First day with the 500PF

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DavidT

DavidT

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I couldn't wait to get my new 500PF out and see what it could do. I am pretty impressed with it!

Here is an example of the detail it can render. Shot with a D850, 180 iso, 1/500 and f5.6 down sampled to fit this forum.

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Steve said:
Congrats! That lens and the 300PF are just fantastic and really fun to use. In fact, one of the reasons I haven't switched to Sony (at least, not yet) is because of those lenses. Once you get used to them, they feel indispensable.
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Thanks Steve! It was your review that made me pull the trigger. In fact I shoot Nikon because of you and the books you have written. The more I think about it you have cost me a ton of money lol. I just got back into photography a year ago today after over 20 years away from it.
I have the 300 f2.8 Nikkor and have been eyeing a 300pf for when I don’t need the 2.8.
 
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Great shot & congrats.I use D 500 with 500 Pf tthough i also have D 850) & am taking bird action shots which i never though that i will be able to take.
Just waiting for 600 PF (like a kingfisher waiting in the desert for its next fish ;))
 
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Congratulations! And a great shot.You will love this lens. I have had mine since it was first introduced. I just got it back from Nikon Service Repair in Mellvile. The repair was done under warranty as the locking knob on the tripod collar stopped working. I sne ti about Oct 10-12. Head from Nikon about Oct 21 that the reapair would be done at no charge to me. Repair was delayed as Nikon was waiting on parts. I got the lens back today Nov 19 and the lens collar knob works as it should.
 
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Steve said:
Congrats! That lens and the 300PF are just fantastic and really fun to use. In fact, one of the reasons I haven't switched to Sony (at least, not yet) is because of those lenses. Once you get used to them, they feel indispensable.
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The reason I switched to Nikon from Canon was the 300 PF and the 500 PF. I have never regretted the move. Thanks to Steve, I have a clue how to use said equipment. LOL ;)
 
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Jerryjaws said:
As a Sony shooter I’m tempted to add Nikon back for the 500pf and D850.
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I saw somewhere that Sony had some kind of patent or patents submitted for PF style lenses. I think they are coming, in fact, I'd be surprised if they weren't. These kind of lenses are perfect for mirrorless.
 
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I have to chime in here. I also just pulled the string on the 500 PF, and it showed up yesterday. I have been using the 200-500 Nikon zoom which is a great lens, especially considering the price. So I went out in the backyard and was able to grab this image of a Kestrel having dinner on a starling. The lens is incredible.
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I too have been enticed into buying both the 300 and 500 PF LENSES BY OUR GURU STeve and cannot believe the quality of shots I’m getting. The lenses are amazing. I’ve never seen sharper more detailed photos with good bokeh like I’m getting now. I’ll post a few later today. It also didn’t hurt that I traded in my D4s for the D5. But, the real difference is I’m now using BBAF and have assigned the back button to group area, the fn button to single point and another button to 9 point auto focus. Im now using single point On my subjects eye when I can get away with it, 9 point when The action picks up and group when the animal is at high speed. Results are photographically life changing. It’s all your fault Steve and can’t thank you enough. Now, if we could only get some LR processing help. You know I had to throw that in. I should add, I’ve used my 1.4 TC on both lenses with similarly excellent results, however, AF begins to lag in low light with the 500 PF, which was expected.

Here are some sample shots with the D5 and 500PF. The shots here are close cropped and are actually sharper than they appear on the blog page (don't know why), but the point is the 500PF is astonishingly sharp with beautiful bokeh and the D5 handles low light really well.
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I have to add mine to the display, this photo was taken with the D500 and the 500PF and 1.4TC, f9.5 1/400 ISO800 at 6am in the morning just as it was getting light. This lens works great on my D850, Z6 and Z7 as well. Best investment in a lens I have made, also have the 300PF.

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@gordon_g last time I was out with the D850 and 500PF ... this is a difficult bird to shoot in flight and get eye, detail and differentiate the blue from the black all while in flight but the 500 PF can pull it off and is a pleasure to use on a tough terrain hike and where you need to respond quickly to varying view point levels and duck and crawl under, over and through the brush :)
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Jerryjaws said:
As a Sony shooter I’m tempted to add Nikon back for the 500pf and D850.
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Just have a look at Ari Hazeghi's reviews of the D850 and the 500PF. Look at some BIF's taken with the 1.4 TC as well. You may well ask "Just HOW does he set those variable ISO's in all those BIF images?" He obviously follows Steve's advice to set Aperture to 1/3,200 , fully open and FLOAT THE ISO. Also - become an excellent birder.
 
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