Nikon 500PF vs 200-500 | My Thoughts as a Wildlife Shooter
2024 ж. 11 Мам.
139 199 Рет қаралды
Not quite a review, really more of a collection of my thoughts after using the 500PF for a few weeks as a former 200-500 wildlife shooter. Hope it's helpful to someone out there!
Nikon 500mm f/5.6E PF: kit.com/blightrob/my-main-wil...
Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E: kit.com/blightrob/other-gear-...
My main wildlife setup: kit.com/blightrob/my-main-wil...
Other gear I recommend: kit.com/blightrob/other-gear-...
My studio gear: kit.com/blightrob/my-studio-o...
ever heard of a raincover for the 200-500??!
Thanks for your comment! Yes quite a few people have been kind enough to point out my error. Maybe I will test some out in a future video.
Rob Blight i admire your humbleness 👍🏼
@@jogarvizah2731 Thanks! I find decent information on rain covers very hard to come by tbh. Hopefully I can test some out in a future video.
@@RobBlight Lenscoat, or this lady off etsy: www.etsy.com/ca/shop/GrazinasDesign?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=490885966§ion_id=15074927
@@frederikvanreusel actually that myth has been recently debunked on KZhead 😀
Nice review, thanks Rob. Ordered my 500mm PF about a month ago. . . still one or two months to wait by all accounts. Looking forward to it!
Great Review. Thank you! Keep it up!
Excellent review with some humor thrown in at the beginning.
An excellent review. Dispassionate, no hype and so useful for someone like me who has the 300PF and the 200-500.
Thanks. As a 200 - 500 shooter, this was very useful.
Thanks Rob, I enjoyed that very much. Good information.
Great video, you're a natural, keep going!
Great review! Very helpful. Thanks!
thx for the review, I'll be adding this beauty to my 70-200 f4 lens on my D750 , think how happy ill freaking be,
good review....also been waiting close to 3 months myself...thanks for doing the comparison
Excellent one Rob! Thanks
Great intro. Finger hovering over the mouse button, we've all been there!
Yep, I was a few days ago....had to pull the trigger....hope it all goes well ....
YES! Haha...
Indeed and the nauseous feeling after clicking and the thought of "What they hell have I done!?". Or perhaps that is just me.
Great Video Rob thank you! You've answered all my questions about the 500mm PF, just need to find the money to replace my 200-500mm with one!
There is around £2600 difference in the price of these two lenses. I guess you'd hope the more expensive one would be better in some areas.
The pf lens is 2600€ more expensive so the comparison doesn't work.
Perfect... great job...
So far the best review about the Nikkor 500 mm PF I was particularly interested because after 3 years I want to switch from the 200-500mm to the 500 mm PF or a used 500mm f4.
I don't know about that, but thanks! 500PF is a great choice if mobility and compactness is important... it can't beat that f/4 aperture though!
Excellent comparison! Very helpful to me!! I tested the 300mm PF and was very pleased with the results: Very good resolution and contrast. So if one does not need the reach of a 500mm lens I recommend the 300mm F4.0 PF - cheaper and only 740g ...
Nice video - I have a pre-order in for one of these and it was good to hear your opinions since I’ve also been using the 200-500mm for the last couple of years. I'm really looking forward to the faster AF, weight reduction, and (hopefully) better balance at 500mm with the Nikon Z7 which I got just before Christmas!
how has your experience been with your new 500mm lens?
@@labalia30 It's been great - it was my go-to lens for wildlife photography for a couple of years until last summer when I sold it to move to a Z 400mm f/4.5. You can find a comparative review of those lenses and why I switched on my channel :)
@@GeoffCooper will listen to, thanks!
