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	Username   Password FM Forum Rules Nikon SLRs, primes, and zooms lenses reviews FM Forums | Nikon-mount SLRs | Join Upload & Sell    Search Used end    Archive 2009 · 500vr or 600mm vr??

LABRIEDL Offline Upload & Sell: On p.1 #1 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? O.K. I'm looking for a super tele. Torn between the 500 and 600. Would like to do birding and airshows. I've already got the tripod and wimberly and the 1.4 & 1.7 teleconverters. Torn between the two, about $7,700 for the 500mm and $9,270 for the 600mm. What is the group thought on this? David Oct 06, 2009 at 01:03 PM

WiPhotoguy Offline Upload & Sell: On p.1 #2 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? For airshows.....500 is about max....especially on a cropped body......generally people will handhold due to the pace of the action, and I think that may make the 600 not easily done. Best airshow lens on the nikon side is probably the 200-400 on a cropped body..... Hope this helps Oct 06, 2009 at 01:25 PM

eos3d Online Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #3 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? Another vote for the 500 which I think is more versatile (and less heavy!!!) than the 600. I also think the 500 will hold better value in the market in case you need to sell it. Oct 06, 2009 at 01:31 PM

LABRIEDL Offline Upload & Sell: On p.1 #4 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? Thanks WiPhotoguy, Shooting D3s so loose the crop factor. Haven't been able to shoot my 200-400 yet. Hoping this next summer I"ll get the chance. David Oct 06, 2009 at 01:32 PM

gman1339 Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #5 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? Go to dpreview and search for Glenn Bloore. Amazing airshow photographer. He says he prefers the 200-400 on the D300 over the 500VR on his D3. It all depends on your objective. Do you want to shoot just the single planes or both the single planes and the display teams with multiple planes? For the single planes Glenn suggests to get as much reach as you can. But I don't think you can beat the zoom if you want to shoot both. Looking at your profile I'd say you need a D300s instead of a newlens. Oct 06, 2009 at 01:52 PM

Alistair Watson Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #6 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? For airshows the 500/4 VR is perfect, either on full frame (I use one on a D3x) or a 1.5x cropper. The biggest advantage of the 500 over the 600 for airshows is the weight and thus the ability to handhold it. While the 500 isn't light it's possible to handhold thoughout the day with regular rests. The 600 is just too heavy for me to handhold comfortably. Oct 06, 2009 at 02:15 PM

LABRIEDL Offline Upload & Sell: On p.1 #7 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? Thanks all, Got it 500 for airshows, but what about Birding? Oct 06, 2009 at 02:19 PM

Alistair Watson Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #8 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? LABRIEDL wrote: Thanks all, Got it 500 for airshows, but what about Birding? For birding, I would imagine would want as much focal length as possible, so get the 600VR. Actually I think you might need both If you go down the 500VR route then you can always stick a TC on it. Oct 06, 2009 at 02:24 PM

HerbChong Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #9 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? small birds, unless you are willing to build blinds and attract the birds, you need all you can get. i normally shoot my 600 with 1.7X and that often isn't enough. if you are willing to find or make a quasi-permanent setup to shoot from, you can get much shorter. if you are going to be in the open, you'll use 600 with 1.7 a lot. Herb... Oct 06, 2009 at 03:53 PM

Howard Kearley Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #10 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? went for the 500 over the 600 when faced with the same choice when I switched from Canon. decided it would be more versatile because of the weight. we never have enough reach even when I owned the Canon 800mm! I get far more use out of the 500 good luck, Howard. Oct 06, 2009 at 04:16 PM

tdong Offline Upload & Sell: On p.1 #11 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? go with the 500 the 600 is too heavy. Oct 06, 2009 at 07:21 PM

trenchmonkey Online Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #12 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? Airshow? Lightweight?? How about a 300 f2.8 VR w/TC-1.7E II ISO1600 Handheld w/ BushHawk. Need f2.8 ? just take off the TC, David.   NIKON D3    500 mm    f/5.6    1/1250 sec    1600 ISO    +0.3 EV   Oct 06, 2009 at 07:26 PM

DGC1 Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #13 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? IQ is identical. I have the 500 and my buddy has the 600. Small birds are where the 600 really shines but with the TC14EII or TC17EII, I can reach them with no problem. The biggest difference (besides cost) is weight and bulk with the 500 being far easier to pack and carry. The good news is you can't go wrong whichever you choose. Oct 06, 2009 at 11:55 PM

90 5.0 Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #14 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? For birds i'd get the 1200-1700mm zoom , and a 1.7. You never have enough reach for those little buggers Oct 07, 2009 at 01:16 AM

cbrandt Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #15 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? so look for a USED 500 or 600 -- they are out there unfortunately due to the economics .......... I picked up a beautiful Nikon 600 and shoot with a 1.4 BECAUSE I screwed up and switched formats to FULL FRAME -- Wish I'd of re purchased a D300 but I have a D80 I can use if I feel the need !! Yeah, it's big, it.s heavy .. but I don't walk very far !!!!!!!!! I prefer Wildlife Drives .... I'd probably be able to carry a 500mm a mile further than a 600mm .. Thing about it is .. legs .... I have the 5541L gitzo .. like $900 bucks .. Wimberly II .. 600 bucks ...... ya gotta be able to support whatever you buy ... it never stops .. OR as I was thinking last night .. get a NEW Canon 600mm VR for 6000 - 6400 !! for sure I doubt if a Nikon 600VR is givin' a 3000 dollar difference photo ....... leaves some cash for a new Canon Camera too for a Long Distance Tele Birding outfit --- I don't think shooting SUPER TELE with a different system is a bad thing .. like me, you probably have a half dozen different lens on different cameras to pick up for close up or landscapes anyway here's a snapshot of a 1200 ...... Oct 08, 2009 at 10:05 PM

LABRIEDL Offline Upload & Sell: On p.1 #16 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? Cbrandt I've been thinking about a Gitzo 5541 to complement my 3540 already have the wimberly II for my 200-400. Don't really know if I want to switch brand cameras. Unfortunately haven't really seen any used long Nikon Glass. David Oct 09, 2009 at 06:44 AM

cbrandt Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #17 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? Since I have everything I really need and then some, I think with a 200-400 on a D300 .. you have a bad case of NAS .. I know I wouldn't of picked up a long lens with that lens in my truck .. where I shoot .. wildlife drives / Merritt Island, Yellowstone .. the 600mm wouldn't be worth spending all that money to me. I'm not much on those LBJ's / having to put binoculars on them to see some leaf move to get an idea where they are -- mainly interested in the larger birds .. hawks, osprey, eagles and mammals. If I were buying a long lens new though, for sure I'd buy Canon .. there is no way in the world Nikon can justify it's $3000 dollar price difference TO ME !! between the absolutely beautiful 600VR Canon which my buddy shoots on a full frame and their product -- I've never heard anyone say while looking thru portolios of photographs for sale .. Wow .. now that's a great Nikon shot !! You'll find what your lookin' for. I'm extremely happy with my USED Nikon 600mm !! I just wish I'd of kept it on a D300 ! Good luck Oct 09, 2009 at 12:07 PM

Creative Edge Online Upload & Sell: On p.1 #18 · 500vr or 600mm vr?? I had the 500mm afsII and traded it towards the 600mm afsII... prefer the look of the 600 with the d700 and if I need more reach...I swap the body for the d300...if more is needed...than the 1.4 comes on... either lens will give extremely great IQ... I just happen to like the compression and reach the 600 gives me over the 500... I never handhold as I prefer tripod or monopod so weight is not a big deal as far as airshows...never shot one... Oct 09, 2009 at 01:30 PM

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