Avner
New member
I use F 200-500 with Nikon Z 6 using FTZ Adaptor. the results are goods.
Help or Question with the Nikon 200 - 500
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reynolds3
New member
According to Nikon the D500 does not have an anti-aliasing (AA) filter .
Thanks - I thought I had corrected that...
f_nanzer
Member
Hi everyone
I can't tell if I posting my question in the right topic, but I hope yes.
I'm searching for a Nikon 200-500mm for start in wildlife and sports and in the tour for stores and sites, I find an used Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR (first generation) for almost the same price that a new 200-500mm.
Can't tell if this prices are abusive (I'm from Brazil and here the used market it's kind of different in comparison of the prices that I see on B&H, Adorama ou LensRetail for example), but the new 200-500mm is about US$ 2500 and the used 200-400mm is about US$3000 (condition 9+).
Although the prices aren't that close, US$ 500 is a considerable difference, the 200-400mm worth the difference?
I know the 200-500mm is a good lens, is sharp, light weight, smaller and with a bigger range, but for more 500 bucks, I can have more light and faster focus, weather sealing and internal zoom (I know is not a big deal, but I guess it helps on rain forest and drizzle situations). This kind of features are better for wildlife and sports (car race, indoor handball, tennis) or not?
Thanks all!
I can't tell if I posting my question in the right topic, but I hope yes.
I'm searching for a Nikon 200-500mm for start in wildlife and sports and in the tour for stores and sites, I find an used Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR (first generation) for almost the same price that a new 200-500mm.
Can't tell if this prices are abusive (I'm from Brazil and here the used market it's kind of different in comparison of the prices that I see on B&H, Adorama ou LensRetail for example), but the new 200-500mm is about US$ 2500 and the used 200-400mm is about US$3000 (condition 9+).
Although the prices aren't that close, US$ 500 is a considerable difference, the 200-400mm worth the difference?
I know the 200-500mm is a good lens, is sharp, light weight, smaller and with a bigger range, but for more 500 bucks, I can have more light and faster focus, weather sealing and internal zoom (I know is not a big deal, but I guess it helps on rain forest and drizzle situations). This kind of features are better for wildlife and sports (car race, indoor handball, tennis) or not?
Thanks all!
ccirelli
Well-known member
Does B&H, Adorama, etc. ship internationally? A brand new 200-500 at B&H is currently priced at $1400 (it just went off-sale, up from $1255, but they haven't been in stock for a few weeks). My choice would be the 200-500 (but then, I'm also keeping an eye out for the 200-600 Z next year). I wouldn't pay $2500 for a used one (or a new one), but I'm not sure how things work where you are. Not sure this is very helpful, I'm mainly curious about the $2500 price tag on the 200-500. A refurbished 200-400 f/4 at B&H is also $4700.
f_nanzer
Member
Here the prices are very abusive because the tax are very high and the profit of the sellers too. Just for example, a new Nikon D6, is US$9000 and a Z6 with FTZ, also new, is US$ 2900. (Very overpriced)
BH and Adorama ship internationally, but when orders arrive at Brazilian customs, a tax of 60% of the value of the order is generated, so it is not feasible to buy things of greater value via the internet. If it weren't for the pandemic, I would be travelling to the US this month to change the camera and buy some lenses.
But you really help, thank you very much ✌
*I had to edited to change some wrongs words that I used based on my lack of practice of text in english
Last edited:
Replytoken
Well-known member
I have not used the 200-400 so I cannot comment on it, but as I own a 200-500, I would say that it is a hit or miss lens in that some are sharp, and some folks have copies that are not as sharp. Many say this is due to quality control at that price point, and while I cannot say one way or the other, I am not too sure how I would feel about buying a 200-500 sight unseen. Also, light weight is a relative term. This is not a small lens unless you are comparing it to the 400/500/600 telephotos. It makes my 70-200 f/2.8 and 300 f/4 seem quite small by comparison. This is not to say that the 200-500 is not a good lens. I have seen amazing images taken with it, and it offers a lot of performance for the money (at least in USD). But, I would hate for you to order one as final sale and find that it is not what you expected.