The 200-500 is unbeatable at it's price. - 1/30s handheld with VR is no problem, for a still subject. - In-flight shots are perfectly fine with the VR; just don't expect to shoot at 1/250, or even 1/500 for that matter... The subject is in flight, you need a high shutter speed to freeze the action. - Versatility of 200mm - 499mm - $2300 less than the PF! Buy the 200-500 and book a couple trips to use the lens... Now, if they were the same price - different story
Agreed I think the problems with the 200-500 are more user errors which a skilled photographer can avoid. The PF is close to 3X the price in Canada….just too much 😯
@@theinvisibleman2070 you're service is greatly appreciated, if only their was more people like you. Its a shame KZhead can't figure out it's autocorrect algorithms... :)
@@theinvisibleman2070 You obviously didn't catch the sarcasm through intentional grammatical errors on that last reply... Yes, I accidentally put it's instead of its on the original post. Thank you for the correction. I wish you well in your journey
The two aspects that would make me upgrade from my 200-500 would be weather sealing and faster focussing. I dont think the focussing is that much faster though. Good review.
Great intro LMAO I can't wait until I get my 500mm PF. I currently shoot with my D500 and 200-500mm, I love the lens, but it's too bulky and heavy. I hate the barrel. While shooting in high wind, one of my wife's hairs went inside the lens through the barrel, so now we have to send it to Nikon for repair. As wildlife photographers, we're at 500mm 99.999999% of the time, so the 500mm PF with me a welcome addition to our collection.
I think I will stick with my 200-500 for wildlife photography. One comment made was about the lens hood falling off easily. I cured this by tethering the hood to the lens body with a short piece of fishing line, something I have done with a couple of lenses. As far as image quality is concerned, I doubt whether many people would notice the difference, unless they were really into pixel peeping. At the end of the day you have to ask if the 500PF is worth the extra £1200 (approx) ? Maybe if you are a pro being paid for your pictures, or someone with unlimited resources.
Great presentation that is very much understandable about its comparison.
Lucky you to have got hold of the 500mm. I’ve had one on order since April and doesn’t look like I’ll get it any time soon 😟
Look at Mark Smiths bird photos = Super sharp with the 200-500. 2000-2500 shutter speed not 250 like your pictures
I know, I was at completely the wrong shutter speed for that shot. Sorry for the bad example.
Why don't you talk about the fact that a fix 500mm for a birder and wildlife photographer is problematic if the subject comes to near and is out of AF zone ? It's major. The flexibility we got with a zoom is fantastic ! And the other problem is the cost...this is also major if we have to respect an average budget.
You're right, I could have spent more time talking about that. With the zoom I was at 500mm 95% of the time and I felt that the compactness and image quality improvements of the prime outweighed the ability to zoom. Thanks for stopping by.
Good point about zoom ability. I think that's why the 200-500 and new 180-400 with the built-in TC will always have a place on the shelf of wildlife and sports photographers alike, whether they add a 500PF to their kit or not. I don't think it's about one or the other necessarily, which these comparison videos always tend to make us think about. "Average" budget is always relative, too The 500PF actually came in at a pretty bargain price point compared to where they could have placed it in the market... and 1/3rd of the equivalent F4 version.
@@MattJacques wildlife,wildlife...it is a must to do only wildlife with a 200-500?this is bullshit ...for landscape flexibility and for more distant portraits and so on...and wildlife..and Me shooting distant thunderstorms for example..no shelf for my zoom..p.s.here everyone must be wildlife guys..?
But since when does wildlife come too close to you?
@@thunder7382 Hey, I use my long lenses for creative landscapes too. Just read the title of the video again for a reminder why it seems the comments are wildlife-oriented! :D
Thanks for the video and views on the 500PF, I am still waiting for mine on pre-order, really looking forward to it, I am also shooting the D850, previously with 200-500 and 150-600G2
gadgetgaz_photo any thoughts on 150-600 G2
@@lukegnanapragasam9070 It is a nice lens, I like it, and will keep it still after I get the 500PF but I found mine seems a little slower than the 200-500 on the D850 D500 unless it is in good light. I did AF fine tune it and fairly happy using it until I get the 500PF soon. If you want to see some shots from 150-600g2 and the D850, the last two months on my instagram are with that combo here instagram.com/gadgetgaz_photo/
gadgetgaz_photo which one do you recommend, 150-600 G2 or 200-500 ? As I'm looking to purchase one & confused with mixed reviews. Hope you could give a better idea as you have used them both.
