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related topic: After three years Canon, back to Nikon. Nikon Z8 made me change my mind.
related topic: Nikon Z100-400+1.4TC for close up photography
Nikon Z for wildlife action
related topic: Nikon Z for wildlife action (Some pictures with AF-S 500mm f/5.6 E PF ED VR on Z6/Z7)
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My reason(s) for this move:
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The Nikon Z 180-600 is heavy 
... The AF-S 500mm f/5.6 E PF ED VR with 1.4 TCIII ànd adapter is still significantly lighter... - I used the 180-600 only @ >500-600mm<.
- After many pictures and 2 copies of the Z 180-600, I see a sharpness drop while going from 500 to 600mm.
- If I need a zoom, I prefer the Z 100-400 over the Z 180-600. The Z 100-400 is TMHO the ultimate lens for a walk in nature. It is relatively compact and lightweight with a handsome focal range of 100-400 mm, tack sharp, fast focusing and it goes extremely close for eventual near-to-macro pictures. (Links with sample pictures here and here....)
- The AF-S 500mm f/5.6 E PF ED VR is sharper (very noticeable) than the 180-600 @ 500mm. This doesn't mean the 180-600 isn't good, it just means the 500mm f5.6 prime is exceptional...
( see the sharpness comparison on the photographylife-website) - The most stunning quality of the AF-S 500mm f/5.6 E PF ED VR is that, while coupled with the 1.4 TCIII (700mm-F8) it maintains amazing sharpness, approx as sharp as the Z600 and Z 800mm (but@ f8 rather than F6.3) while significantly sharper than the 180-600 @ 600mm and much sharper than the 180-600 with TC...(*)
- The AF-S 500mm f/5.6 E PF ED VR has its sharpness peek wide open, - F5.6-, while the Z 180-600 reaches its sharpness peek stopped down to F8, that's a full stop difference of light & related iso...
- The adapter doesn't bother me, but, -as I seldom use a tripod-, the Z 180-600' weight did.
- ...
A picture from a couple of days ago, taken handheld with Z8 and the AF-S 500mm f/5.6 E PF ED VR with 1.4 TCIII:
The scene, exif and crop area:
And a 100% crop
converted from NEF to jpg and cropped in Nikon Studio. Vivid setting. No sharpening in PP. Adobe PS only for "©".
Click on the image to open the full-size crop).
