Used Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S Lens

2025-04-22T11:00:07

Such a fun lens to use for wildlife! I get sharp images with this lens on both z8 and z9. Not so hand-holdable for me, but when on a tripod with a tripod leveling mount and gimbal head, great images! Happy I made the purchase.

Shareece D.

2025-01-02T18:32:25

I was going to bite the bullet and buy the Nikon d800mm, but after reading several reviews, realized that the z800mm wasn't that far behind in the tests. So, I bought a new z9 and the z800mm for only a thousand more than the d800mm alone. Glad I did! The camera and lens are far better than what I can do with them yet, but I am already getting better photos than ever before. I'm looking forward to the photos I'll get as I get used to the new setup.

Larry C.

2024-03-14T13:18:35

I'm an avid bird photographer and have been a Nikon DSLR shooter for a long time (I currently own a D5 and D850). I finally got a Z9 and a FTZ II adapter in November 2023. I've been shooting with the 500mm f/5.6 PF lens, usually in DX mode and was quite pleased with the results. After reading many reviews, I decided to get the Z 800mm. What a game changer! This lens is the real deal. It's crisp, responsive and the reach is amazing, either in FX or DX modes. Note that the Z9 - 800mm combination is a little on the heavy side, so a monopod or a tripod for extended outings is a good idea. For shorter outings, it works perfectly well as a handheld.

J.M C.

Originally posted at

2024-01-17T16:06:33

This is the only lens you need for wildlife. Beautifully built, easy to handhold. It's worth every cent!

JEANNIE S.

2023-11-02T11:42:27

I love the reach of this le s. I love the IQ if this lens too. That being said you will need to step up your game and hen it comes to technique to unlock all the IQ this lens has to offer . It took me a few weeks to get that straightened out when I first got the lens but now it's second Nature and I'm a better photographer for it. Is it sharp? Of course it is just as most modern lenses are in 2023. IAF speed and tracking is good enough to make stunning images of hummingbirds flying directly at the lens. The only thing I don't like is the Kensington Lock cover in the tripod collar screw. It pops off constantly and I'm a little to OCD to just rip it off. I hate the same thing on my Z 400mm f4.5 VR S. So if you have the need and the means BUY THIS LENS! I love Nikon!

Kip S.

Originally posted at

2023-08-18T09:51:06

I waited and waited for this lens. It is all I expected. My interest in photographing small songbirds, hummingbirds, and other wildlife drove my interest in acquiring this lens. Like most bird photographers I was always (well mostly always) searching for more reach especially for smaller subjects like hummingbirds, vireos, kinglets, etc... The f/6.3 aperture wasn't a concern for me since I generally shot at higher shutter speeds and at f/8 to ensure I get good focus throughout the image when capturing these twitchy little birds. Bonus the on-board VR helps you shot hand help, something I couldn't do with my much heavier 600. I pair this lens with my Z9. This lens replaces my F mount 600 f/4 which I was using with the FTZ adapter. While generally happy with that pairing, it became heavy after a morning in the field, and I often wished I had just a tad bit more reach. The 800 seemed like an obvious solution...and is. The pro's so far as I can tell are that it does provide the reach I wanted but lacked with my old 600 and is so much easier to manage in the field! This lens is no bigger than the F mount 600 which is a plus as well. The light weight is especially welcome while winding my way through brush, up and down hills and though canyons. Build quality is great and appears to be on par with my old 600 f/4. Cons; Image quality is wonderful but just a tad bit off of the 600's superb sharpness straight off of the memory card but nothing that I can decern after post processing most images. This lens will definitely condense you field of view, which is something that I expected but still adjusting to. This shouldn't be a deterrent but be ready for that. Would I make this trade again? Yes, I think the tradeoffs were worth it for me and my intended use. Could I have rated it a five? yes... but it is not a $15,000.00 600mm/TC and you shouldn't expect that. Just know that if your interests are similar to mine I am fairly certain you will be very happy with this lens especially at this price point.

William S.