luke gnanapragasam personally I preferred the 200-500 also it is f/5.6 throughout the zoom range with Tamron f6.5 at the higher end. I’d recommend though that you visit a local photography store and trying both out even if you don’t buy either from the store, you can get a try of both and take some shots that way :)
gadgetgaz_photo Thank you for the opinion
I bought the 500mm pf today Rob. I also have the d850 hoping for nice results 🙏. Keep the vlogs coming thanks. Rodders.
Fantastic review !
insane production value
I know this is an old review. But would like to know if one can use the zoom lens hood onto the PF lens. :)
Liked your video alot, a very honest review and loved the funny intro!! I have done exactly the same with the checkout, but these lenses are really expensive for a beginner like me. For the moment I have decided to become better at using my existing material rather than buying better lenses or better camera!
thank you for your thoughts. I want to buy the 500PF. I own the NIKON D7200. does it make sense to use the 500 PF on the D7200, or should i buy a fullframe Camera ?
Thanks for the review Rob. A long time has passed since this review in Jan. 2019. Do you have any thoughts about using either lens with an FTZ adapter on a newer Nikon mirrorless camera, like a Z7II or a Z6II? If you have any updated thoughts I'd love to hear from you. I appreciate your dedication and hard work producing your reviews. 😎👍📷👌👀
Search: Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 vs Nikon 500mm f5.6 PF | Lens REVIEW (From Jared Polin)
Very useful review! I have the 300 PF and it's an excellent performer: Light and oustanding image quality. I am now waiting for a Z- version of the 500 PF - but if it will not arrive within the next six months I will go for the 500 PF and adapt it with the FTZ- adapter to my Nikon Z6. By the way: You didn't mention the versatility-advantage of the 200-500 especially in situations where you can't change your shooting place. But regardless of this advantage the 500 PF attracts me much more.
Thanks for your reply. Of course I appreciate your review and comparition. Just want to add this point of flexibility. Thanks again
I love what you show here, your voice are so calm. Have not shot the 500pf, but I shoot 400 2.8e fl daily. And your right the 200e is really fast, but still the 400 is even faster.
one of the best intro in quite some time haha! good comparisson, I´m getting the 200-500 in just a few weeks, great lens for beginners who want to step up. Currently using the tamron 16-300 so I don´t think I will be disapointed, even thou it´s a great lens for macro, great vid over all, leaving a subscribtion !
Confirmed! You wont be disappointed & your images will be better;
@@sheepshit666 that's what I think too, it will arrive tomorrow so I'm like a kid the day before christmas 😁👌
@@AndyGustavsson let me know what you think, my images & photography in general went to a new level when I paired it too a D500.
@@sheepshit666 really? I'm thinking about getting the D500 later on, need to save up some money first, do you record as well or only stills, if so how would you say it works with video?
@@AndyGustavsson Stills only
great review 👍🏼👍🏼
THanks for this video. Just wanted to know you would use lens hood on 500mm PF all the time? cheers
Thanks Rob! Using the 200-500 as my "daily driver" and grabbing my 500/4 for the good stuff, I am now more confident the 500PF could give me the portability combined with pop that I am looking for.
Is the focus on the 500 f4 much faster as in the 200-500? Greets
Alexander Kulzer Oh yes, the 500/4 is on par with its pro-level siblings. In my bag only the 70-200/2.8 vr2 is faster.
