Ludicrous Telephoto Zoom! Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Review
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This lens is big and heavy but definitely worth it for capturing things that are far away!
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Hi! I’m SnapChick. My channel is about photography as an art form and as a lifestyle, with a healthy dose of technology thrown in! I post new videos every week so subscribe here on KZhead, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google+, and join in on the conversation!
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Well.... at first when I saw this video I thought to myself, "oh man I want that lens". Then I looked up the price and thought it was out of my range to spend $1300 on a lens just to take pictures of birds or wildlife. I must admit I kinda laughed at you in side my head for what I thought was a ridiculous purchase on your part just to take pictures of rabbits in the desert. Then , day by day, I started watching other videos of people using the lens and I started wanting it too! I mentioned to my wife, hoping she would tell me "no" because it's too expensive but she actually told me I deserve it because I've been working a lot and have the savings for it. I didn't expect that. I continued searching online for places to buy it. I finally gave in and bought a "used but in Excellent condition" one on Adorama for $300 off the posted retail price. It arrived and I absolutely love it. You made a convert out of me on this one. Thank you....and I'm sorry for laughing at you.
I love this lense. Last year I was photographing eagles at Olympic NP and used it together with a 1.4 TC on my D500. The combination worked perfect
bought this lens two months ago for my bird photography and has been on my camera non stop, i love this lens great review
Simply the best video on any topic, calm, to-the-point and covers almost everything
Nice review. I have this lens and love it and bought the Ape Case ACPROLC18 Professional Large Lens Case, Black/Yellow from Amazon delivered to the UK. Great case for putting in the car to keep the lens protected.
Great review, I really enjoy the way you explain things. I have just purchased this lens but haven't had the opportunity to use it due to covid-19 restrictions. Definitely going to find more of your videos. Thank you so much!
This lens is an absolute beauty for razor sharp images without the weight of the 400 f/2.8 VR. paired with the D850 it makes an incredible combination
Revolutionary lens, I love it on my crop sensor. The 2 turns doesn't slow you down since I'm always keeping it at max zoom.
on a d850 you can put it on dx crop press of a button
Fantastic review, lots of good information...and that D500 is likely my next camera. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for your comments on the Nikon 200-500 zoom. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts on different photo topics. Keep up the great work....
For your lens focus travel issue, I use a metal pipe clamp with a screw type resizer. They're usually silver in different diameters. I drilled a small hole in the centre of the clamp, pushed thro a small hard drive bolt, tightened the clamp around the focus ring, found a small metal rod, 3.5 " long with a internal thread and screwed it to the bolt. Now I have a lever that, while on my tripod, I can rotate my 150-600 Sigma in and out in one sweep.
I love how you put this into plain English with examples for the viewer to see. Excellent job!
Thanks for the great video! Well done! I’m looking forward to getting this lens in the future!
Thanks for the info SnapChick. Full of great information and not like every other review on KZhead. I've subscribed. 🙂
I like your review. You seem very down-to-earth and honest.
Thank you for your concise and thorough analysis. I ordered this lens today based on the strength of your review. 😊
Thank you so much for making this video. Decades ago I shot wildlife photography with a Minolta camera and now am jumping into the Nikon F4s with several lenses including this lens.
Had the lens since 2016 Love it. I bought the Lowerpo 13X32 cm Lens case at the same time. It is a perfect fit (with hood and collar) but it is protective not for hiking. I usually hike with the 80-400 to save space and weight
Thank you so much for this video! Especially referencing the D500 allows me to make my dicision PRO this lens!!!
Thanks for the review. I am considering renting a copy for a trip we are taking to Yellowstone this summer and you answered a lot of my questions.
Great review! I also use a D500 and own this lens. The VR on it is spectacular but focus speed is...deliberate. It is slow...not good enough for sports for sure! That being said the DOF with birds crossing works well! It is a surprising good lens for the low cost. Recommended! I wish the VR on my other lenses worked as well as it does on this one...incredibly effective!!!
Great review, thanks for posting this.
11 I totally love this lens...for the price its a solid performer. I just used to take photos at an airshow and it did really well, I got some winners
I too have this lens and love it. I use it on a D7200 because when I purchased it the D500 wasn’t available yet and as an amateur photographer, I could not justify upgrading to the D500. Two things to consider: 1. Getting a Fittest lens hood that uses the filter threads to screw onto the lens. It is smaller and much more secure and I do not see any disadvantages vs the original lens hood. 2. Consider the Think Tank Streetwalker backpack. My D7200 with the lens and Fittest lens hood attached fits into this pack. (When I am just walking around with the camera and lens, I have the longer Fusion arca Swiss plate attached to the lens foot and a Black Rapid strap which distributes the weight to my shoulder instead of my neck.)
