Nikon 200-500 issue (Page 2): :sm24: :sm24: Agreed, focus is spot on with this lens. I have talked 5 people into this lens from their Tamron and they ALL say the same thing, this lens...

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

phatzen wrote:

Mine was recalled and fixed. Have had no problems whatsoever with it since then. Focus is 'spot on' even if 'hand held' using VR.

Agreed, focus is spot on with this lens. I have talked 5 people into this lens from their Tamron and they ALL say the same thing, this lens focus system is SPOT ON. Way to go Nikon, you have produced another winner. One in a long line of success stories.

Rashid Abdu Loc: Ohio

I have had my 200-500mm Nikon lens for about a year. I have used it hand held and with tripod and got excellent shots. I recommend it highly.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Rashid Abdu wrote:

I have had my 200-500mm Nikon lens for about a year. I have used it hand held and with tripod and got excellent shots. I recommend it highly.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

Steve Perry wrote:

I had to go through 3 copies before I found a sharp one (I later found that the folks at Photography Life has similar problems). However, this was all when the lens first came out. I really don't see too much anymore about sample variation, it seems like it's pretty safe to buy now. Of course, always test any new lens and make sure it's satisfactory.

Steve, besides going out and using it, do you have a video on how to test your lens?

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

Steve Perry wrote:

I had to go through 3 copies before I found a sharp one (I later found that the folks at Photography Life has similar problems). However, this was all when the lens first came out. I really don't see too much anymore about sample variation, it seems like it's pretty safe to buy now. Of course, always test any new lens and make sure it's satisfactory.

Steve, will you be going to Florida soon? Do you get photography tours or lessons in Florida?

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

My girlfriend bought one recently and likes it allot. She has offered me to try it. If I get great results, I'll sell my Nikon f/4, 200-400mm, the newest version.

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

Keldon wrote:

I'm considering purchasing the Nikon 200-500 lens. I know that many of them had a quality control/ focus issue when they first came out and was wondering if that issue has ben cleared up. I have heard and read of people sending them back two or three times before getting a good one.

I think I may have owned mine for about a year. I deliberately bought mine from my local London Camera Exchange, rather than on line for the very reason you refer to. I am very pleased to report that mine was spot on straight out of the box. It is my favourite lens, even though it is rather heavy. Of all the lenses I have owned/own, the only one that I rate better is my old Canon 300mm 2.8L IS.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Steve Perry wrote:

I had to go through 3 copies before I found a sharp one (I later found that the folks at Photography Life has similar problems). However, this was all when the lens first came out. I really don't see too much anymore about sample variation, it seems like it's pretty safe to buy now. Of course, always test any new lens and make sure it's satisfactory.

Hi Steve. Do you prefer this lens over the Nikon f/4, 200-400mm, which I also own.

photocurt

Hey, if you don't mind, about how much does that lens cost?

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

jccash wrote:

Steve, besides going out and using it, do you have a video on how to test your lens?

No video, but here's my DIY at home testing procedure:

https://backcountrygallery.com/lens-sharpness-testing/

Of course, this works best when you're comparing one lens to another.

If you scroll down on this post to Update #1, you can see an example of the poor copy of the lens (make sure you click the side by side image to enlarge).

https://backcountrygallery.com/nikon-200-500-vs-300pf-review-and-comparison/

I ran the test multiple times, focusing with LV, and the results were always the same. The lens looked like that in the field as well. My current 200-500 is nearly as sharp as the 300 PF at 300mm.

Also, no FL plans at the moment - I'd love to go, just have too many things on my plate so I'm sticking closer to home.

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

Have had mine since mid 2017. Due to injury could not carry my 200-400 and size and weight of the 200-500 are manageable. Got some good shots but also a good many soft ones. Likely operator error. Then I did as Steve Perry recommended in his tutorial on Nikon AF System, and checked the focus properly and then did an adjustment. Just did this last week so too early to see results. I did need to bring the focus back -7 so there should be some better focusing and sharper eyes. Now I need to fix the operator.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

Feiertag wrote:

Hi Steve. Do you prefer this lens over the Nikon f/4, 200-400mm, which I also own.

Actually, I do.

I'm not a fan of the F/5.6 max aperture, but I find this lens more reliable at longer distances. I had a 200-400 and it was like a really good prime at close range, but anything over 25~30 meters and it was soft. This is a known issue with this optic (Thom Hogan will tell you the same thing). So, if you're shooting under 25 meters, it's a dream, beyond that, the 200-500 is better.

DMGill Loc: Colorado

I’ve had mine for a year with no problems or complaints. It’s a great lens. I still use my 200-400 f/4 for low light but if I didn’t already own it, I’m not sure I’d buy it now.

RonM12 Loc: Washington State

No issues with my 200-500, purchased it fall and have been pleased with this Lens.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Feiertag wrote:

Hi Steve. Do you prefer this lens over the Nikon f/4, 200-400mm, which I also own.

I owned the 200-400 f4 and sold it because of the weight. I like to hand carry and hand shoot. My 200-500 is just as sharp. REALLY. And it has the electronic aperture so on my motor drive shots the results are more consistent frame to frame than with my 200-400.