Hello! How did you pick the 500mm f4? Compared to the 600mm f4. Did you tried them all. I am in hard time deciding what to get, and am on a tight budget. 300mm 2.8 and 400mm 3.5 seem to have the best optical qualities, but not that much reach. Right now I am lusting after 300 2.8 + old manual 500mm f4. What is your opinion? Thanks :)
@@svtk5104 Fundementally it was about availability on the used lens market at the time I bought it. Today, I would opt for a 600/4 FL. I tried a 400/2.8 VR but found myself using TC all the time and the weight was a burden for sure. I think the 600/ FL s the sweet spot, at least for my photography.
@@DBZero123 Thank you very much.
Thanks for the comparison. I just picked up the 200-500 as it was a bit more in line with my budget. I am a bit surprised by the size and weight of this lens (even though I did read the specs online). I noticed in your video that you had your camera strap on your camera (like we all do with smaller lenses..). I've read that with heavier lenses, it was better to attach the lens to the strap, like the Black Rapid strap? Were you ever concerned about the weight of the 200-500 dangling off of the camera mount?
I wasn't too worried, especially with the D850 which has a metal reinforced mount. And due to the way the lens hangs straight down with that strap, I don't think it's putting much torque force on the mount. However, I find it so much better/easier to carry around like this I'm willing to take that slight risk. Thanks for your comment!
Hi, I just got the 500mm lens and while shooting birds, I am keeping auto ISO which is going very high (over 10000 and sometimes 25600) and pictures are becoming very grainy. Can you suggest what ISO you use? Or if there is anything I should do to reduce grains? Grains are so bad in my pictures that I am not able to edit and use it.
Nice Video Thanks for sharing - I just ordered one and yes I have to wait some month to get my fingers on it - only are you using it with any protection glass in front or do the lens hood gives a fair protection ?
Nice, I think you'll like it! I think the lens hood offers decent protection and I don't use a filter.
@@RobBlight Tanks for taking time to reply, very helpful for me.. cheers Svend
I've found my 200-500 great for panning with Sports VR on. Still interested in the 500 PF but interested to find out if it exhibits PF flare like the 300mm VR does (only been an issue for me when shooting race cars head on with bright headlights). Over £3.5k for an f/5.6 is a lot...mint used 300mm f/2.8 VR II money (with change) or even a decent 500mm f4D
Any thoughts on the new 180-600? I actually still lean towards the 500 pf for my z5 😂 especially since it’s half the price in the used market now
Hi Mr. Blight Have you ever encountered strange motion blur at 1/80 s? I use this lens on a D750 and while I get practically every shot sharp at 1/50 or even 1/25, I always observe a constant vertical motion blur at 1/80 (in the range from 1/60 to 1/160, with a miximum at 1/80) It seems that the VR somehow interferes with the shutter and/or mirror vibration. I don't have any issues with this lens attached on my D7000 wich obviously has a smaller mirror and shutter. I would like to know if this problem exists on other cameras like the D850.
Very useful review, I noticed even used the price of the 500PF holds up. Might wait and get the 500PF.
Enjoyable review - the 500PF seems very impressive . Great for handheld photography.
Hi Rob, pleased to have found your channel and I'm enjoying it so far. Just to pick up on the footage of your new lens covered in rain, not sure if you are aware but if it get's damaged because of water ingress Nikon will not repair it under warranty. It would be wise to invest in a rain cover if you intend using it frequently in the rain. I know some of these items are described as being resistant to water but it's vital to understand Nikon makes a distinction between water resistant and waterproof. It could be a very expensive lesson if you were to be unlucky, this applies to lenses and camera bodies incidentally! Cheers and all the best.