Excellent review! I'm ready to pull the trigger on this lens as a result. Thank you Leigh!
This is such a good video. I was wondering why I should keep both my 70-200 f2.8 and the Nikon 200-500 f5.6. You’ve just helped me make up mind that they are two completely different lenses for different situations.
Great review - thanks. Answered many questions!
I liked this info she said because I have a Nikon D500 and the Nikon 200-500 5.6ED. It was very very helpful and informing!
Bought one. Frickin love it. Thank you
What a great lady she is , great shots , very informative video . She ticks all the boxes in every respect !
Very good user review. I recently bought this 200-500mm f/5.6 ED VR lens for use with my D7200. Really satisfied with this lens and camera body combination. I did a lens resolution test with 4x6 Bob Atkins test cards at 20' and 45' (tripod mounted). Considering the price of the lens, I'm very satisfied with the resolution of this lens. Was also impressed with the VR of this lens... Still looking for a backpack that will hold this lens, camera body, and one other lens.....
Nice review, very informative! Also nice to see someone using the D500 reviewing this lens. Was thinking of the 150-600 tamron, didn't actually know about this lens, when I came across it I was a bit sceptical, a Nikon lens like that for that price, I didn't think it was possible yet with such good performance.
I use it a lot for vehicle track-days. Easily hold-able for burst shots, but you probably need a monopod for any prolonged stints. As for carrying it... I use a dual shoulder-strap. Makes me look like a modern-day gun-slinger, but the weight is manageable and makes it easy to switch from my 70-200, as long as both lenses are attached to the straps and the camera is free to move between the two.
Excellent presentation. Touch to everything and agree 100% with you. Combination of the Nikon 500 and 200-500mm 5.6 VR is absolutely perfect for wildlife and birds photography. I just bought a backpack Neewer Pro to carry everything I need on wildlife safari including my 200-500 mounted on the D500 body. Love it.
I have both the camera and the lens and both are awesome. I also have the Tamron 150-600 as well and the Nikon is sharper and the VR is extremely good. The d500 iso is great. I bought the Ape case for the lens and it can be purchased from Amazon or eBay.
Very helpful. Love your candid no BS review. Thanks!
there is a lot of BS in this so called review haha
Great lens, I use it almost exclusively for wildlife photography. I, like you, also choose to hand hold for my photos and am always walking to find my photo opportunities. I have been using a Kinesis E976 XXX-large lens pouch for a case, I am able to have the lens with the shade attached and extended and attached to a Nikon D850 with a battery pack, all fit in the case. I like using the holster because the camera is always readily available when I need it. The fit is snug but works. It's worked well for me and I thought I would pass that on to you as a possibility. Very nice review, thanks so much for putting that together.
Hi Brittany, Nice review. As 'ooltimu' suggested, I also use the Lowepro 13x32cm case. I put the case (with the lens and the hood mounted) into a kind of hicking backpack (about 30L) and that's it. I often bring a clothe so this stall the case a bit. Keep shooting.
Five pounds? Luxury! My vintage 600mm f/4 weighs 14 pounds. Thanks for the insightful video. It’s always appreciated when someone puts things in practical terms. Your videos always offer great information.
That's not a lens, that's a canon. ;-)
I absolutely love the lens for sports, especially Polo, but I did get it mostly for wildlife, mostly birds. as far as portrait or people, the inherent charactoristics of a teli-lens is compression (adding weight and increased myopic distortion) fixable post production, but changing a lense takes less time
I just got one and it is amazing on my d7500.
I pair this lens with a BlackRapid strap and an Arca-Swiss compatible Fusion plate on the tripod collar. Also, the Nikon 200-500mm fits perfectly inside the Lowepro 13x32 lens case with the hood reversed.
I just ordered the Black Rapid Strap from Adorama. 🙏
Many people talk and make reviews on VR, but in my experience as user, Nikon's VR is phenomenally good.
having sent a few tamrons back over the last 30 years i tend to skip them . no matter how good touters claim they are , im going back to when tamron used the adaptall 2 mount to 2018 , when i tried the 600 zoom , again problems , if i can afford my cameras brand lens then i have peace of mind .
Great Video and advice. Thank you. I'm so glad you addressed hiking because that would be my concern. I always hike with two back packs however - one on the back (for tent, sleeping bag etc) and one on the front for camera, wallet etc. For day hikes you could possibly reverse the two? For backpacking I have an Osprey Eja 58 (very light - less than 2IB) - the Eja 48 or even 38 would probably fit your camera gear. When wearing a backpack on the front, you need to put it on first - do the chest halter up; slip over your head and then tie the hip band up - and then put on the backpack. Hope this helps.
