500 PF or 180-600 for Z50ii

[liamwallace]

Doing some research on various lenses for the Z50ii since it seems to be the best budget intro to Zikon’s mirrorless line. These two lenses were the two that seemed best for the Z50ii and are both around the same price used ($1500ish). Any thoughts on each versus the other would be great.

 

[Topper1946]

I have the 500pf and have ordered the z50ii and plan to use together. I have the 100-400 not the 180-600 since is heavier. I have been using the 500 with the z6iii and it is very nicely balanced and light. For the most part I have not missed the zoom. I will be interested in what others have to say. I am also considering the 28-400 which would be nice on the z50ii.

 

[Winston Churchill (Sir)]

My personal thoughts are that the 180-600 is far more useful for birds and wildlife.
One lens to carry, one lens to buy to cover a really good range
500 PF is a really beautiful lens, but you are stuck on one focal length - its more difficult to zoom with your feet with birds and wildlife.

 

[abc123brian]

From a weight and balance standpoint I think the 500 PF would be great. Keep in mind it is about a 750mm eq field of view and that may be too much for all situations. For that reason, I’d go with the 180-600. The zoom is very convenient for wildlife and it has a short throw to go from 180 to 600. Having used both I don’t have any complaints or concerns with either but I think you would appreciate the flexibility of the zoom.

 

[liamwallace]

I’m currently considering two different bodies. Sticking with DSLR and upgrading to a D500 which I would pair with the 500 PF since the 200-500 is heavy and has a long throw or going mirrorless with the Z50ii which opens my options up to the 180-600 which as you’ve pointed out is a great zoom lens. I’m still concerned about the weight difference since I have a sigma 150-600 right now which is a similar weight to the 180-600 and I find the 500 PF’s light weight very appealing.

 

[Topper1946]

I’m currently considering two different bodies. Sticking with DSLR and upgrading to a D500 which I would pair with the 500 PF since the 200-500 is heavy and has a long throw or going mirrorless with the Z50ii which opens my options up to the 180-600 which as you’ve pointed out is a great zoom lens. I’m still concerned about the weight difference since I have a sigma 150-600 right now which is a similar weight to the 180-600 and I find the 500 PF’s light weight very appealing.

FWIW. I just sold my d500 after ordering the z50ii. I currently have the 6iii and have become very fond of the subject focus and now eye focus the z50ii now has. Haven’t received the body only of the 50 yet but really liked the focus of the mirrorless 6iii So much that I just kept the 500pf on it for most of my recent trip to Botswana.

 

[abc123brian]

I’m currently considering two different bodies. Sticking with DSLR and upgrading to a D500 which I would pair with the 500 PF since the 200-500 is heavy and has a long throw or going mirrorless with the Z50ii which opens my options up to the 180-600 which as you’ve pointed out is a great zoom lens. I’m still concerned about the weight difference since I have a sigma 150-600 right now which is a similar weight to the 180-600 and I find the 500 PF’s light weight very appealing.

I also find the weight and size of the 500 PF very appealing and it was one of the factors in me considering the move to Nikon. If you’re using a DSLR currently and haven’t used mirrorless you wouldn’t be used to the subject detection and other features of mirrorless so before deciding I’d recommend seeing if you could at minimum check one out at a camera store. I moved to mirrorless before all the cool AF improvements and thought it was a worthwhile move. Now I would never want to go back to DSLR. The D500 is a nice camera but I’d choose a Z50ii over it any day. DSLR is no longer being developed so the switch is inevitable at some point. My recommendation is still for the 180-600

 

[Nasos Kosmas]

It depends on what are you shooting
Personally I go for small- medium birds and 500-600 is the starting point
Currently I use a Z8 and an 180-600 and the lens is stacked to 600mm, I also have 500pf, I found them almost equal on the final shoot, but there is a difference in total weight , my current combo is about 3,3 Kgr and with 500pf it’s about 2,7 Kgr not a big difference, but there is.
I had Z50 before and with 500pf was an excellent combo for stationary birds on a total weight of 2,2 Kgr, that’s ideal for me.
I have in my mind the Z50 II to recreate with 500pf the previous excellent combo, but can’t go back from Z8 is a lot of a camera!
Either way you go you won’t miss.

 

[NWGuy]

One advantage of the Z50ii is that it is small and light. Being a crop sensor, can also consider the Z100-400mm giving a field of view of 150-600 mm at a considerable reduction in weight compared to the 180-600mm. A bit more $. As noted above, it depends on what you are shooting, but also consider your upper extremity strength and whether you'll be using a tripod or hand holding.

 

[liamwallace]

One advantage of the Z50ii is that it is small and light. Being a crop sensor, can also consider the Z100-400mm giving a field of view of 150-600 mm at a considerable reduction in weight compared to the 180-600mm. A bit more $. As noted above, it depends on what you are shooting, but also consider your upper extremity strength and whether you'll be using a tripod or hand holding.

I shoot a bit of everything and right now have a zoom that I basically have at 500-600mm almost 100% of the time. For this reason it might make more sense to get the 500 PF especially since it’s so light which would make carrying my setup around more comfortable.

 

[abc123brian]

I shoot a bit of everything and right now have a zoom that I basically have at 500-600mm almost 100% of the time. For this reason it might make more sense to get the 500 PF especially since it’s so light which would make carrying my setup around more comfortable.

If you are always at 500mm or more, the 500pf would be fine. If you have other shorter lenses or buy the Z50ii kit you would be fine with the 500. It’s just too long for me a lot of the time.

 

[MatthewK]

Regarding your choice of lens, 186 vs. 500PF, that's going to come down to the age old prime vs. zoom debate, whether you value the lighter weight or greater versatility. I can't answer that for you, but what I can say from personal experience is that both lenses are fantastic, so you can at least be confidant knowing you can't make a bad choice

The 500PF + that sensor in the Z50II / D500, are a match made in heaven The nostalgic part of me wants to get the Z50II just to see how the images look with my current set of Z lenses.