For $1300 I'd change the darn to damn good, and we don't know if the lens/body combo was even properly af fine tuned. What would this shot look like at f8? I'm getting an itchy trigger finger.
Edit: The first shot @1/80 is totally incredible if it's HH.
Those look pretty awesome. The BIF shots are weak - could be AF or technique. That parrot though... Holy smokes. This is definitely incentive to find some spare change.
It's hard to judge a lens by it's BIF shots because there are too many variables, mostly related to shooting conditions and the photographer's technique. I could take a crappy BIF with a 600/4 and a D4S. I am far more interested in the static shots for judging IQ.
Those shots are probably out of camera JPEGs, which means with 5 minutes of PP on the NEF they would look even better than they already do.
What's most interesting to me is that F5.6 appears to be more than acceptable, and there is no need to stop down to F8-11 to get an acceptable shot. You look at samples from the other Super Zooms, and 90% of the time they are at F8-11. If you can get similar or better quality with better subject isolation and 1-2 stops more light that is a huge plus.
p.9 #15 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Unwillingly, I ended up cancelling my preorder a couple of days ago from BH. Now I'm second guessing myself. My upcoming house purchase could've waited. Ugh!
p.9 #16 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
toupac wrote:
Unwillingly, I ended up cancelling my preorder a couple of days ago from BH. Now I'm second guessing myself. My upcoming house purchase could've waited. Ugh!
Oh good, bumps the rest of us closer to the top of the preorder list
Just kidding, good luck with the house! We're on that bandwagon too but the market here is just too crazy right now.
p.9 #18 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
iammikie wrote:
Not according to the B&H rep that I talked to this morning as he had my order number for the 200 - 500 in front of him and took quite a bit of time in researching their incoming stock. I guess we wont know anything until we start getting some US shipping confirmations and that can certainly vary from dealer to dealer as can the responses from those reps when we make inquiries.
Those, shipping confirmations, are being claimed by several all ready.
Personal note: I never ever take the word of a retailer as the gospel.
