Do i need an F4?

[luckmurph]

I have the opportunity to get a 500mm F/4G ED VR at a good price, so im wondering what benefits it will bring to my photography?
My current lenses consist of 70-200 300PF & 500PF with D500 & D5 bodies,
Probably 90% of the time i use the D5 with the 500PF solely for wildlife photography, ranging from sitting in a hide for a few hours or walking around which i know the PF is fantastic for when im in the hide i always use a tripod
Im fully aware of the weight & size compared to the PF as the 500G would be used more when im stationary so its more of the photograph quality of this lens compared to the PF i normally use the 1.4 &1.7 converters too!
My budget won't allow me to go to the 500E

Thanks Andy

 

[Garyh58]

I have all those lenses too. I sold the 500 f4g after acquiring the 5.6 pf. I am not getting any younger and with a few health issues, the big lens was getting to be too much trouble for me to schlep around. The young fellow I sold it to has been doing some amazing work with it . I am glad it found a good home. The 500 f4 g is pretty amazing if you are willing to take the time to use it properly.

 

[Steve]

I wrote an article that might help:

Amazing High ISO - The End Of Fast Glass? - Backcountry Gallery

(NOTE – when I refer to “fast glass” in this article, I’m referring to the maximum opening, not AF speed.) Do we really need fast glass anymore? After all, with all that fantastic high ISO performance we find in modern cameras, should we all just agree to relegate fast glass to the Jurassic...

backcountrygallery.com

It doesn't specifically match your dilemma, but many of the points do apply.

I will say that after using F/4 glass for decades now, there's no way I'd give it up. Although I like the lighter 500PF, most of my wildlife work is still with the larger, faster F/4 glass. It gives you better subject isolation from the same distance, an extra stop of light to work with, and it allows better AF performance with TCs as well.

 

[DRwyoming]

I second Steve’s comments. I love my 500 PF but wouldn’t part with my 600mm f/4 lens.

 

[aolander]

You sure do. Great camera.

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[Marcus Slade]

Life is short...it will bring benefits...Ha. Guess it might be based on how good a deal for the 500mm f4? I'm going the other way, endlessly debating whether I add a 500mm f 5.6 PF to complement my existing 600mm f4. I echo others here and also would not want to be without an f4 super telephoto.

 

[FB101]

Let's be honest, we are amongst friends here. You do not NEED an f:4 lens unless you make a living from your photography and hit rate, critical moment and utmost reliability at times make the difference between income or no income.

With that out of the way, if that f:4 lens doesn't put your livelihood or family at risk (ie your spouse won't kick you out), and it will give you a greater enjoyment and sense of accomplishment in your hobby, then GO FOR IT. I have three kids to get through college still but when I am done, and assuming I am still able to lift the darn thing by that time, you can bet i'll get one Nothing to do with Need, photography has been my passion since I was 12 and I very much intend to treat myself again to the absolute very best when I can do that without interfering with more critical priorities. In the meantime that 500pf is one sweet lens.

 

[Don McCracken]

Given that you already have the 500mm pf, you might want to consider the benefits of a 600mm f4 versus a 500mm f4 and whether you can find one at a similar price.

 

[luckmurph]

I wrote an article that might help:

Amazing High ISO - The End Of Fast Glass? - Backcountry Gallery

(NOTE – when I refer to “fast glass” in this article, I’m referring to the maximum opening, not AF speed.) Do we really need fast glass anymore? After all, with all that fantastic high ISO performance we find in modern cameras, should we all just agree to relegate fast glass to the Jurassic...

backcountrygallery.com

It doesn't specifically match your dilemma, but many of the points do apply.

I will say that after using F/4 glass for decades now, there's no way I'd give it up. Although I like the lighter 500PF, most of my wildlife work is still with the larger, faster F/4 glass. It gives you better subject isolation from the same distance, an extra stop of light to work with, and it allows better AF performance with TCs as well.

Thanks Steve, great article very informative..........Ive ordered the lens!!

 

[luckmurph]

Life is short...it will bring benefits...Ha. Guess it might be based on how good a deal for the 500mm f4? I'm going the other way, endlessly debating whether I add a 500mm f 5.6 PF to complement my existing 600mm f4. I echo others here and also would not want to be without an f4 super telephoto.

True, life is short! I've now ordered the lens, which is costing just less than my 500pf did so a bargain i think!!

 

[luckmurph]

Let's be honest, we are amongst friends here. You do not NEED an f:4 lens unless you make a living from your photography and hit rate, critical moment and utmost reliability at times make the difference between income or no income.

With that out of the way, if that f:4 lens doesn't put your livelihood or family at risk (ie your spouse won't kick you out), and it will give you a greater enjoyment and sense of accomplishment in your hobby, then GO FOR IT. I have three kids to get through college still but when I am done, and assuming I am still able to lift the darn thing by that time, you can bet i'll get one Nothing to do with Need, photography has been my passion since I was 12 and I very much intend to treat myself again to the absolute very best when I can do that without interfering with more critical priorities. In the meantime that 500pf is one sweet lens.

