AustinIsForTheBirds
Active member
I love my d500 with 200-500 combo
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Looking to pick up a 200-500 Nikon. Is it as good as everyone says?
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D
Deleted member 115
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I know that no one wants to hear about my Tamron lens but here I am anyway....lol
I can say the original did great for a couple years and exceeded my ability. I learned a lot with that thing. Here is a sample shot from February 8th 2019
It was in single digits that morning.
Could be my imagination but the autofocus seemed like lightning compared to my Nikon for bif.
I can say the original did great for a couple years and exceeded my ability. I learned a lot with that thing. Here is a sample shot from February 8th 2019
It was in single digits that morning.
Could be my imagination but the autofocus seemed like lightning compared to my Nikon for bif.
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I started out with a Sigma 150-600C but after a couple of months I sold it and bought the Nikon 200-500, it works great with my D500, for the money I find it takes great photos, yeah it’s a bit heavy but I have a tripod and also use a monopod on occasion. I don’t think you can go wrong with it.
Snapshot2020
Well-known member
I have a 200-500 and was very pleased with results on my D500. My BIF and Wildlife combo is now the D850 and the 500mm PF. For money the 200-500 was very good purchase but the 500mm PF 5.6 paired with either the D850 or the D500 is the better Lens in my opinion.
You may not be a wildlife shooter, but I would say that you are well versed in BIF!Although not a wildlife shooter, aviation work has some similarities
This is with a D850/200-500mm f/5.6 combo:
View attachment 385
--Ken
I’ve seen some incredible bird photos with the 200-500 zoom. I shot birds for years with canon film cameras. But as life usually does, I was sidetracked away from wildlife photography for years after marriage , kids etc. After retirement I decided to get back into it and purchase my first DSLR. A friend sent me some bird photos he took with the Nikon zoom. I was extremely impressed with the sharpness and decided to defect to Nikon and seriously considered getting that lens. But once I held it in my hand I had reservations about its size. So I asked myself, how am I going to shoot with this lens. I shoot mostly birds and I would probably use it at the 500mm setting all the time. And once I saw the reviews of the 500 PF I decided to go with the PF. It weighs only 3lbs and it takes great photos. Autofocus is very quick. It is significantly more expensive and if price is an issue, go with the zoom. It takes great photos as well.
Texspeel
Member
Graham - nice shot. Where did you take this photo of a Spanish Air Force F-18?Although not a wildlife shooter, aviation work has some similarities
This is with a D850/200-500mm f/5.6 combo:
View attachment 385
Do not own it, but read a lot about it and it IS a great lens. However, as quoted, the 500 f/5.6 is in another class. The seldom compared and more expensive 80-400 was my choice when I got rid of my old 200-400 f/4. I use it extensively on the D850. Southern Carmine Bee-eater
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Nikon D7000 with Nikkor 200-500mm F/5.6. For its price, need we say more? This was shot fully zoomed at 500mm.
The lens is slower to initially acquire focus on a flying bird than for instance a more expensive pro lens. Once it locks focus, though, it's good.
The lens is slower to initially acquire focus on a flying bird than for instance a more expensive pro lens. Once it locks focus, though, it's good.
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Same lens with Nikon Z6 at 500mm.
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Kathy G
Well-known member
I am using this lens on a D850. I love it. I think the images are very sharp. I am really happy with the purchase. The posted photo is a fairly big crop. The seagulls were about 100 feet away (not really sure because I am terrible at judging distances). If the photo does not appear sharp here it is because of the transfer among different devices. It is very sharp on my computer. BTW, I could not see the fish where I was standing.View attachment 660View attachment 660
Graham Clark
gc-graphs
I use a Nikon 200-500mm on my D7500. The lens is a great buy and produces great images. I find that I use it mostly at 500mm. I would consider the 500 pf if money was not a concern, but it is. The zoom does give you a little more versatility.
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Dave Douglass
Well-known member
I have a Nikon 200-500 and I pretty much always have a Nikon 1.4 TC which I mostly use a monopod/gimbal head with it and I like the results. I shoot mostly birds. No complaints other than f. 8.0 is as open as I can shoot with it. Here's an action shot I recently took with that setup.
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Very impressive!
I have found it to be a good walk around lens for me that I keep on a D500 in my vehicle for quick roadside photography. While I have not used the 500PF I understand it is quite good but way overpriced in my opinion. I otherwise shoot a 600f4 with a D850 but that is almost exclusively on a tripod or monopod and not very portable. For the price I don't think you can go wrong and will most likely enjoy it.
Boat Guy
New member
The 500pf's versatility is what makes it a winner. When we were trying to find a PF I heard the front lens has to cure for months before it is ready to be polishe so I'm sure that drives up the price. I'm not sure Nikon's production numbers matched the demand. The PF is limited with a 1.4 tel but otherwise it is super sharp and the keeper rate is quite high. In low light where f8 kills the ISO I remove the tel & during the day in marginal light I purposely shoot for B&W. I mentioned my wife uses a PF and I got a 500 f4 FL which was a dream lens. That said I later got a PF and will probably end up selling the 500f4 and wait for a used 600f4 for tripod work. I admit its a disease but it makes me happy and at this time in our lives, so what?
Boat Guy
New member
One thing I didn't mention. By not using the 200-500 any more, to take up the mid-range slack we use a 70-200 with a 1.4 tel so essentially a 100mm to 280mm range at f4 works well for us. We travel most of the year in a truck camper and have body/lens combos on top of the console and others arranged behind on a platformwithin easy reach for opportunistic shooting.
TonyB
Active member
I think the 200-500 is one of the best buys Nikon has. I have very much enjoyed this lens. It's not the fastest on a Z7 but it does produce keepers.
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Trentbif
New member
I’ve used he 200-500mm with my old faithful D7000.
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Great image Tony!
Very Nice!
ccw91011
New member
I have the 200-500 on a D850 and I am quite happy with it. From what I have read, the 500pf is a better lens, but I use the zoom flexibility. Note there is a quality control issue with some copies being noticeably sharper than others.
