p.82 #1 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Lauchlan Toal wrote:
There may be a few potential issues. Firstly, the lens may simply be softer at longer distances. Many telephoto zooms suffer from this, and I've heard that some Nikon 200-500 lenses have it worse than others. Another factor may be the AF fine tuning - it may be fine for nearby subjects, but front/back focusing at longer range - try manual focusing on a tripod with liveview and see if that changes anything. Finally, heat waves are a huge issue. I've shot soccer at 100 feet, and the images were butter just from the heat distortion. The only way to really work this out is to test the lens in a cooler area - maybe wait until nighttime and look for a bright building to shoot. Heck, even the moon can be a decent test subject, though the atmosphere can distort things a bit as well.
Hope it's not as bad as it seems - my guess is that it's mostly heat distortion. But it's always a good idea to test things out....Show more →
Thank you for the advice! I was trying to figure out how I could test the lens without air in the way but didn't have any ideas (go into space? haha). I didn't even think of shooting a bright building at night where the distortion is likely a non-issue. That is a great idea. I did try messing with AF tuning and even manual focusing to try to rule that out but it was still soft.
I do agree with your line of thought, it is either the air distortion or the lens has problem with distant subjects. 500mm isn't a problem and subjects within 200 feet or so are great. It just seems to be anything at longer distances it isn't sharp or my expectations are way too high.
I think I'll find out a lot more when I perform your recommended test. I really hope it was just heat because I really like this lens otherwise. The VR is incredible and its really sharp.
p.82 #2 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
A few more shots from the 200-500, all wide open.
D610, 500mm, f5.6, 1/500, ISO 3200
D610, 500mm, f5.6, 1/200, ISO 800
D610, 500mm, f5.6, 1/1000, ISO 800
D610, 500mm, f5.6, 1/1600, ISO 400
I am finding that it does start to get softer at long range, though I need to test it a bit in various conditions to see how much is due to heat distortion. I found that the difference between shooting at about 30 feet and 270mm then backing up to have the same framing at 500mm was negligible - so at least under 100 feet or so there's really no difference in sharpness, and 500mm is very, very close in sharpness to shorter focal lengths as well.
p.82 #9 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
I bought a 200-500 today and don't currently have a bag large enough to accommodate it.
Do any of you 200-500 owners have a holster style bag that perfectly fits just the 200-500 and a body attached? I know the lens on it's own fits perfectly into a Lowepro 13X32 case but I want to be able to keep a body attached if possible. I was looking at the Lowepro Toploader Pro 75 AW because I have a smaller version and I love it, but it looks like it might be just a hair too small. Would anyone happen to have that combo and can tell me if it fits in a Toploader Pro 75 with a body attached without being forced? Thanks!
p.82 #10 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Jawnath1n wrote:
Thank you for the advice! I was trying to figure out how I could test the lens without air in the way but didn't have any ideas (go into space? haha). I didn't even think of shooting a bright building at night where the distortion is likely a non-issue. That is a great idea. I did try messing with AF tuning and even manual focusing to try to rule that out but it was still soft.
I do agree with your line of thought, it is either the air distortion or the lens has problem with distant subjects. 500mm isn't a problem and subjects within 200 feet or so are great. It just seems to be anything at longer distances it isn't sharp or my expectations are way too high.
I think I'll find out a lot more when I perform your recommended test. I really hope it was just heat because I really like this lens otherwise. The VR is incredible and its really sharp.
Quick update: Tested against an illuminated highway sign at night that was pretty far out and it looked good and in focus. So I think it was an issue with the air causing the distortion. All is well, this lens is awesome. Thanks again.
p.82 #11 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Jawnath1n wrote:
Quick update: Tested against an illuminated highway sign at night that was pretty far out and it looked good and in focus. So I think it was an issue with the air causing the distortion. All is well, this lens is awesome. Thanks again.
Good to hear! I've found similar - shot a plane earlier and cropped to 100%, it looks great. Might still be a tad sharper at close range, but really not bad at all for distant subjects. Thanks for following up and checking, gives me some peace of mind too.
p.82 #12 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
CanadaMark wrote:
I bought a 200-500 today and don't currently have a bag large enough to accommodate it.
Do any of you 200-500 owners have a holster style bag that perfectly fits just the 200-500 and a body attached? I know the lens on it's own fits perfectly into a Lowepro 13X32 case but I want to be able to keep a body attached if possible. I was looking at the Lowepro Toploader Pro 75 AW because I have a smaller version and I love it, but it looks like it might be just a hair too small. Would anyone happen to have that combo and can tell me if it fits in a Toploader Pro 75 with a body attached without being forced? Thanks!
p.82 #13 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
trenchmonkey wrote:
Congrats! Mark, I tried the Toploader Pro 75 AW and it's not even close.
I have a Tenba LL-300 and mated to a D500 it just fits (with hood reversed)
Thanks! And thank you for confirming - I had a feeling that was the case just looking at internal measurements, but it was worth a shot. I really like that bag.
The LL300 looks like a nice option. Also looking at Think Tank Digital Holsters, and this bag here apparently holds the lens & body attached perfectly, though it is extremely basic and not too functional otherwise:
p.82 #14 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
CanadaMark wrote:
I bought a 200-500 today and don't currently have a bag large enough to accommodate it.
Do any of you 200-500 owners have a holster style bag that perfectly fits just the 200-500 and a body attached? I know the lens on it's own fits perfectly into a Lowepro 13X32 case but I want to be able to keep a body attached if possible. I was looking at the Lowepro Toploader Pro 75 AW because I have a smaller version and I love it, but it looks like it might be just a hair too small. Would anyone happen to have that combo and can tell me if it fits in a Toploader Pro 75 with a body attached without being forced? Thanks!
p.82 #17 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
morrismike wrote:
Will the camera and lens (connected) fit in that bag?
Yes it does. Lots of people seem to have it.
Ariot - thank you for the offer, though I am not sure what I want to do yet. I will keep it in mind but feel free to get rid of it some other way if the opportunity presents itself.
p.82 #20 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
morrismike wrote:
Will the camera and lens (connected) fit in that bag?
Yes. Lens on camera with lens hood reversed will fit. It is snug at the zipper end (top) if you have it on a D810, and I don't know if a D810 w/ grip would work. But a D500 with the lens on goes in and zips up easily, so I have to assume a gripped D500 with the lens on would work.
