p.22 #1 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
In the first week of ownership I used the Nikon 200-500mm at a Blue Angels air show and Vampire beauty pageant - two quite different venues. Overall, I am quite pleased with the results. The lens seems sharp at 500mm and VR worked well for me. Unfortunately the autofocus locked up several times so it’s off to Nikon for the firmware update. When it returns I will try it with a Nikon 1 camera for 1350mm of reach. This lens might become a nice surf setup in a month or two when big swells hit the northshore here on Oahu.
Here are a few sample images for fun. Blue Angel photos handheld with a D810, vampire photos from a tripod with a D750 at the back of the theatre.
p.22 #2 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
amazingly great images....thanks for sharing. Having a Safari trip next year, I am looking for a light weight alternative to my 600VR. Simmy Sport was my first choice until this one.
p.22 #3 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
AvianScott wrote:
I'm considering dumping my Canon 100-400II and giving the 200-500 a shot if the IQ is up to par. I rarely use the short end and having that extra 100mm on the long end is huge for me.
I used both the Sigma and Tamron 150-600 offerings and neither were very impressive to me on a crop body, so I was always shooting with them on a full-frame. I'm hoping the 200-500 will give the same impressive sharpness wide open that the 100-400II does, but the price point makes me nervous in that regard.
Wouldn't a 7DII with a Sigma 150-600S giving you 960mmf6.3 10fps more useful than a Nikon combo for wildlife
p.22 #4 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
I got to try out the 200-500 on a D750 and D7200 when the Western Canada Nikon rep came to Whitehorse last weekend. (I also got to try the 400E which is a whole 'nother story)I was very impressed with the lens and I own a lot of exotic Canon glass. It would be a no brainer purchase for me if I was invested in the Nikon realm. Personally I would prefer it over the Sigma C (which I own) just as I prefer the Canon 100-400II +/- 1.4TC over the Sigma C.
p.22 #5 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Mark K wrote:
Wouldn't a 7DII with a Sigma 150-600S giving you 960mmf6.3 10fps more useful than a Nikon combo for wildlife
Depends what you consider is more "useful". The Nikon is lighter and less expensive and may give far better results with a TC on it than the Sigma does.
I am waiting to see Brad Hill's review of the results he gets with the Nikon combo from his Great Bear Rainforest tour:
p.22 #6 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Well, I finally purchased mine the other day and yesterday was the first time I had a chance to give it a go. I had initially tried a friend's 200-500 a month back and posted up some sample shots on page 16 #3 of this thread: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1379476/15#13216502
I was so impressed with the results, and looking at other's results and the Camera Labs test, I decided to buy it. Here are a couple more shots I took yesterday, low light and slowish shutter speeds compared to the focal length, even though VR was on, the bird can still move!
AF speed is not as fast as the 80-400 in low light. IQ is still not up to the 400 f2.8E + 1.4x TCIII, but it's a hell of a lot lighter and easier to wield. The 200-500 will be my travel long lens for birds and wildlife and when I want to go "light".
p.22 #9 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
arbitrage wrote:
I got to try out the 200-500 on a D750 and D7200 when the Western Canada Nikon rep came to Whitehorse last weekend. (I also got to try the 400E which is a whole 'nother story)I was very impressed with the lens and I own a lot of exotic Canon glass. It would be a no brainer purchase for me if I was invested in the Nikon realm. Personally I would prefer it over the Sigma C (which I own) just as I prefer the Canon 100-400II +/- 1.4TC over the Sigma C.
Geoff, you really don't have enough gear, and should be shooting with Canon, Nikon, & Sony.
p.22 #11 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Mark K wrote: amazingly great images....thanks for sharing. Having a Safari trip next year, I am looking for a light weight alternative to my 600VR. Simmy Sport was my first choice until this one.
Thanks Mark.
Probably can't go wrong with either choice.
p.22 #12 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Mark K wrote:
Wouldn't a 7DII with a Sigma 150-600S giving you 960mmf6.3 10fps more useful than a Nikon combo for wildlife
I tried the Sigma 150-600S, I didn't like it. While it's been some time since I've used the 150-600S, I feel the images I get from the Nikon at f/5.6 are as sharp or nearly as sharp as the 150-600S at f/8. The 200-500 is also lighter and I feel I can hike comfortably with the 200-500 and use it handheld whereas the 150-600S was pushing my limits as far as being comfortable while carrying it around considerable distance. Certainly the extra 100mm on the long end is a consideration, but not enough to overcome the other negatives I've found with the 150-600S.
p.22 #13 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
I've owned the Tamron 150-600 since March and even though I've never owned the Sigma's I have several friends that own them. We all shoot together at an eagles nest from the same spot for the last year. Some shoot Nikon and some Canon and to be honest I can't tell the difference from the shots of any of them. I can certainly tell the pics of my friends that have the 500 f4 and 600 f4 or the 400 f2.8 and TC's from ours, but the Sigmas and Tamron pics all look about the same. I bought the 200-500 to give it a try but I'm not expecting miracles. I really don't expect it to be much better than the Tamron I'm using now but like the idea of having a Nikon lens. I also like the idea of being able to use a TC to get me to 700mm even though its going to be at F8.
p.22 #14 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Joe Marquez wrote:
Thanks Mark.
Probably can't go wrong with either choice.
Very nice shots Lance. Impressive.
Great images Joe, and they prompted me to order the lens, which is estimated to arrive here around 20 November, in time for some of the greatest car and watercraft racing events here in Thailand.
p.22 #20 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
I'm surprised there's not more reviews on this lens. I personally really want one, but I'm waiting until I'm done with my tour in Turkey...I don't have much use for it here, but when I get to Hawaii next year, I'll definitely nab one.