Glad you're enjoying it! Yes, I know water damage isn't covered under warranty. I don't plan to use it in constant heavy rain, but I'm not too worried about a light or brief shower. I will look into a rain cover. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m shooting with 200-500 3years, ok it’s not prime, of course not same image quality, but for the money, the best results, u can compare with primes, your image quality doesn’t improve 300% as price 1500€ vs 4500€. So as u said, 200-500 is really good lens if u have good copy, and yes size matter, 1500g much lighter and also 500pf shorter, but u should pay for it a lot.
now I'm looking at this
I'm a D850 shooter and do a lot of wildlife (still as a hobby). For that I use a friends' Sigma 150-600 C but I find that lens has 3 major problems: - it's heavy handhold - it's not sharp enough to my eyes in not-perfect light conditions and needs to get stopped down to around f8 - it's not weather sealed (which is horrifying when using it in rain or snowfall and it's also not my lens 😄) I'm quite attracted to that 500mm PF I must say. Of course it's still an f5.6 which still needs more light than a f2.8 or so but I think it might be a good choice... I'm now saving money to buy one 😄
Great Video it is realy interesting.
There is no doubt the 500mm PF is a great lens and at a great price as far as primes go. My question is this, I know it works well natively on the F-mount say with your D850. But, I hear the AF is slow when adapted to the Z-mount mirrorless bodies. I have seen a few Nikon KZhead reviewers' videos mentioned that, so is it a legit issue?
To confirm, you ALWAYS turn VR off when panning for birds in flight. From an experienced birder!
Oh, as a 200-500 shooter, I always leave vr on. never have a problem. Do turn vr off on a tripod, which is hardly ever. My pans are crispy sharp; From another bird/wildlife shooter.
@@sheepshit666 ok well that's fair enough. Well you can use VR / sport for panning if you need (I choose not too). However the VR / normal mode is designed for static subjects.
great review! since today i also own one :)
I've been using a 200-500 for a few months now and have found I can get down to around 1/100 and get fairly sharp pictures. I'm seeing a few reviews which actually suggest the VR is better on the zoom, but the low weight of the PF really draws me to it.
The lowest exposure times on which we will take sharp photos depend largely on the density of pixels on the sensor. For example, on the Nikon d850, the lowest useful time for me is on average about 1/125 for static handheld shots at 500mm. For medium-sized birds, about 1/500 for static shots at 500mm. For the Nikon d750 I could go a little lower with the exposure times. The more pixels per sensor, the easier it is to blur in motion
clickEd the like button as soon as the mouse clicks in the intro XD
its possible to mount in sony a9 with adapter and hows the auto focus?
Rob, Nice name. keep making those video's,.
Hmm, looking at your 200-500 shots, even the ones with still animals, it looks like you've got the same calibration issues I had. Although mine was front focusing, your seems like it's back focusing? Either way, I'm sure the prime will be sharper :)
I enjoy my 200-400 f4 II....very versatile lens for my sports photography...with monopod! enjoyed your review!
Fantastic images Rob. I own a D500 and I'm hoping to buy this lens an about 6 weeks time. A few of the reviews I have seen of this lens on You Tube mentions poor and inconsistent VR results when used at slow shutter speeds between 1/60 and 1/200 sec. Have you experienced any problems with the VR at slow shutter speeds?
Not for the way I shoot which is mostly static subjects, VR normal, Qc with the EFCS on the D850. If anything this lens shines in the 1/250-1/60 range in my experience.
Rob Blight That's great to know Rob, thank you. One reviewer advised using the 'Normal' mode for shutter speeds below 1/250 sec and the 'Sport' mode for shutter speeds faster then 1/250. I shoot mainly birds so will be experimenting. Hoping for some discounts at the Photography Show in March.
Thank You,
I did not understand what kind of ERR is occuring by switchin LOCK at time 11:45 and why ?.
200-500 is less than half the price of 500 PF So I think the issues of 200-500 are quite logical 500 PF should be compared with 500 F4 for it's price bracket alone But I think 500 PF is a unique lens n it's small form factor, VR, prime lens image quality alone is worth spending all that money ...
excellent -- thankyou
Great job.
You have to take into consideration the amount of megapixels your camera has got will mean a faster shutter speed is needed to get sharper results compared to a camera like a D5.
At least the new PF lenses make the older (but heavier but sharper) lenses more affordable...
