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Archive 2015 · Nikkor 500mm f/4.0P ED-IF vs. FDn 500mm f/4.5L?

  
 
MAubrey
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Nikkor 500mm f/4.0P ED-IF vs. FDn 500mm f/4.5L?


I'm wondering: has anyone done this comparison before? I've searched for it, but can't seem to find info.

Both lenses go for between $1200 to $2000 online, depending on condition & accessories. The FDn has flourite, the Nikkor has three ED's. I'm looking for a respectable super tele for an A7rII.

Nikon Nikkor
Focal length/Aperture: 500mm f/4.0
Lens construction: 8 elements in 6 groups (3 x EDs - G1.2.8) and a protective optical glass
Minimum Focus Distance: 5m
Weight: 3,000g
Dimensions: 138mm dia. x 384mm long

Canon FDn
Focal length/Aperture: 500mm f/4.5
Lens construction: 6 groups 7 elements (including 1 protective glass, 1 Fluorite and 1 UD glass)
Minimum Focus Distance: 5m
Weight: 2,610g
Dimensions: 128mm dia. x 395mm long

Does anyone have any experience on the image quality difference between these two?



Oct 14, 2015 at 02:18 PM
telyt
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Nikkor 500mm f/4.0P ED-IF vs. FDn 500mm f/4.5L?


I considered the same two lenses for my a7II. I have not been able to use both lenses; my comparison was specs and web jpgs (consider this advice worth what you've paid for it).

One imaging property I wanted to avoid was color fringes on OOF high-contrast objects such as can be seen in the upper part of this photo made with the Leica 560mm f/6.8 Telyt:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/mammals/mustelidae/ltweas00.jpg

(this is an extreme crop)

Several of the sample images I found made with the 500P Nikkor show this artifact. None of the sample images I found made with the FD 500 L show this.

Lower weight, lower cost, no color fringes, and the aperture & focus rings turn the direction my brain expects = FD 500L for me.

The 500L needs some increased color saturation to match my Leica 280 and in some cases I've spotted specular highlights that have a bright ring effect (can lead to harsh bokeh) but overall I've been quite pleased with the lens. A few samples:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anhumm24.jpg
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anhumm26.jpg
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anhumm27.jpg
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/fringillidae/haemorhous/hofinc24.jpg
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/phasianidae/phasianus/rnphea03.jpg



Oct 14, 2015 at 02:30 PM
MAubrey
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Nikkor 500mm f/4.0P ED-IF vs. FDn 500mm f/4.5L?


Thanks. That's really helpful!

I've been searching the web for large image samples of both lenses without a whole lot of luck. It's hard to find examples of lenses that don't transmit EXIF data and I can't find a flickr group for the Canon lens.

For the Nikon, there are these:
https://www.flickr.com/groups/1749729@N24/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dionnemusic/sets/72157640998902494

The bokeh fringing you're talking about is there, definitely, in many of these shots.

Need to do some more digging...



Oct 14, 2015 at 03:08 PM





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