Thank you.....speaking to the converted..... I love this lens and like you I team it with my d500. I have had some cracking shots with it and would recommend it thoroughly. Thank you
Great review! Suggest: "Joby Pro Sling Strap" or maybe Blackrapid equiv. attached to the lens tripod mount bracket. I leave the bracket underneath the camera (so it's basically slung upside down) so that the strap doesn't get in the way when shooting. Been using this lens mostly for bird photography since it was first available (3 years ago?). Works beautifully on D7200, D500 and D850. Sharp edge to edge at F5.6 on the DX bodies. VR is by far the best of any long zoom I've used. Love it.
I get my D850 from Amazon next week and I received this lense yesterday.
Extremely helpful video. I was using my 70-200 lens when shooting Snow geese. I really wished I had the 200-500 lens when shooting. The bad news for me is I have the older Nikon 5000 that does not shoot great in low light. I bump up the ISO but its not as good as newer Nikon's. However as I take photos mostly for my pleasure, I am not planning to step up with a improved Nikon. Your communication skills are very good, the way you speak is very natural, like speaking to a friend. And if you don't mind me saying, you look amazing too.
Very nicely structured and presented review. Important observation about the travel of the zoom. I tried this lens out at my local camera store (yes, they still exist, and this one's among the best!) and was somewhat discouraged by the long travel. Especially as I have in mind to shoot sports like cycling events, I'd have to deal with this long throw as the subjects move towards me. Oh, and bonus points for the pelican image. Everything is better with pelicans ; )
Great review as always Snapchick, thanks.
I have been on the bench thinking about taking the 200-500 mm lens plunge. I have used your review multiple times to help me because your review is very pragmatic. Thanks
I was in the market for a super-zoom and I opted for the Tamron 150-600 g2. I think they are optically similar. The deciding factor for me was the extra reach but I don't think either would be a bad choice! Welcome to the long-zoom club though! I'm loving your photos with it.
I'm still hesitating between this one and the Tamron G2. In the 100 mm extra reach of the Tamron, they say it isn't as sharp anymore while the Nikon still is at 500 mm.The 5.6 or the 6.3 isn't that much of a difference I guess. Tamron has three VR modes and the follow focus seems really interesting. I never had a tamron lens before so I haven't got the experience.
Just bought this lens today. Going to be pairing it with my D750 and my D7100 (if I want even more reach with the crop sensor). Super excited for it. My furthest reach is with my 180mm f/2.8 prime (super great old lens that Nikon has been making since the 90s) but I’ve definitely had those moments where it’s just not enough reach. I primarily photograph landscapes, wildlife, and the night sky/storms so this is REALLY going to help out with my bird shooting!
Hi! How did that 200-500mm work with your D7100? I have the same camera, and I'm looking for real-world experience. I really appreciate any help you can provide.
Thank you for the review, expecting my lens to arrive tomorrow, will be trying it on a Z50.
Great review. I'll be saving for this one.
Thanks for the review! I hope to get one soon.
I have had this exact setup since 2016. And i too was looking for a way to bag it and transport it... and strap it. In the end i found the easiest thing to do was cradle it just like you do, and put it over my shoulder from time to time while walking. I gave up on straps. They just get in my way when trying to shoot animals. I know its a risk.... but it frees you so much. You will quickly get use to weight and hand hold it all day as you find subjects to shoot. You can also brace against a tree, or prop it up on a fallen log or tree. I put two extra batteries in my pocket, a lens wipe in a plastic baggy, and the lens cover in my back pocket. Then lens hood will actually keep most brush from contacting the lens. Thats my two cents and thanks for the excellent review.
Good review, lots covered from a practical viewpoint. One caution I would add however in regard to heavy camera/lens combo use. Most folks have heard of tennis elbow and golf elbow but a lot of folks may be unaware of...drum roll please...camera/lens elbow. I know I'd never heard of it until I switched to a full frame Nikon 2 years ago. Sadly I am intimately familiar with the disorder now. Short and not so sweet camera/lens elbow is BOTH tennis elbow and golf elbow combined. Which results in very unpleasant pain on both the inside and outside of your elbow...sort of like a tooth ache in your elbow that doesn't go away! It is caused by repetitive lifting of heavy camera gear up and down, up and down and it's difficult to predict who will suffer from it. Worse yet by the time the symptoms show up the damage is done and it can take forever to reverse. In my case the pain got so bad that I had to stop using the offending camera/lens combo (Nikon D700 & D610 with 70-300 mm telephoto) for more than a year. And even now I have to be very careful not to use these outfits hand held for lengthy periods. So be careful out there, the elbow you save will be your own!
