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Archive 2019 · Nikon 200-500 sharpness

  
 
arbitrage
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Nikon 200-500 sharpness


I certainly have sharp shots at f/5.6 at 500mm. BUT...I found more so on this lens than any other lens I've owned (other than Sigma 150-600C) that just going to f/6.3 and especially f/7.1 (where it peaked) really made it super sharp.

With a little extra PP sharpening I can post images here that will satisfy most if not all at f/5.6. But there is no doubt the lens is not at its peak wide open. More formal tests online confirm this. Although some users swear that there lens is just as good wide open as stopped down. So who knows?

All I'd recommend is buy it and shoot it and only you can decide what is satisfactory. I actually just shot it wide open for the first 6 months or more as I was so used to shooting wide open with my much more expensive lenses. But I eventually tried it stopped down and saw an immediate improvement, bringing it inline with some expensive primes (all be it they are wide open) especially at closer shooting distances.

Should add that I've only used it on the newer AF system (D500/850) so if you are using an older AF system that certainly could be complicating the consistency of sharp shots.



Oct 22, 2019 at 12:51 PM
multibit
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Nikon 200-500 sharpness


I use a 200-500 with a D850 and D500, I've compared mine directly against 3 others and mine was definitely the sharpest at f5.6 500mm . All was calibrated with FoCal . It does get softer at the edges when used with my D850 if you pixel peep , its rare I go below 500mm . I tried a friends 500mm f4G , its definitely a little sharper than my 200-500 especially at the edges but the main thing is the focus speed is WAY faster . I love the 200-500 VR but its slow to grab.
I really want something faster , currently trying to decide if to get a 500mm PF or maybe put the money towards an A9 + 200-600



Oct 22, 2019 at 01:06 PM
multibit
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Nikon 200-500 sharpness


This was D850 + 200-500 500mm f5.6 DX mode further cropped, shutter speed should have been a little quicker ,the Peregrines hunt around this old mill which is fenced off and the lighting is usually quite poor especially when the sun is around the back

_DSC5890 by leon kirkbride, on Flickr



Oct 22, 2019 at 02:02 PM
jwolfe
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Nikon 200-500 sharpness


I will say after using this lens a few more times it’s certainly not the lens that isn’t sharp. It’s the AF on the D7200 I’ve been shooting that can’t keep up with fast action. I’m debating between a D7500 and just plunking down the dough for a D500.


Oct 22, 2019 at 09:37 PM
Fred Amico
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Nikon 200-500 sharpness


jwolfe wrote:
I will say after using this lens a few more times it’s certainly not the lens that isn’t sharp. It’s the AF on the D7200 I’ve been shooting that can’t keep up with fast action. I’m debating between a D7500 and just plunking down the dough for a D500.


Hmm, not doubting you, but before I got my D500, used a D7200 (still have it), and never really felt like the AF couldn't keep up. Shot a lot of BIF stuff, including white-tailed kite mid-air food transfers, and was happy with the results.



Oct 22, 2019 at 10:53 PM
Marshall Alsup
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Nikon 200-500 sharpness


Mine is pretty darn sharp at all lengths up to about 400mm. After that it becomes less sharp but still sharp. At 500 its the least sharp but I still find it very usable.

Interestingly, when I first took it out a few weeks ago I found that I needed to turn VR on while it was on my tripod if its out past about 400mm. Having VR on actually helps quite a bit. I mention that because I'd always heard you should never use VR while on a tripod.



Oct 23, 2019 at 01:24 AM
Pixel Perfect
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Nikon 200-500 sharpness


Mine's pretty sharp wide open @ 500mm, sure not 500 PF sharp but with a bit of extra sharpening if you've nailed focus detail can be excellent. It is a bit sharper at 6.3 which I'll use with plenty of light, but I often shoot wide open. I guess I've been lucky, my Sigma 150-600C was also quite nice wide open @600mm.


Oct 23, 2019 at 05:45 PM
Christian H
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Nikon 200-500 sharpness


There's not much daylight between my 200-500 and 500G. In overcast conditions, however, the zoom's inferior micro-contrast is obvious.


Oct 24, 2019 at 07:11 AM
Vcook
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Nikon 200-500 sharpness


last day for nikon fall sale, the 200-500 is under $1200 right now. Impulse buy pressure is mounting!!!!


Oct 27, 2019 at 09:32 AM
Brontodon
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Nikon 200-500 sharpness


nuclearjock wrote:
With the 1.4 tcII. Sharp enough??


It's beautiful! Was any sharpening applied to the image in post-processing?



Nov 03, 2019 at 07:32 PM
akjackson1
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Nikon 200-500 sharpness


I've always felt privileged that mine seems to be exceptionally sharp. I purchased a 500 F4 G (the older version) and returned it because I felt like my 200-500 was actually sharper in many situations. Though I would agree that it's probably not the sharpest lens around at much greater distances, such as trying to identify a raptor perched far away. I'm also very picky about sharpness, which is why I also returned the 500 PF due to the VR issue. So I'd say there appears to be quite a bit of variation in the 200-500, and my recommendation would to try another one. After all, you're more likely to get a slightly soft one on the used market I'd say than brand new. The reason I haven't sold mine is because it's amazingly sharp!


Nov 04, 2019 at 09:26 AM
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