And the camera bodies.
But the PF is sharper than the 200-500. Even if you have the luck to get a sharp 200-500. I don‘t say it‘s bad but the 200-500 models vary a lot. The 500pf is a prime, which is always a bit better than a zoom lens.
I shot the 500mm PF and the 500mm F4 FL on the D850 and D500 and there is no difference in sharpness. And the 500mm FL is just a little bit sharper than the older 500mm F4 G lens. So I dont think there are older 500mm lenses that are sharper than the PF.
@@fusionsmarty A freznel lens is always a compromise...
Many thks, II think I’ll buy the 500
I agree with almost everything about the two lens, except for the vr panning, I have been able to capture loads, and I mean loads of SHARP (in cloudy, sunny, rain conditions) shots panning all the way down to 1/600 . I am not saying you're not skilled or its user error, but a lot of time it is. that being said its possible maybe it performs better on mirrorless, as I use it on z6ii. But then keep in mind, I only get 3 axis as opposed to 5 axis stab since I have to use it with a FTZii in tandem. but just my 2 cents. I love this lens hasn't let me down one bit.
The issue with the 500mm PF lenses tripod foot, is that when carrying the lens by the foot, your finger hits the release button and your lens/body falls to the ground.
🤦🏻♀️😱
was the autofocus on the 200-500 on full or 6m-inf?
The weight difference is the selling point for me. Hiking with the 200-500 can be tiring and i have started taking out the old 70-300. But at $4000, i will wait until they come up second hand.
And you will be waiting years!
HI, I use a sigma 150-600mm C with a Nikon D500... And, oh, I loved the beginning of this video hahahaha Great video!
Looking the ISO of those photos, seems to suggest auto mode. I currently use Aperture mode but wonder what to use. I tried auto iso on but it went to high and ruined the detail.
I use manual mode with auto ISO. Shutter priority would also work. The main thing is that you vary the shutter speed in response to the conditions. If you're at the lowest shutter speed you can manage and the ISO still doesn't come down it might just be too dark. Also when you switch to auto ISO, I think you have to set the ISO to the lowest value otherwise it won't drop past what you've set it to.
@@RobBlight I use iso 1000 so that in AP it will be auto to higher speeds to avoid motion blur. I use AP so that I can go low aperture.
To avoid motion blur it's best to just control the shutter speed directly. The aperture will generally stay wide open in shutter priority + auto ISO.
I own the 200-500 and never have had the problems you’ve encountered. If I did it would be going back to Nikon. There are many weather repellent accessories for any lens I cringe to take any of my equipment out in pouring rain nothing is water proof. Just my opinion. Like your videos by the way.
Even if the lens was out of warranty? I actually really dislike their (UK) service center, but that's another story. And yes of course in hindsight I wish I had a cover to throw over the lens in the rain, but sometimes you get caught out... still, some of my favourite shots were taken in the rain. Thanks for your comment and I'm happy that you enjoy my vids!
Rob Blight he Rob oh I thought it was in warranty my bad as mine has a 5 year warranty I believe. For the most part I like the 200-500 what I may look into is a fixed 300. Thanks for the reply and yes love your videos so please keep doing them how about the 80-400 ? Thanks
Great work. Honest comparison. You got it right about the 200-500. Great lens with a poor build quality
Thank you )))
Great and very useful review! I've been shooting with this horse dick (200-500) for more than a year now on daily basis, so I have something to say. First of all, you probably shouldn't connect strap to your camera like that when carrying this monster, it will easily damage your mount, connect it to the tripod socket of the lens instead (you can use any strap with screw, like Joby or whatever, and you Peak Design strap has accessories as well ). Secondly, 200-500 is very sharp and has no problems with birds in flight (I've noticed the disclaimer), but your shutter speed should be really high (1/2000 - 1/4000), however this also depends on your skills and AF system of the camera - D500, D850, D5 nail it, while mirrorless and amateur models have problems with it.