True i probably don't need it, but!!.......I do love my photography i don't drink or smoke recently divorced so no-one to answer to and lets face it we all love new gear! Its an itch I've wanted to scratch for a long time now but couldn't justify the 10k price new so when i saw this one at slightly less than i paid for my 500pf i knew i had to have it! I can't wait for it to arrive now, im like a kid at christmas

 

[Marcus Slade]

True, life is short! I've now ordered the lens, which is costing just less than my 500pf did so a bargain i think!!

Very cool. That seems like a great deal. Even if it needs any servicing by Nikon, it still seems like a bargain. Congrats. Cornwall, eh? I spent a few summer holidays there as a kid, growing up in England...seems like half a million years ago.

 

[luckmurph]

Very cool. That seems like a great deal. Even if it needs any servicing by Nikon, it still seems like a bargain. Congrats. Cornwall, eh? I spent a few summer holidays there as a kid, growing up in England...seems like half a million years ago.

Thats what i thought!!........Originally from Derbyshire then moved down to Cornwall 7 years ago love it down here!!

 

[FB101]

True i probably don't need it, but!!.......I do love my photography i don't drink or smoke recently divorced so no-one to answer to and lets face it we all love new gear! Its an itch I've wanted to scratch for a long time now but couldn't justify the 10k price new so when i saw this one at slightly less than i paid for my 500pf i knew i had to have it! I can't wait for it to arrive now, im like a kid at christmas

Awesome, enjoy the new toy and my apologies for the insensitive spousal comment, I didn’t know your particulars and shouldn’t have assumed.

 

[SNEDDERS6666]

True i probably don't need it, but!!.......I do love my photography i don't drink or smoke recently divorced so no-one to answer to and lets face it we all love new gear! Its an itch I've wanted to scratch for a long time now but couldn't justify the 10k price new so when i saw this one at slightly less than i paid for my 500pf i knew i had to have it! I can't wait for it to arrive now, im like a kid at christmas

Sounds like a cracking deal you got there, if you see another out there send it my way, the deal that is. Enjoy

 

[luckmurph]

Awesome, enjoy the new toy and my apologies for the insensitive spousal comment, I didn’t know your particulars and shouldn’t have assumed.

Thank you, hopefully i will!......No need to apologise, best thing i did to be honest!

 

[O]

I wrote an article that might help:

Amazing High ISO - The End Of Fast Glass? - Backcountry Gallery

(NOTE – when I refer to “fast glass” in this article, I’m referring to the maximum opening, not AF speed.) Do we really need fast glass anymore? After all, with all that fantastic high ISO performance we find in modern cameras, should we all just agree to relegate fast glass to the Jurassic...

backcountrygallery.com

It doesn't specifically match your dilemma, but many of the points do apply.

I will say that after using F/4 glass for decades now, there's no way I'd give it up. Although I like the lighter 500PF, most of my wildlife work is still with the larger, faster F/4 glass. It gives you better subject isolation from the same distance, an extra stop of light to work with, and it allows better AF performance with TCs as well.

OH MY LORD>>>SAVED AT LONG LAST, I HAVE FELT LIKE TOM HANKS IN THE MOVIE CASTAWAY for far to long, there is someone out there after all, his name is LOL Steve.

Steve has so brilliantly and simply explained things in the link

Amazing High ISO - The End Of Fast Glass? - Backcountry Gallery

(NOTE – when I refer to “fast glass” in this article, I’m referring to the maximum opening, not AF speed.) Do we really need fast glass anymore? After all, with all that fantastic high ISO performance we find in modern cameras, should we all just agree to relegate fast glass to the Jurassic...

backcountrygallery.com

I will send this link to the 400 members in our club.....it will settle some arguments, misunderstandings and hopefully it will end up as usual being be free drinks for everyone LOl.

I recall Steve Jobs saying in a very rare business interview, the future world is not about hardware, its about software, software is the thing that will control all our lives for ever.

All said, there is one natural fundamental thing that remains unchanged, that natural Light is made up of photon's, photon's being red green and blue colour, anything altering or processing it like iso etc degrades that photon from its original sate which then with software attempts to replace what lost.
F2.8 F4 glass gathers more light at the source, the glass also assists in focus performance, it certainly reduces the need for ISO and preserves natural colour and dynamic range.

I know its not easy for everyone to afford 2.8 F4 glass but gee you can get some really good buys in the used market, the earlier F4 300mm is super sharp and cheap as.

If you are sensitive to weight that's understood, in my case I have a protein bar instead of the Big Mac meal before hand, things feel lighter LOL

Understood its not for everyone.

OZ down under