Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

I wanted to replace the Nikon 200-500 in the kit with the 180-600 but Nikon isn't releasing many of them. I put my name on a waiting list for some of the better known retailers like Unique, Midwest Photo, etc. When I contacted Hunts I was told their waiting list was up to 103 so I skipped that list. Anyway, B&H came through after only a few weeks.

As much as I'd heard about the scarcity of this lens, I had already decided the F lens with the adaptor would be traveling north. Now I will be taking a z6ii in place of the D500 as a backup camera. Although the 500 with the f-lens would reach out to 750, my guess is the z8 at 45 Mpx at 600 mm will give me equal or better shots than the 500 at 750.

The couple of shots I took with the new lens are amazingly sharp -- great product. If I could give the lens a 4.75 rating, I would. It deserves better than a 4.5 but due to the one thing that many people have complained about, a little has to come off the rating because Nikon continues to put a foot on their lenses that is not compatible with Arca-Swiss standards. It doesn't make sense that we have to add another piece of hardware to the lens before we can quick mount it to a tripod.

ricardo00

Congrats on your new lens! B&H is awesome, in my opinion. Glad they came through for you. Yes the Z8 at 45 Mpx is much better than the D500 and 200-500mm lens. Why not replace the foot with an Arca Swiss one? It is usually the first thing that I do with any new lens. Have a fantastic time in Alaska. It is one of my favorite places (have gone 4 times for wildlife photography, twice previously for family vacations).

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

I will look into doing that. I just don't understand why Nikon doesn't modify their foot as I'm sure this is an issue that has been brought up with them numerous times. If nothing else, offer an upgrade foot for an extra 40 or 50 dollars. That would be less expensive than buying an Arca-Swill or RRS one.

btbg

I think I can explain Nikon's thinking. A lot of professional photographers carry their cameras by the foot. holding on to an arca swiss compatible foot would not be comfortable. Also, some photographers use Manfrotto tripods and heads and they have their own mounting system. In addition, I know that the 180-600 is not one of Nikon's bigger lenses, size wise, but some of us put adapters on our feet that are significantly larger than a typical arca swiss plate.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

If you'd really like to go with a 180-600, try the Sigma. I had a friend who used it on African safaris with great results.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

Nikon's problem might be that they don't want to pay a licensing fee to AS ?
Hard to find now are small AS plates. I did some hunting the other day and found some 25-30mm plates for binoculars and other small devices.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

Monfrotto does make a small plate that is both Monfrotto and Arca-Swiss compatible. It has a 'D' ring to help with tightening and it is a simple 90 degree turn of the plate. I forget the part number, but I think the cost was around $30.

btbg

I did not know that. That's interesting information, but not relevant to what I posted as there is no way Nikon is going to make a foot that is both Monfrotto and Arca-Swiss. The original post was regarding a complaint that Nikon does not make their feet Arca-Swiss compatible.

My complaint about Nikon feet is very different. I'm fine that they aren't Arca-Swill compatible, in fact I don't want them to be. My complaint is that they should make their feet a little bit longer, and have them sit farther away from the lens barrel so it is easier to carry the camera by the foot.

ricardo00

I agree 100% that the foot on the Nikon lenses these days are way too small though personally I would prefer that they are Arca-Swiss compatible. But even if they had the Arca-Swiss grooves on their feet, not sure I would use them. I can barely fit 3 fingers on them (and I have small hands). Plus they have the button to rapidly release the lens if the knob is not fully tightened right there and because the foot is so small, one is constantly touching it (in the picture below, my finger is pressed right up against the rapid release button). So a disaster waiting to happen. To me, the foot on a Nikon lens is a bad joke. One could never balance it on a gimbal head. Whoever designed these feet would seem to have never used them. This is the foot that comes with the $3200 Nikon 400mm f/4.5 lens:

(Download)

btbg

I obviously dont have the same Nikon lens you do. I have big hands and have no problem carrying two of my lenses that way. Whatever foot you took a photo of looks like it really sucks.

ricardo00

As I said above the picture "this is the foot that comes with the $3200 Nikon 400mm f/4.5 lens". This is a fairly new lens. Which lens are you talking about?

btbg

I have the 70-200 2.8 s lens and the 400 f2.8, plus I have a Sigma 150-600 sport kens. All have better feet than the one you showed. I would probably either not buy that kens or buy an after markwt foot because I agree with you, there is no excuse for that foot.