2023-08-16T03:27:11

We are dealing with unusual glass. He calls out to us standing in the corner: although I'll go shoot, it will be fun. Anything, anywhere to take photos. This is not normal behavior and I think I found a lens that has a life sentence with me.

dariuszbres.pl

Originally posted at

2023-08-14T21:22:14

The NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S is the first super tele that I have owned. I have shot Nikon cameras since the mid 1980's. Of all the lenses I have owned, this lens has surprised me the most in terms of AF speed and accuracy. Shooting on a Z9 for the first time, hand held, I took a shot of a bird that landed on a telephone wire ~400 feet away. The lens locked on the bird's eye and held it. I am excited about taking the lens in the field for more exotic photos.

RealNikonLover

Originally posted at

2023-07-26T14:37:59

So far, I'm really happy with the lens. It is light and razor sharp with a quick focus. I'm hand-holding this lens and getting excellent results. Looking forward to using this 800mm lens to catch some amazing bird shots. P.S. It's a great lens for videography too. The nasty bokeh this lens creates when there are bright highlights in the background, such as the shimmering water on a lake or ocean, is its one drawback.

Raheel F.

Originally posted at

2023-07-18T09:48:53

I waited 8 months for this lens and it was worth the wait.

William S.

2023-07-03T19:53:29

OMG! My wife and I bought 2 Z7s then 2 Z9s for retirement bird photography. We have been patiently waiting for a serious long lens. The first time we took our Z800s to Brazos Bend I giggled like a little girl for half the morning. We have been doing long shots and flying shots with adapters and teleconverters and tripods and gimbals.... and with F11 as a base we have been throwing 90% of our photos in the trash for high ISO, for underexposure, blur, slow focus, you name it. The Z800 is fast. Depth of field is better than any of my macro lenses. The AF is sharp. It is remarkably light but I use a mono-pod for stability. My wife is 125 lbs and prefers using it hand held. Z800 stills are like magic. Birds in flight is like skeet shooting but I'm sure we'll figure it out.

Evan D.

Originally posted at

2023-06-28T08:32:47

Like most bird photographers, I lust after more reach, less weight, and as low a price as I can get for a high-enough-quality supertelephoto lens. So, with this 800mm lens (even with a Z9 being heavier than a D850) offering a full pound less weight, more reach, and a good (for supertelephoto lenses :-) price, I splurged. Ah, but you pay for those benefits with three other items: #1. this lens does not adjust focus with distance to the bird, especially small erratic ones like swallows, as well as the 500mm f/4 attached (via a 1.4X teleconverter) to my D850; #2 the field of view is narrower; #3 the 800mm does not lock focus on small (as a % of the field of view area) targets as well as the 500mm/TC (effectively a 700mm f/5.6) combo does. The Z9's autofocusing capabilities are superior to the D850 (eye detect and all that wonderful stuff), but that does not compensate for the Z9-800mm combo's lessened ability to catch and hold focus when pushing the edge of the envelope. Swallows go from very difficult subjects to extremely difficult ones, and dragonflies (even more erratic in flight path :-) go from extremely difficult to essentially impossible. Now, maybe younger photographers (I'm 76) have better reflexes, but I'm betting that most of you will find the 800mm more difficult to use than the 500mm/TC combo. You might be better off using the latter with an FTZ converter on your Z8 or Z9. If possible (those 500mm lenses are hard to find, but you may be able to rent one), try both and see what works best for you. Both lenses cost a lot of money ($6500 for the 800mm, $10,800 for the 500mm+TC) and the $4,300 price difference is significant; you should weigh any difference in your keeper rate results with both vs. the extra bucks involved. All that is why I have given this lens 4 stars instead of 5. For the larger and slower-flying birds (herons, gulls, ducks, geese, etc, etc) you will find the 800mm a fantastic 5-star lens to use coupled with the Z9 (and Z8 most likely, but I only own a Z9 so direct experience with the Z8).

Matthew B.

Originally posted at

2023-06-21T13:43:16

Easy to hand hold, fast auto focus, and super sharp. I was a little bit concerned about the F6.3 aperture, but the high ISO performance of modern bodies, and the denoise features in Lightroom and topaz help compensate.

Vishnu C.

2023-05-13T12:29:00

Another win for Nikon. This is a superb lens. Very sharp and light!

VICTOR B.

2022-11-28T03:00:47

This lens was everything that I had hoped for. It is a game changer for wildlife photography. Image quality is outstanding. It is light enough to handhold and the focus speed is great. I absolutely love it.

DALE S.