Thanks for the input. I am confident that the D850 is better than the 5D IV, but I have literally been back and forth between Nikon (D1H, D1x, D2H, D2X, to Canon 20D through 40D back to Nikon D800E and D4 back to Canon 1DX , 1Dx II 5D SR and 5D IV, I am not sure I have the heart (and Money) to jump back to Nikon again. If it weren't for the 500mm PF, I wouldn't even consider it.
So for me it's one of four options: 1) Buy Sony 600mm 2) Buy Nikon 500mm PF and use on Sony, or 3) Buy D850 and PF 500mm 4) Buy nothing and stick with Sony 100-400 with Canon 500mm as BIF lens with Canon body.
To get the best performance out of the 500PF you'll need a Nikon body of some sort which means fully entering the world of Nikon. Nothing at all wrong with that, but are you sure that's what you want?
Since you're already into Sony, what about the new A7R4 w/200-600 (which is only 4.7lbs)?
Hopefully it's okay to ask this in here: for those in Canada with the lens how long was the wait for you? I paid a 25% deposit last year at a nation wide camera chain and don't have it nor are there any updates on supply. I recently called a few other places and the wait lists are sitting at 30-80+ people.
I wanted to test this out vs.my 100-400 GM to decide which way to keep going between the Sony and Nikon for wildlife.
starkrace wrote:
Hopefully it's okay to ask this in here: for those in Canada with the lens how long was the wait for you? I paid a 25% deposit last year at a nation wide camera chain and don't have it nor are there any updates on supply. I recently called a few other places and the wait lists are sitting at 30-80+ people.
I wanted to test this out vs.my 100-400 GM to decide which way to keep going between the Sony and Nikon for wildlife.
I was lucky to get mine within six months of being announced from a major dealer, but from what I've read you may be better off working with smaller but well established Nikon dealers -- it's clear now that Nikon decided to distribute the few lenses they have across many dealers rather than ship most to the volume sellers.
That's a wonderful photo, unusually for bird photography something actually kind of different, he has a rather strange, almost quizzical expression on his face as if he is thinking to himself "is that a 500 PF? I haven't seen one of those before!"
billsnature wrote:
I am currently in a Sony/Canon split system moving towards Sony. Today I still have a Canon 500mm IS II that I use on a 5D IV or adapt to Sony.
It looks like many on this thread have tried the 500mm PF on Sony using Commlite adapter. How well does it work on A7R III? How does it compare to Sony 100-400mm with 1.4X?
Alternative it to sell rest of Canon stuff and buy D850 and lens, but hate to swap systems for the fifth time.
Thoughts from those with first hand experience?
500PF is next to useless with Commlite on A9 so would be even worse on A7R3...immediately cross that off the list and remove it from your thoughts. You have to manually focus it to almost perfect before it will take over with AF...it will sort of track a perched bird once it starts tracking but it would be a constant frustration.
The 100-400/1.4 is amazingly fast AF on A9 and should be very good on A7R3. It blows away trying to adapt the Nikon lens. It also is considerably faster than adapting a Canon lens. However, I do adapt my 400DOII/2xTCIII onto my A9 a lot of the time for anything not flying. That works really well with newer FW on A9 and on MC-11 adapter. I know the A7R3 isn't quite as good as A9 but still is viable unlike Nikon adapting.
I'm a bit into the Nikon world solely because of the 500PF....well and because of the 500PF there is a 300PF here too.
I'm fully immersed in Sony and have been since the NEX-5, a long long time ago (still have it
I don't see anything wrong with a foot in each door.
I've pre'ed the 200-600 and if Sony doesn't give up a mini-a9 I'll add the Riv for the cropability. The pixel density has to be incredible considering how good it is with the D850.
arbitrage wrote:
500PF is next to useless with Commlite on A9 so would be even worse on A7R3...immediately cross that off the list and remove it from your thoughts. You have to manually focus it to almost perfect before it will take over with AF...it will sort of track a perched bird once it starts tracking but it would be a constant frustration.
The 100-400/1.4 is amazingly fast AF on A9 and should be very good on A7R3. It blows away trying to adapt the Nikon lens. It also is considerably faster than adapting a Canon lens. However, I do adapt my 400DOII/2xTCIII onto my A9 a lot of the time for anything not flying. That works really well with newer FW on A9 and on MC-11 adapter. I know the A7R3 isn't quite as good as A9 but still is viable unlike Nikon adapting. ...Show more →
Thank you for the insightful information. I put myself on a 500 PF waiting list. If it comes in I will buy a D500 and super glue the two together. If it doesn't I will stick with current. I thought that I had read that Sony zoom at 600mm was not way better than 100-400 with 1.4X, but I will need to find that review again.
billsnature wrote:
Thank you for the insightful information. I put myself on a 500 PF waiting list. If it comes in I will buy a D500 and super glue the two together. If it doesn't I will stick with current. I thought that I had read that Sony zoom at 600mm was not way better than 100-400 with 1.4X, but I will need to find that review again.
Thanks
Bill
D500/500PF is an amazing combo. My 500PF is my most used lens, on the D850 when I go out and on the D500 in the backyard.
The upcoming 200-600 at 600 is said to be just a little bit sharper if you pixel peep two identical images compared to the 100-400/1.4TC. Bare 100-400 is said to be sharper at 400, but again by small margins.
AF is said to be better for the 100-400 for fast approaching subjects once they get closer to MFD.
100-400 has much higher magnification at MFD, lighter, smaller to pack.
200-600 has 2/3 stop advantage, has a much faster zoom throw, no extending zoom, more potential reach up to maybe 1200mm (remains to be seen how well that will work).
Gary Irwin wrote:
I was lucky to get mine within six months of being announced from a major dealer, but from what I've read you may be better off working with smaller but well established Nikon dealers -- it's clear now that Nikon decided to distribute the few lenses they have across many dealers rather than ship most to the volume sellers.
Thanks Gary, I received another lead via PM too. It sounds like they are available and I have to try some different venues, hopefully I can get one within 8 weeks.
40Driggs wrote:
I’ll be interested in hearing your thoughts on how the 200-600 compares to the 500 PF.
Thanks Daniel.
I'd rather have Geoff's thoughts on the comparison. He's much better at elucidating the subtleties and
boiling down the differences to a nutshell and not raving on for a century.
I think you made the right decision for weight reasons alone. The 500PF is just pleasant. I think
without Steve Perry's mono-gimbal approach I won't like the 200600 so much.
Another one of our fledges from this year.
And yesterday Poof found 2 fledges caught in a batting cage at the local high school on her daily walk.
They'd gone in for a dove that was also trapped. I was sleeping so Poof called the police and fire department who had no interest. The wildlife resource agency only had an answering machine. So Poof wakes me up off I go to hold a Red-tailed Hawk for the first time-
MedicineMan404 wrote:
Another one of our fledges from this year.
And yesterday Poof found 2 fledges caught in a batting cage at the local high school on her daily walk.
They'd gone in for a dove that was also trapped. I was sleeping so Poof called the police and fire department who had no interest. The wildlife resource agency only had an answering machine. So Poof wakes me up off I go to hold a Red-tailed Hawk for the first time-
. You have to manually focus it to almost perfect before it will take over with AF...it will sort of track a perched bird once it starts tracking but it would be a constant frustration.
