p.143 #4 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
bs kite wrote:
Superb work! These images demonstrate a big step in nature photography.
I always wondered if one had to buy a PhotoTrap of if there was another way, such as with AF Auto, a wide FOV and reflexes.
Per your suggestion, I have been using AF Auto. Seems it may be the best AF for BIF.
Congratulations!
Robert
Thanks Robert. These were shot in AF Auto with a wide FOV but I did pan with the bird. The birds were staging on a blackberry bush and then eventually would launch up towards the high feeders. I got pretty good anticipating the jump and learning the clues to when they were going to jump. I think if I had a D850 I might get better results as some of my sharpest images had the bird cut off on the edge of the D500 DX frame...those may have been saved on the 850.
p.143 #6 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
arbitrage wrote: bs kite wrote:
Superb work! These images demonstrate a big step in nature photography.
I always wondered if one had to buy a PhotoTrap of if there was another way, such as with AF Auto, a wide FOV and reflexes.
Per your suggestion, I have been using AF Auto. Seems it may be the best AF for BIF.
Congratulations!
Robert
Thanks Robert. These were shot in AF Auto with a wide FOV but I did pan with the bird. The birds were staging on a blackberry bush and then eventually would launch up towards the high feeders. I got pretty good anticipating the jump and learning the clues to when they were going to jump. I think if I had a D850 I might get better results as some of my sharpest images had the bird cut off on the edge of the D500 DX frame...those may have been saved on the 850.
Thanks for sharing that
Yup, I remember you making a point about the D850, that the full Image Area option will help to avoid clipping wings.
That AF Auto is that good huh? Well, that is exciting.
I knew that was a blackberry bush from several of your recent past images. It is the angular cross section (not cylindrical) of the stem, that give it away.
Yes, you are right: If you really love what you are doing, you sure can learn the little cues as to when they are going to jump.
Looking forward to what more surprises you have for us, in your excellent/innovative wildlife photography.
p.143 #12 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
I rented this lens over Christmas for a weekend but unfortunately it just wasn't enough time for me to fully test it. So I rented it again for a couple more days and I find that I am having difficulty trying to pan with this thing. I find I have a love hate relationship with this lens so far (mostly love so far). But it's freakin huge and heavy.
If I was to buy this lens I would be mostly panning with it very close to the ground to shoot fast action outdoors, with me laying on the ground.
I find it very hard to zoom in and out and pan with it because the zoom requires two full cranks with your wrist to go from 200-500 and vice versa. I did find that removing the collar does help though, it's one less thing in the way but then it really hinders your ability to comfortably set the camera and lens on any surface.
For those who have this lens and shoot fast action sports with it outdoors, can you give me tips on comfortably and smoothly panning with it?
Even when I am not on the ground panning with it, I find my arms get tired really quick.
p.143 #13 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
squon wrote:
For those who have this lens and shoot fast action sports with it outdoors, can you give me tips on comfortably and smoothly panning with it?
Even when I am not on the ground panning with it, I find my arms get tired really quick.
That's demanding work. Strength training and regular use do it for me, but even so overuse injuries are a thing.
p.143 #14 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
You can see the crab body pushing out on the eider's esophagus. Here (in Maine) in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, the Eastern Atlantic Green Crab (considered an invasive species by most here) has become a primary food source for the larger waterbirds that overwinter.
So, this is what we label as an nvasive to the Western Atlantic, that we scorn....YET....WE are responsible for it being here in the first place.....and it is doing a good job of feeding our native, overwintering waterbirds.
As Trenchmonkey would say..... "Just sayin"
.
This is an immature male, Common Eider with that same Green crab species...that is from the European side of the North Atlantic.
p.143 #15 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
I have a concern with the 200-500 VR, only on the recent purchased D500 camera.
