p.25 #1 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
I have the 80-400mm and the 200-500mm and the 500mm f4 prime. The 80-400 is my single lens solution. With the 200-500mm lens I also need to carry the 70-200mm lens. With the 500mm lens I used to also carry the 80-400mm and now may often take the 200-500mm lens instead.
In the field there are times when a zoom provides advantages and that is doubled when the lens can be shot hand held and provide sharp images. It is very different in terms of mobility and range of options for shooting when hand holding a lens and when having to use a lens on a tripod, regardless of the head that is used. Often I grab the zoom first and then if time permits I will setup the tripod and mount the 500mm lens and possible a teleconverter.
Moose of course already has invested in a 600mm f4 and 800mm f5.6 and a 200-400mm f4 and the 80-400mm zoom so for him the picture is quite different. Most people will not or can not spend $36,000 on telephoto lenses and teleconverters as Moose has done.
For me the optimum collection is a 70-200mm, 80-400mm, 200-500mm, and 600mm f4 lens and teleconverters that still entails an expenditure of $19,000 which is still more than most photographers care to spend for their wildlife photography.
Bottom line though if I could have only the 80-400mm or the 200-500mm zoom I would definitely go with the 80-400mm zoom for its greater range and the ability to leave the 70-200mm at home. For air travel the 80-400mm with a prime telephoto is the way I go for that reason - a lighter kit.
I have much less experience shooting with the 200-500mm lens with a 1.4x teleconverter but my initial impressions are that it is a much less viable setup than the 80-400mm lens with this teleconverter on my cameras in terms of autofocus performance. The 80-400mm with the 1.4 TC costs double what the 200-500mm lens does so that is not an apples to apples comparison.
The gain in image size with focal length is more dramatic at the short end of the spectrum. From 200mm to 400mm the gain is 300%, while from 400mm to 500mm the increase is 56% and from 500mm to 600mm (with the Sigma or Tamron zooms) the gain is 44%. I shot with the two Sigma lenses and appreciated the larger image size possible at 600mm but the autofocus performance on the D810 was not as good as with the Nikon 200-500mm and the Sigma optical stabilization has significant shortcomings.
p.25 #4 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
evan47 wrote:
how is the focus speed on the lens? does it compare with the 80-400 and 150-600 sport.
Just about on par with the 80-400, and a tad slower than the recent firmware endowed 150-600 Sport.
This shouldn't be much of a concern in the field IF you've got a newer AFing body, and good technique.
p.25 #5 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
thanks will.
i am thinking of trying one but just cant get too enthusiastic about another superzoom.
i may hang on to my cash hoping for a d400 release or, shockingly a switch to canon and the 7d ii and 100-400 ii.
p.25 #8 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
trenchmonkey, I would be interested to see 100% crop on the dog face in the last photo. I'm not completely satisfied with how the fur looks at over 1600 ISO on my Nikon D800.
p.25 #9 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
falconbach wrote:
trenchmonkey, I would be interested to see 100% crop on the dog face in the last photo. I'm not completely satisfied with how the fur looks at over 1600 ISO on my Nikon D800.
That's already about a 30% crop...here's 80% more. It's triple the ISO you request...and DX
so I don't know what value this will be?! I have ISO 4500 horse shots in the rain with my D810
and 100% crops of THOSE are most impressive.
Looks like the focus point is on the tire, on this one
p.25 #13 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Just got mine earlier in the week and took it out this weekend. Here are a few. Not as sharp as I like but both lens and body are new to me, need to get things dialed in.
At one point I was having a hard time finding anything in the viewfinder then I noticed it was focused past infinity. The focus ring was getting bumped as I walked (had camera on a sling). Sure enough using the focus ring on my copy you can focus past infinity. Is this normal, anyone noticed it on their copy?
p.25 #19 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Imagemaster wrote:
Was going to say the same, but knew I would get shot down. I have seen much sharper results from the Sigma 150-600C and even the Tamron.
Could of course be shooters' technique or PP, or combo. Harold's Kingfisher is one of the better shots.
Sorry, but looks like my Canon 100-400 II + TC is sharper.
Tony, how much noise reduction did you apply to that shot? I'd be interested to see an unedited version to really compare sharpness. It looks like all the internal feather detail's been blurred out, so perhaps posting an unaltered shot would help to demonstrate your lens's capabilities.
I have no skin in this game, it looks like Nikon, Canon, Sigma, and Tamron all have attractive offerings at their respective price points.
p.25 #20 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Lauchlan Toal wrote:
Tony, how much noise reduction did you apply to that shot? I'd be interested to see an unedited version to really compare sharpness. It looks like all the internal feather detail's been blurred out, so perhaps posting an unaltered shot would help to demonstrate your lens's capabilities.
This is jpeg SOOC. Shadows brought up slightly, no NR or sharpening applied.
I'm not completely satisfied with how the fur looks at over 1600 ISO on my Nikon D800.
