The $16,000 Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 has just appeared… but why isn't it an f/5.6?

Nikon Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S
(Image credit: Nikon)

The super prime zoom lens from Nikon, the Nikkor 800mm f/6.3, has now been listed on B&H with a “notify when available” marker. And that's great for all those professional sports shooters, wildlife photographers, lens rental houses and basically anyone that can afford to divert their downpayment on a new car for this astronomical lens, which costs around $16,300 / £16,650 / AU$22,690. 

The Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S is an S-Line lens, denoting Nikon's top optical quality, and promises to deliver powerful rendering with outstanding resolution while thoroughly reducing color bleeding. It will also employ Phase Fresnel – specially shaped lens elements that work rather like a lighthouse lens to focus light, lens tech for the first time in a Nikkor Z model, enabling a compact and lightweight body to be realized, making it highly portable despite being a super-telephoto lens

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Sebastian Oakley
Ecommerce Editor

For nearly two decades Sebastian's work has been published internationally. Originally specializing in Equestrianism, his visuals have been used by the leading names in the equestrian industry such as The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), The Jockey Club, Horse & Hound, and many more for various advertising campaigns, books, and pre/post-event highlights.


He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, holds a Foundation Degree in Equitation Science, and is a Master of Arts in Publishing.  He is a member of Nikon NPS and has been a Nikon user since the film days using a Nikon F5 and saw the digital transition with Nikon's D series cameras and is still to this day the youngest member to be elected into BEWA, The British Equestrian Writers' Association. 


He is familiar with and shows great interest in street, medium, and large format photography with products by Leica, Phase One, Hasselblad, Alpa, and Sinar. Sebastian has also used many cinema cameras from the likes of Sony, RED, ARRI, and everything in between. He now spends his spare time using his trusted Leica M-E or Leica M2 shooting Street photography or general life as he sees it, usually in Black and White.