I like your comment 👌 last week I bought a d850 and the nikon 200-500. Watching mark Smith made me decide.
I just blew beer out my nose after your second sentence. Thanks a lot.
Can i just say that VR should be switched off for birds in flight always. Otherwise motion blur is inevitable.
A fine video. The 500 PF looks great though expensive.
For me, the only advantage of 500 pf over 200-500 is the size and the weight difference. 500 pf weighs almost 1 kilogram less, which is noticeable after a few hours of walking in the field. 500 pf takes up as much space in the backpack as 200-500 pushed down to 200mm which is another advantage because especially for 200-500 I had to buy a larger backpack because I always wore 200-500 permanently connected to one of my d850, which is only used for wildlife. With 500pf I feel like walking with a larger portrait glass than with some serious telephoto lens. As for the sharpness of these two lenses, the 500 pf is sharper wide open, but at f8 both generate similar quality
Rob, appreciate the effort. Steve Perry already did a thorough review of the 500mm PF with comparison to the 200-500mm including evaluation of center and edge to edge sharpness, bokeh, build quality, VR etc. It's great to hear another person vocalize their thoughts, but Steve and yourself basically agree with each other and he covered more ground and a bit more completely. I realize it takes time and effort for you to make this video to help others. Just suggesting you take on topics where you either don't agree with other evaluations or you cover details others didn't. Just a suggestion. Personally, I was disappointed Nikon's release was the 500mm PF and not the 600mm f/5.6 PF (if it is coming). The 600mm f/5.6 PF would have provided better additional reach to the 200-500 and given folks a reason to own both (Zoom ability for one, reach for the other). I still love the 200-500mm but am frustrated with shots lost secondary to time to lock on focus for BIF or require focus when lost. Weight is definitely an issue when handholding. One other advantage you didn't mention is that you could add the TC14 to the 500mm PF for static subjects in good light (and should test shots of that. I do believe that was covered by SP as well though). Never really liked the results of the 200-500mm with a TC14iii added. I do believe a PF prime will find it's way into my bag in my future. Last note: I believe that the problem with the 500mm PF foot falling off was reported when carrying the lens using the foot. Lastly, you didn't mention the VR causing focusing issues at certain shutter speeds as an issue (reported by some) or not a problem in your video. Thank you for taking the time. Good luck with your channel.
I have huge respect for Steve Perry, I don't think most people realise how much work he must put into those reviews - he's one of the best for sure. I also think it's valuable to check out different viewpoints, and I think it's great when multiple independent sources all come to the same conclusions. The VR issue was a non-issue for me, at least for the way I shoot. I tend to use Qc with the EFCS enabled to keep vibrations to a minimum. Thanks for your comment and the feedback!
VR should only be used for static subjects. Why he was using it panning was pretty odd.
I can't answer this for Rob, but I know that the Nikkor 600mm f/4 E has VR for tripod panning. I would venture to say that since the 500mm f/5.6 PF is a newer lens, that it has a similar setting. I can't speak for how well it works. As you mention, VR is helpful for static subjects (and I would then ask you at what shutter speeds) and for handholding. I'm sure in part it depends on your technique.
@@dance2jam @Keoghan Bellew The manual describes using the VR for panning in detail. It *is* designed for panning.
An issue with something to be that point interested by BIG lenses ?
Great review, you are making me a poor man... ;-) Switching from the 200-500.
At 8:48, that lens is hanging from the camera w/out being supported. If he's not careful, the weight is going to break from the mount as I'm sure neither lens is light (there is a reason for the foot). Also, for the 200-500, rain cover would solve the moisture issue.
The mount will take the weight of the PF all day long . It is a very light lens.
@@bardot777 If a lens WASN'T supplied with a foot, YES, this would apply but in this instance, it's included. Maybe the lens engineers included the foot by mistake? I dunno about that.