The lens when used with the TC14EII or III (I have both) are simply awful. I have used fine tune several times, and still the images are shit soft. With the III unit, it consistently shows +8 or +9, with a dozen repeat fine tunes. But photos near or far are just stupid out of focus. With the TC17EII, or lens alone, the lens is acceptable sharp. And the 14's are dandy with the 300 2.8 and 500 f4 lenses.
Hopefully this is understandable. Any comments?
p.143 #16 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Charles Loy wrote:
I have a concern with the 200-500 VR, only on the recent purchased D500 camera.
The lens when used with the TC14EII or III (I have both) are simply awful. I have used fine tune several times, and still the images are shit soft. . With the TC17EII, or lens alone, the lens is acceptable sharp. And the 14's are dandy with the 300 2.8 and 500 f4 lenses.
Hopefully this is understandable. Any comments?
Yes Charles.
I want to try and help you.
I have the older TC14II and the images I get with my D500 and 200-500 are surprisingly sharp. I mean they are very acceptably sharp.
Charles, what do you mean by this sentence: "With the III unit, it consistently shows +8 or +9, with a dozen repeat fine tunes. But photos near or far are just stupid out of focus."
Does it mean that you DID enter "+ 8 or +9" and the lens was still soft? The reason I ask, is that you mention "a dozen repeat fine tunes."
p.143 #18 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Christian H wrote:
That's demanding work. Strength training and regular use do it for me, but even so overuse injuries are a thing.
Christian
I almost bought the 200-500 but after playing with it in the store I just couldn't do it due to the weight. It's just too heavy to pan this thing with me laying on the ground.
p.143 #19 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
You are right. It takes some cranking, to get this lens to where you would like it to be....when you decide you want to move in or out.
You really have to anticipate where you want to be...well ahead of when you want to be there.
I cannot subtly, crank this lens.... one way or the other. It takes, anticipating what is about to happen, and then dropping the lens, from my face and cranking it HARD ....in or out. And then, putting the camera back to my face.
That is just the way it is. And regarding that, it is better than prime...is it not?
It only cost $1400. We are fortunate to have it.
Again, you are right. As a wildlife photographer, I face the same problem with this lens. But it is much faster than uncoupling a lens and coupling another lens.
You are wrong on one thing: Relative to other super teles, this lens is lightweight.
squon wrote:
I rented this lens over Christmas for a weekend but unfortunately it just wasn't enough time for me to fully test it. So I rented it again for a couple more days and I find that I am having difficulty trying to pan with this thing. I find I have a love hate relationship with this lens so far (mostly love so far). But it's freakin huge and heavy.
If I was to buy this lens I would be mostly panning with it very close to the ground to shoot fast action outdoors, with me laying on the ground.
I find it very hard to zoom in and out and pan with it because the zoom requires two full cranks with your wrist to go from 200-500 and vice versa. I did find that removing the collar does help though, it's one less thing in the way but then it really hinders your ability to comfortably set the camera and lens on any surface.
For those who have this lens and shoot fast action sports with it outdoors, can you give me tips on comfortably and smoothly panning with it?
Even when I am not on the ground panning with it, I find my arms get tired really quick....Show more →
p.143 #20 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
bs kite wrote:
Yes Charles.
I want to try and help you.
I have the older TC14II and the images I get with my D500 and 200-500 are surprisingly sharp. I mean they are very acceptably sharp.
Charles, what do you mean by this sentence: "With the III unit, it consistently shows +8 or +9, with a dozen repeat fine tunes. But photos near or far are just stupid out of focus."
Does it mean that you DID enter "+ 8 or +9" and the lens was still soft? The reason I ask, is that you mention "a dozen repeat fine tunes."
Robert
I run the fine tune exercise as many as a dozen times, and it continuously shows a +8 or +9, so I OK it to lock it in. But the pics are soft, very unusable soft..
The naked lens is fine, the TC17II is fine (but I don't use it). This lens and camera do not work with the TC14's.
The 14's are fantastic on the D810 and 850, with any lens including the 200-500.
