levels get low and the AF goes teats up.

Click to expand...

You might have noticed I prefer a D lens since you can still do things yourself with that.
In my experience it is so on my D7000, not convinced it will be the same on a D750. Even with AF, I tend to override for the last bit (you can see the AF is wrong sometimes).
However when a raptor takes off from a resting point, I need to trust the AF; following the bird and adapting the focus is not for "clumsy me", even if I'm convinced that it is possible when you use it regularly (I use MF quite a bit in my photography and know it is a learning cycle for every lens).

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The lens for sale is the first AF-S D, it is heavy 5900gr, but the price is attractive. They will probably rent it out for a day with an option to buy at the end of day.

For the alternatives: Siggi, Tammy 150-600, Nikon 200-500, 80-400. It is more reasonable and sufficient (they are impressive) for a bundle of photography. However I plan to use this lens for 30 years, a lot from my future home (surrounded by woods with deer, wild boar and raptors) + I'm currently in one the most rich countries doing better then average, so I can and it makes sense to me. The budget is limited to what I want to spend on the hobby, not to what I can spend (as I have been saving for renovating the house near the woods and have some serious money reserves).

Update: I tested the beast this week-end



This is why I kept it (gull on the previous picture):

A comparison, was amazed how big the 600mm is:



From left to right: Kenko TC2, Sigma 500mm f4.5, Kenko TC 1,4, 50mm f1.8G, TC2 EIII, 70-300G, 70-200 f2.8 VRII, AF-S 600mm f4D (hoods in the back next to the 500 & 600mm)



Test on my technique: 1/60 with a 600mm lens (without VR), seems to show I do some things right.