Upgrade advice wanted: lens or camera? Have a Nikon D7200 and Z5 and a Nikon 200-500 zoom. Thinking of upgrading either to a Z7II or a Nikon 500 PF prime. What’s your...

skipwv Loc: West Virginia

Have a Nikon D7200 and Z5 and a Nikon 200-500 zoom. Thinking of upgrading either to a Z7II or a Nikon 500 PF prime. What’s your experience/advice? I like the Z7II’s speed and resolution for wildlife and I like the lighter weight of the 500 PF. Decisions, decisions!

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Neither, there's absolutely nothing wrong with what you have. Save your money and take your wife out to dinner

ricardo00

skipwv wrote:

Have a Nikon D7200 and Z5 and a Nikon 200-500 zoom. Thinking of upgrading either to a Z7II or a Nikon 500 PF prime. What’s your experience/advice? I like the Z7II’s speed and resolution for wildlife and I like the lighter weight of the 500 PF. Decisions, decisions!

I also used a D7200 (and 200-500mm) and upgraded to the 500mm PF lens. For me, it was a fantastic upgrade. This lens is so much lighter and focusses faster so definitely increased my keeper rate. I don't have the Z7II but personally from what I have heard, you might just be better off getting a D500 (or D850) than the Z7II and wait for a Z7III. The D500mm shoots 10fps so quite a bit more than the D7200. Also then your other lenses would work fine on it.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Curmudgeon wrote:

Neither, there's absolutely nothing wrong with what you have. Save your money and take your wife out to dinner

I have both lenses and love the PF, but depending on what and where you're shooting, you may need the flexibility of the zoom.

Our D7100 is just fine. I have the 500 and 850 as well.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Here's an idea: just send me $5,000 and I'll surprise you with some brand stinkin' new-ish* (to you) gear that'll knock your photographic sox --and probably your foot or maybe your leg-- off!

*(Where'd I put that sweet 'ol Soviet Era Zenit I repainted black twenty-whatever years ago? I know it's around here somewhere. And --if I remember correctly-- it had a sweet, sweet, SWEET! Spiratone 58mm M42 [that I got SPECIAL --back in the day-- from Abe's Of Maine!] preset screwed onto it, too! Or maybe not. Or maybe it was a Vivitar lens? Or maybe that KILLER ZENIT doesn't have a lens a lens screwed onto it, and if it doesn't, you could always contact Abe's and buy something nice....)

PayPal is goot for me. Submit poste haste to: Cany143@ripoffs.dot.net. (But without the 'dot' on the end, of course.)

Alternately, you could just keep your D7200, call Abe's, and send me that $5,000. Real soon.

jcboy3

skipwv wrote:

Have a Nikon D7200 and Z5 and a Nikon 200-500 zoom. Thinking of upgrading either to a Z7II or a Nikon 500 PF prime. What’s your experience/advice? I like the Z7II’s speed and resolution for wildlife and I like the lighter weight of the 500 PF. Decisions, decisions!

Sell or trade the whole lot and get a Z6ii and 180-600... Or if you're single or have a wife that doesn't care make it a Z7ii or Z8 and 180-600.

Bill_de Loc: US

ricardo00 wrote:

I also used a D7200 (and 200-500mm) and upgraded to the 500mm PF lens. For me, it was a fantastic upgrade. This lens is so much lighter and focusses faster so definitely increased my keeper rate.

You saved me the typing, I agree 100% with a D7200 and PF 500.

I sometimes substitute the PF 300 for longer walks or larger subjects.

---

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Dee-leeted.

ricardo00

jcboy3 wrote:

Sell or trade the whole lot and get a Z6ii and 180-600... Or if you're single or have a wife that doesn't care make it a Z7ii or Z8 and 180-600.

If OP wants the 500mm PF for lightweight, the 180-600mm is almost as heavy as the 200-500mm. So they should go for the Z8 and 600mm PF! Isn't it fun spending other's money.

jcboy3

ricardo00 wrote:

If OP wants the 500mm PF for lightweight, the 180-600mm is almost as heavy as the 200-500mm. So they should go for the Z8 and 600mm PF! Isn't it fun spending other's money.

Yes, it is. But neither the 7200 or Z5 are particularly good for wildlife, and the 200-500 has such a huge throw on the zoom ring that it's a real pain to use. While the 500PF is a great lens, it is very restrictive for wildlife because it doesn't zoom. Of course, one could carry the 200-500 on one camera and the 500 on another, but that isn't going to do anything for weight.

ricardo00

jcboy3 wrote:

Yes, it is. But neither the 7200 or Z5 are particularly good for wildlife, and the 200-500 has such a huge throw on the zoom ring that it's a real pain to use. While the 500PF is a great lens, it is very restrictive for wildlife because it doesn't zoom. Of course, one could carry the 200-500 on one camera and the 500 on another, but that isn't going to do anything for weight.

I use primes and usually find that it is no problems. I am cropping even with the 500mm on a DX camera (the D500) 90% plus of the time. There is the rare time that it is too much lens and then just focus on the head. If I am driving, I have two bodies with different lenses, say the 300mm PF on one and the 500mm PF on the other (both on a D500). If hiking, I usually just take the 500mm. Yes one sacrifices the ability to zoom out but prefer the lighter weight and faster focus. But everyone has to find what works for them.

ricardo00

Bill_de wrote:

You saved me the typing, I agree 100% with a D7200 and PF 500.

I sometimes substitute the PF 300 for longer walks or larger subjects.

---

User ID

Curmudgeon wrote:

Neither, there's absolutely nothing wrong with what you have. Save your money and take your wife out to dinner

And take my wife too.

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

skipwv wrote:

Have a Nikon D7200 and Z5 and a Nikon 200-500 zoom. Thinking of upgrading either to a Z7II or a Nikon 500 PF prime. What’s your experience/advice? I like the Z7II’s speed and resolution for wildlife and I like the lighter weight of the 500 PF. Decisions, decisions!

Most folks will not see a dramatic difference in the quality of there images by upgrading. It is one of the major mistakes amateur's make and the main reason salesman smile. They say, of course you will see a difference. But like I said, 98% of amateur's will not notice a significant difference, because they keep doing the same things and expect different results.
I used the Nikon 200-500 for many years and won many wildlife contests with it.
I will tell you what, you win your first contest with your 200-500, then I will allow you to upgrade.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Curmudgeon said: "Neither, there's absolutely nothing wrong with what you have. Save your money and take your wife out to dinner."