I absolutely love my 200-500 and it stays attached to the D500. I had been fantasizing about the 200-400 but couldn’t justify spending 7K. I’m sooo glad I didn’t. Considering the difference in image quality, if any, and price of the two lenses, it was a no brainer. I’m also very happy with the Ape case. It’s tight but fits perfectly as long as you don’t have a battery pack attached.
I've used the 200-500mm for the past year and had the 200-400mm f/4 VR-G v1.0 for 10 years prior. I do miss the rear filter drawer and drop-in polarizer, internal zooming, and extra stop, once in awhile. But not not enough to justify the price differential, now 10X more expensive. Too, VR is much quieter and noticeably better on 200-500 than early 200-400
I use this lens on my D750 for sports and love it (eventually want a lighter solution, but it takes great photos)
There won't be a lighter solution, at least lens wise. The only way to cut weight is to switch to a mirrorless body.
D750/200-500 VR here too,great combo,nice shots
Great video ... I have been using mine for quite sometime and Happy with the Birds and Wildlife and Surfing photos. I settled on the Thinktank Glass Limo Great Small profile . I holds my D 500 with grip and rrs L Bracket attached to the 200-500 5.6 with Hood Mounted .
Thanks so much for this video! Been thinking about this lens for awhile. Probably going to get it 😃👍
I’ve been struggling in deciding between this lens, an the 80-400 f4-5.6. Thanks for the info!
I have a D500 with the same lens, I love this combination! I shoot mostly wide life and some landscape.
Can it focus flying birds?
Honestly, flipping the tripod unit around to use as a handle is really a simple, but very handy tip. Brilliant.
will using it as a handle damage the lens? :o Just curious
@@mjohnsimon1337 No, its designed to hold the camera, and attached accessories on a tripod. So its plenty strong enough for using it that way.
I think I looked at one of your vids a while back. I'm glad I found you again. Kind of like a work out...
I got this lens to shoot the eclipse with and just love using it.The eclipse pictures turned out awesome. i shot it on a crop sensor camera with the tele-adapter which worked out perfect and got me an amazing amount of zoom. It is a beast to lug around for sure, but I use it sooooo much. I use the Lowepro Lens Case 13 x 32 cm. It fits the lens and the hood and has enough room for the 1.4 tele-adapter.(squeezed in up top in a cloth bag). No room for the camera, but I think that would make it too big. I just use it for transporting the lens. When I'm shooting, i just carry the lens on the camera and use the case for my other lens. I'm looking forward to getting up to Estes Park soon to try out this lens. I also want to try getting some Milky Way shots with the D850, but I'm sure I'll see plenty of animals while I'm waiting for the sun to go down, so I'll be sure to take this lens with me. Thanks for the video. Cheers!
a good practical and honest review, although most pictures I have seen with this of birds, etc at 400-500 mm have left me wanting more sharpness which is why I have stayed away so far. and keep considering the pf 300 mm lens with a 1.4 converter. havent yet put in the money into a long lens so far, considering how often it will travell with me.
Thx for the awesome Video. Mine is finally arriving for my z6 tomorrow. 14-30 f4, 24-70 f4 and 200-500 seems Like a good Go to for vacation.
I carry mine the same way and also hand held. Nice review
Your portrait was beautiful!
Thank you so much I have a D500 and really enjoyed your review
I've been using the Ape Case ACPROLC18 Large on my Tamron 150-600 for a couple years and it handles the lens, hood and attached body with grip no problem. Good protection even when traveling international.
Believe it or not I used the same combo this spring for high school graduation candids indoors. It was great because I could stay pretty much behind the scenes and get tight closeups of the students seating or speaking. I did setup 5 studio strobes to bounce around the grad pavilion.
It certainly is an amazing lens, especially when paird with the 1.4 TC. I also made a slight modification, after having the lens hood fall off. I made a couple of tiny holes in the back of the hood using a hot needle. Then attached it to the lens body with a short piece of fishing line. Lens hood is expensive to replace. I carry mine using the tripod collar, with a wrist strap for security.
Try this.. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XRSRCPC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I just bought it, haven't used it yet. Watched a video and there was no noticeable sun flair from it.
I have that same setup & love it D500 with 200-500mm
Great video, really enjoyed it. Going to save up and get this lens now!
Nice camera and lens setup! That is a fantastic combo. Put the lens in Raymond's pack and let him carry it around half the time. No one will think the lesser of you.
