p.29 #2 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Howard Kearley wrote:
Heres a couple more, some High ISO.
Sparrow hawk in the rain.
Diving Kingfisher
I have PP them as I normally do.
The Kingfisher background has been run through noise removal twice, adjusted the colours and contrast. You read that right ISO 36204 = no light.
This lens will work for me, thanks Nikon for this one.
Howard.
I did a total double take on that ISO, 36k wow!!! If you don't mind me asking, what PP tool do you use for noise removal? I tend to selectively treat my backgrounds differently in Photoshop vs. the entire image in LR which has worked well but definitely time consuming with some images. I am guessing this one was pretty tedious for you because of all the amazing water droplets that you probably tried to omit from the heavier NR work.
Either way, incredible stuff, I am very envious of wherever that location is
p.29 #3 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Howard Kearley wrote:
Heres a couple more, some High ISO.
Sparrow hawk in the rain.
Diving Kingfisher
I have PP them as I normally do.
The Kingfisher background has been run through noise removal twice, adjusted the colours and contrast. You read that right ISO 36204 = no light.
This lens will work for me, thanks Nikon for this one.
p.29 #5 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
This lens is beyond impressive. Not quite up to my 500 f4 but darn close. Larger image of the Loggerhead Shrike is with the TC14 EII. All shots from my car with the Vertec Molar Bag. D800 with large crops.
p.29 #7 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Darn you people! I had decided to buy a Sigma 120-300 f2.8. Now I'm not so sure after seeing all the great shots here. I'm just not sure about 5.6 vs 2.8.
p.29 #8 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
egd5 wrote:
Darn you people! I had decided to buy a Sigma 120-300 f2.8. Now I'm not so sure after seeing all the great shots here. I'm just not sure about 5.6 vs 2.8.
I was in the same boat. Was planning to pick up a Sigma, but the 200-500 is at a much more palatable price. And while the Sigma is spectacular for sports and nearby wildlife, I find myself shooting long range wildlife more and the bare Nikon seems to have an edge over the Sigma + TCs. Still waiting for some to become available locally to try out though.
p.29 #9 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
egd5 wrote:
Darn you people! I had decided to buy a Sigma 120-300 f2.8. Now I'm not so sure after seeing all the great shots here. I'm just not sure about 5.6 vs 2.8.
I had the Sigma, then a 300/2.8 VRII and now the 200-500 (picked it up yesterday). I'd say that your choice depends on how you answer these three Qs :
a) do you shoot in low light locations (rain forests, birding at dawn/dusk, etc.) ?
b) do you need the ultimate (or close to it) IQ ? For example for feather details or fine prints.
c) are your subjects generally close in (less than 20m for birds or say 30-40m for larger mammals) or more distant ?
If your answer is Yes, Yes and Yes then the Sigma 120-300 is a better option. If it's No, No and Sometimes then go for the Nikon 200-500.
p.29 #10 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
I picked up my copy yesterday and as it's poured virtually nonstop, and I have hardly been out the house, the only testing I could do was out of the bedroom window at an empty house (my favourite telephoto test subject !) as I was losing the light around 15.30 - 16.00 when the light was down to ca. 5,800K.
Anyway these are all Hand-held (I was leaning against a window jamb though) and all shot at high ISOs so please bear that in mind when considering loss of detail. I hadn't started off with publishing the results in mind but have now thought they might be of interest. Camera used was a D800E.
I used the TC14EII and TC20III for the 700mm and 1,000mm tests. I have to point out that I was shocked to find I could still AF at f11 and 1,000mm with the TC20EIII ! It needed a little MF help once it started to struggle but once I got close to finding focus (with my finger still jammed on the AF-on button) the AF kicked in. I'm sure in better light the AF won't be an issue. And yep that's also 700mm handheld at 1/100. The VR is simply outstanding !
Note that I always load into LR and sharpen before posting anything - since the variance in the RAW files from different camera models, and subsequent processing into a jpg with different software, will not always give you an equal playing field and so I want to see what is actually achievable. No NR has been applied though.
*Again let me emphasise that I wasn't applying a strict test formula - hence the settings are all over the place.*
Handheld at 500mm - initial shot whilst testing prior to purchase. Handheld at 500mm (indoors) (1/500, f5.6, ISO3,600)
100% crop of the above. Handheld at 500mm (indoors) (1/500, f5.6, ISO3,600)
The Fuji shop was 25m away. Look at the detail in the small Chinese text stamped on the box - you can almost read the numbers & characters !
Handheld at 500mm (1/500, f5.6, ISO6,400)
Handheld at 700mm with TC14EII (1/100, f8, ISO5,000)
Handheld at 700mm with TC14EII (1/100, f8, ISO5,000)
Handheld at 1,000mm with TC20EIII (1/320, f11, ISO8,000)
p.29 #12 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Tried the 200-500 out on the last youth rodeo of the year this afternoon.
707 shots and only 7 were OOF. I think we can put any AF issues to rest.
Friends son "mutton busting"
p.29 #13 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Frogfish, thanks for the simplified questions. The answers to 1 and 2, esp. 2, are yes. And for 3 is all over the place. That's the way I've been leaning all along anyway, but all these great shots in this thread had me questioning myself. The extra reach would be nice, but I'd rather have the IQ and the speed. I'm pretty sure I'll get a D7200 and that should give enough reach for me, esp. if I put a TC on too.
p.29 #14 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Just got this lens a couple days ago, here are a few images taken here in Lyon, France. First two are at f/5.6, third is at f/8. From what I've seen, image is very sharp starting at f/5.6.