I just got into photography 3 months ago. I ordered mine last week from a smaller company.. hopefully they don't have as long a waiting list for shipment. I've been researching it for a month and they're coming out with the 600mm PF also.. but that will start to get expensive around $7000. I plan to use a Nikon 2x teleconverter with AF and the Dx mode in my full frame camera at 1.5x to get a handheld 1500mm reach.. nobody has mentioned how it performs at that zoom. I assume moon pictures on a tripod are insanely amazing. Everyone seems to have the same review. I'm upgrading from a 70-200 f2.8 + 2x AF teleconverter + 1.5x from Dx mode giving me 600mm f8 total. I get perfect results from that right now. 1000mm full frame at f8.4, 1200mm at f10, and 1500mm at f12.4 seems insane with that VR.
Bear in mind that as the 500PF is f/5.6 it only supports the 1.4x TC. Thanks for watching!
As Rob says, the 2x TC is not ideal for a few reasons... adding it to a 5.6 lens would require a camera body that can AF at F11, which no Nikon body can do presently. On my D810 I find DX crop mode to come in handy some times, but it's really just a way of pre-cropping the image in-camera rather than doing it in post. Saves some room on the memory cards, but you lose flexibility with composition and it's not changing anything optically so it's still the same depth of focus and angle of view of your actual optical focal length (main lens + TC). Not many folks talk about performance at 1500mm equivalent, largely because nothing out there will be delivering ideal results. If you're on a quest for maximum reach, I'd think a D500 or other crop body would serve you well rather than compromising optics, AF and composition on a full-frame body. 10FPS is a nice bonus, too. Much cheaper than whatever the 600PF comes out at, anyways! :D
Ignore the TC.
thanks, I haven't heard anything about what it supports
If we're to assume the 500mm is true 500m... Then the 200-500 must suffer from focus breathing because it does not appear to zoom in as close as the 500mm fixed prime..
Ordered the f5.6 pf months ago and expect delivery on Tues or Wed!! - Can you give me details on the blue camera strap you used around 10.30 in your video? Thanks - I "liked" and subscribed. Good luck with future videos.
Thanks! The strap I use is the Peak Design Slide. The blue version was a limited edition I think. You'll love the lens!
Actually 200-500 i lens to go for the price. 500/5.6 Is lightger and yes sharper with faster af. But i would not pay so much for 5.6 ;) If you want fast versitale lens go for 300 2.8 + 1.4 + 2.0. Then you have 3 lenses and still have 2.8 on 300....
Not sure how you are shooting with the 200-500mm, I shoot wildlife at 1/1200 or more and lens is still very sharp. I do my post in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Just liked the video and could not make it 1000 likes :( ....love your calm and nice presentation of boring techs ...
great video - can you give a link to your camera guet for the 500 pf
In the video description there's a link to my kit page which has a lot of the gear I use.
Thanks for the video! I do like your strap... where from?
Looks like a peak design slide, I also use one
4 years later... I finally got one used for $2,500 in mint condish... it arrives Friday!
you complained about the VR a tracking birds in flight on the 200-500. Did you ever switch the VR to the second setting?? where its designed for objects moving like cars or sports action up and down a filed, or say, birds in flight?
The issue is that one second the bird (or whatever you are aiming at) could be in a panning trajectory, in the next coming towards you. Not a situation where at least I want to be thinking about switching modes constantly. I find e.g. the 70-200 to do a much better job in that aspect in the standard setting. For the 200-500, honestly, for such events I just turn VR off all together and rely on a shutter speed faster than 1/1000 s.
If you mean the Action mode; I understood that this only useable when you are moving and the object is static.
@@paulvanderlinden3820 There is no "action" mode on Nikon lenses. Some have an "active" mode which is as you say when you are on a moving platform like a car. Other lenses such as the 200-500 have a "sport" mode which is for subjects that move unpredictably and you have to keep moving the lens to track them. So the OP is correct that sport mode could've helped with birds.