Thank you for your very full and informative review. I just purchased this lens to use on my D810, and Z7II. I hope to get great photos. I do realize the limitations of this lens, and I appreciate you pointing everything out with terrific candor. My main purpose would be to photograph wildlife, I realize it will be a challenge, I hope to succeed and achive enough clear and sharp images to be please. Thank you again. Great job! 👏 📸 🙏 😊
Good assessment on the 200 - 500. I have the lens and it's great. Consider using Black Rapid straps and bags/icu's by FStop
I like your calm voice ,rare in this field, better to understand ,my brain work slowly
Just got one...I'm so excited....
I have this exact combo and if I need to zoom to 500mm quickly, I hold the zoom ring with my left hand, and spin the camera with my right; allows you to zoom in all in one movement. Good review.
I have the Thinktank Streetwalker Pro V2, and the same lens as you. My D7200 with the 200-500 mounted on it fit perfectly even with the hood in store mode. Also has plenty of room for smaller lenses as well as other accessories. Love this backpack.
Great video! Thanks for such a detail review! Do you think this lens would work equally good with Nikon D7500 for Africa safari photos? Thanks
Hi I love the input you give us in your video's. Have you used the Tamron 150-600 and if so how does it compare to the lens in this video
Terrific review! Thank you very much.
I love this lens. It is incredibly sharp. It is heavy. I use the Peak Design Sling attached to my D850 and hold on to the tripod collar turned upwards 180 degrees while I'm walking. I'm not sure you can do any more with regards to the weight. You can't have straps going everywhere.
I have the Nikon P1000 and recently got the Spider Holster, for carrying it has been excellent especially on long hikes.
just watched this older video and loved all the info - but my first thought was -- why not use a black rapid sling - they are awesome for carryng this lens body combo. I have been using one for years and love the freedom it gives me.
I currently use the Nikon 80-400mm VR 1st GEN and am looking at the 200-500mm. Seems the logical choice when considering the price and performance. Thanks for a great review and yes, I see your Instagram posts as they come in. Thanks!
Great review...waiting for the lens to arrive Thursday. One great feature about the D850 is being able to switch to DX mode on the fly and get that extra reach. I hope it works well with the D850...I've heard mix reviews.
Take a look at Mark Smith’s photos using the 850 and this lens.
Thank you, great explanation!
Thank you for the down-to-earth review. I see so many "technical" reviews that have no bearing on reality. Because of your review, I am thinking twice about getting this lens for my D850 that is coming. I was really surprised at how big and heavy it is. However, I do bird photography and I guess I am just going have to face the facts. It's on sale right now for $1259. Can't beat that for an enthusiast lens.
your my favorite, love your videos and reviews
I agree with your assessment of the 200 - 500mm. I owned one and it seldom came off my D500, even though I also owned the fabulous Nikkor 300mm f4 PF ED VR + TC14EIII. If you are looking for a better means to carry it, take a look at the Cotton Carrier. I had the twin version and carried my D500 + 200 - 500mm on the chest holster and my Olympus EM1 mark II + Oly 300mm f4 on the hip holster. The weight is taken on your shoulders and not on your neck. It takes about 5 minutes to initailly set the Cotton Carrier up, then a few seconds to put it on and take it off after that. If you prefer a backpack, take a look at the LowPro Flipside 500AW. It will take a D500 with 200 - 500mm attached plus an EM1 mark II + Oly 300mm f4 (seperated) and a lot more.
Lowepro Flipside 300 will fit a D500 attached to the 200-500mm too, plus room for a 70-200mm OR 2 smaller lenses. I have used the combo of D500+200-500 lens with great success for wildlife and sports/actions. Awesome lens!
I never use a tripod as well. I like this video and what a nice lens🔥⚡️
I get stunning images with this lens. It’s a steal if you need a long lens. The lady is correct that it is hand-holdable. I’ve used it with a heavy D3 and a monopod and a gimbal head for stationary things like an Osprey nest.
I couldn‘t resist buying this lens, given its price. I agree with everything you said. The only problem I have run into is that the hood comes off too easily. Thanks for investing the time and effort to prepare this review.
Thank you for the review. I was hoping to find one on this lens. By any chance have you tried it with the Z 6II?
I have this lens paired with my D500 = PERFECT MATCH! To new wildlife photographers, this is what you need.
yeah, im looking forward to buy one for mi d500 too
200-500 with D500 is a killer combination!!
Nail. On. Head! For under $3000 , it's unbeatable value, you've got to pay $1000s extra and get the primes to improve your photos.