Good luck,
--Ken
f_nanzer
Member
That's one of my concerning, because on Steve video, when he compare 500mm PF with 200-500mm, he say about it, he needed trade 2 or 3 times his lenses because the lack of sharpness.
So I'm very skeptical about the 200-500mm, becayse I saw a lot of videos (Jared Polin, Steve Perry, Steve Mattheis and few others) that mention this same problem of a build quality found on 200-500mm, and when I found this 200-400mm for 'only' 500 bucks more, although is a old lens, she really make my eyes shine. On the internet is very difficult find some review about it, but on the Ken Rockwell page, he said is very good lens as well the 200-400mm VRII.
The 200-400 isn't my favorite lens, I'd rather have a 200-500. I had a 200-400 and was very unimpressed. It didn't like TCs very much and suffered at longer ranges. It was really great up close, but in the end I sold it.
Also, I have a feeling that the 200-500 problems may have been more common when the lens was first released. I don't see nearly as many reports of it now. If you buy one, get it from a place that does NOT have a liberal return policy. That sounds counterintuitive, BUT I think what sometimes happens is that returns get sent back out as new when there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with them. Amazon and B&H do this for sure (I've experienced this firsthand). There was a thread once at another forum where they said they basically check the customer return and if it seems OK, it's repacked and resold. One reason I buy from ProCam and Roberts is that while they do take returns, they are picker about it. So, you don't get a lot of try and return and resell nonsense.
f_nanzer
Member
Thanks Steve,
I see...in the few topics that I found on the internet about the 200-400mm, people talk about it, so I really don't know what to do. But your advice is very wise.
About this thing of reselling the exchanged products, I thought it only happened here in Brazil that's why I want go to USA to trade my gears and buy new lenses. I never heard about this store that you mentioned so I will look for they.
Thank you very much
f_nanzer
Member
I see, thanks for the reply.
The problem with this lens for long distances (over 60 meters) is that the image starts to lose sharpness and become softer?
I really liked this lens, just because of this 3 facts that you mentioned (good aperture, weathersealed and good AF). 7 years ago, I went to Pantanal only with my D90 e my kit lens (18-105mm) I could capture good images (It was my first expedition for wildlife) but the fact that on the long range is f/5.6 and poor high ISO performance of that body, on the evening and earlier on the morning, my shots sucks. Since than I look for a faster glass, but in Brazil is very expensive and difficult to find good seller (because of the huge amount of taxes, brand new equipaments is only sold on 'black market', there's no more authorized sellers here). Then I keep doing plans to go to USA to buy a new camera (I still use my D90 lol) and new lenses.
I will keep looking for good deals and praying of this pandemic stuff get better so I will be able to go to USA spend some money on B and H, Adorama or any good seller that I found
Really appreciated your help!
f_nanzer
Member
I see...become a matter of lucky then
I appreciate it, but to buy online, have 2 problems here: the tax on arrived on customs and the loss between receipt and delivery
'Cause of that, the best way is buy in person and I guess the ticket Brazil to Singapore is more expensive than to Singapore (I'm not sure about it, I'm guessing)
But again, really thanks
Enschnetz
Active member
Is this the ViewNX 2 software on the Nikon site? I am not finding anything titled with "Transfer" .
Enschnetz
Active member
Found it- Its in the bundle marked View NX-I & Capture NX-D. At the Nikon download center.
Davej
Member
Steve what about the fiddle factor which adobe and Nikon apply to Z7 LR imports which includes sharpening, is that relevant to the thread?Actually, your both right
If you use Nikon software or shoot Jpegs, the extra sharpening will be applied. However, third party software usually won't apply it.
Here's a quick shot I just did of my target to demonstrate. The first is the Jpeg and the second is the RAW shot in Lightroom. (sorry about the white balance.)
The Lightroom shot clearly isn't applying the sharpening. However, if I were to put the RAW into Capture NX, it would apply it and the RAW would look like the Jpeg.
View attachment 4709
View attachment 4710
Graham Clark
gc-graphs
My preference is to start from a clean sheet with RAW imports into LR, I've reset the Adobe import values back to zero as the default.
I used the default Adobe sharpening on that image and compared it to the cranked up sharping in-camera. As Graham mentions, you can always set the defaults to zero too. I kind of look at it on a case by case basis.