Question to Nikkor 200-500 /5.6 users:
Feb 2, 2019 22:39:33 #
DaveyDitzer
Loc: Western PA
Also a former hunter and owner of the 200-500. Also had a 300 f4. I recommend a mono pod from the ground blind. I'm older than you, but I think at 4-500 movement would be a problem and might also make focusing difficult. Manual focus requires enlarging the view in Live View which adds a complication.
Feb 2, 2019 22:40:40 #
Feb 3, 2019 03:04:08 #
2dawgs
Loc: Eastern Washington State
Greer,
I have the 200-500 on a D500. I have shot Western Hockey League home games from down on the ice (photographers box next to our home teams bench), hand held, for three periods (about total of 2 and half hours). Yes its heavy. I'm 75, not in the best of shape but find it more than manageable, for me. Home team bench is mid-arena and this lense lets me get excellent shots to both goals. Best advice I've seen is to rent one for a weekend, try it out.
I have the 200-500 on a D500. I have shot Western Hockey League home games from down on the ice (photographers box next to our home teams bench), hand held, for three periods (about total of 2 and half hours). Yes its heavy. I'm 75, not in the best of shape but find it more than manageable, for me. Home team bench is mid-arena and this lense lets me get excellent shots to both goals. Best advice I've seen is to rent one for a weekend, try it out.
Feb 3, 2019 03:46:09 #
I’ve just got one and am 65 this year. It is fairly heavy. Heavier than the Tamron and Sigma 150-600’s, but I find it manageable. If you are worried about weight you could think about the 80-400. Mine takes very sharp pics, but for that extra reach the 200-500 is worth that extra bit of effort.
Feb 3, 2019 07:09:43 #
Greer wrote:
I must be missing a brain cell or two, but everyone says monopod and that seems more difficult than anything else. How could maintain a grip on the lens, balance it on the monopod, use panning, and at the same time zoom and/or focus? I would need 4 sets of hands. !!!!!!
I’m a duck hunter and shoot photos from my duck blind/boat often. I’m pretty sure a monopod or tripod would simply be in the way. I don’t know what kind of blind you have, but you might consider the space you have to shoot and freedom of movement. Try a shooting stick, thats not attached directly to your camera, with the fork to rest your lens in. It can be dropped quickly for a quick shot.
I use Olympus gear so cant comment on the Nikon. Here’s a photo of a buck that was walking around in the water in our decoys. He was about 40 yds from boat, shot with the Olympus 75-300. H was also to my left and slightly behind, some contortion was involved. I’m also 62. If you can handle a shotgun, or your rifle, you can handle a camera and long lens.
Feb 3, 2019 09:37:24 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
imagemeister wrote:
If you are ONLY going to use it in a blind, a tripod and gimbal is your answer .....
As mentioned earlier, on the 750 full frame, the Tamron 150-600 G2 would be a better option because of less cropping - on crop frame, the 200-500 is the choice IMO.
With birds in flight, and airshows, you should be handholding - otherwise, use support - your compositional and auto focus accuracies and therefore, your keeper rates will be better than handheld !
..
As mentioned earlier, on the 750 full frame, the Tamron 150-600 G2 would be a better option because of less cropping - on crop frame, the 200-500 is the choice IMO.
With birds in flight, and airshows, you should be handholding - otherwise, use support - your compositional and auto focus accuracies and therefore, your keeper rates will be better than handheld !
..
Interesting, my handheld keeper rate is 98%+ with the Nikon D500 and Nikon 200-500 mm 5.6 lens.
Feb 3, 2019 10:20:25 #
Greer wrote:
I must be missing a brain cell or two, but everyone says monopod and that seems more difficult than anything else. How could maintain a grip on the lens, balance it on the monopod, use panning, and at the same time zoom and/or focus? I would need 4 sets of hands. !!!!!!
First, a ball head is needed. On the base of better monopods there is a plate of sorts (folds up when not in use) thats keeps the monopod from moving around. Then you use the left hand under the front of the lens for support and trigger the shutter with the right forefinger while using the right thumb on the AE-AL button assigned for continuous auto focus. Hope this helps.
Feb 3, 2019 10:45:55 #
live with "heavy"... it is the best thing to overcome camera shake [which most think is out of focus] fer old guys like us... a long lens magnifys the efects of camera shake,,,that is also why your shutter speed should be faster [shorter] than your focal length..
Feb 3, 2019 11:59:04 #
At age 72, and in great shape, I sometimes handhold my D500/200-500mm combo. However, I find the results much more consistently to my liking if I use my tripod, or at least a monopod. The idea of pairing a 300 PF plus a teleconverter is also an excellent idea that saves a lot of weight as well as reducing the size of your camera/lens combo. I plan to use this combination in Alaska this summer during a workshop that will involve a lot of hiking.
Feb 3, 2019 12:04:12 #
saidel42
Loc: NJ
I'm 71. I use the Tamron G1 150-600 on a monopod with a Nikon D7100. Does not seem that heavy but I would caution...use shutter preference at or shorter than 1/1600 (preference ~1/3000) for my birding.
This egret is an example. Shot at 1/2000, ISO1600, F6.7, 150mm position.
This egret is an example. Shot at 1/2000, ISO1600, F6.7, 150mm position.
Feb 3, 2019 12:51:05 #
billnikon wrote:
Interesting, my handheld keeper rate is 98%+ with the Nikon D500 and Nikon 200-500 mm 5.6 lens.
Congrats !
Feb 3, 2019 12:52:38 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
imagemeister wrote:
Congrats !
Yea, and I am 70 and still have no issues hand holding (with the proper technique) a 200-500 5.6 lens.
Feb 3, 2019 13:20:13 #
billnikon wrote:
Yea, and I am 70 and still have no issues hand holding (with the proper technique) a 200-500 5.6 lens.
and, for how long if you are waiting for action ?? - more congrats !
Feb 3, 2019 15:59:44 #
billbarcus
Loc: IPNW
Greer, my friend ... buy the lens. You won't be disappointed. I'm 74 years old and have been toting heavier long lenses around for over 30 years. Well, to boot, I'm disabled with MS and racked with unforgiving arthritis ............. and, I love my Nikon 200-500mm lens! Too heavy? Give me a break ... 'it comes with the territory'. The too heavy excuse doesn't cut it with me!
Having gone from serious amateur to semi-pro to pro photographer, I've packed around a lot of 'Fast Glass' lenses. Yes, these lenses do produce some sharper images, yet, even though I could afford it, I gave up trying to 'keep up with the Jone's' of the photo world. Much less trying to impress anyone, especially fellow shooters. Having shot next to 'Top Guns' from Time, Life, and other rival publications, my slower and un-impressive lenses compared to theirs did the jobs just fine!
You might be new to photography, and if so, always remember ... it's not the camera that creates the picture, but the person behind the camera. You don't need a high-dollar piece of 'Fast Glass' to take stunning photographs.
I'm partial to Nikon gear, don't get paid to endorse or promote their stuff, but I graduated to it and I truly love it. And, I just don't understand why folks continue to screw cheaper, lesser costing glass different make glass in front of their Nikons, Cannons, Sony's, just for the sake of pinching a few bucks or getting some smok'n deal. Then, the next thing they do in short order is to put the thing up or sale for what-ever reasons.
So, have a look at these images some of these SM'ers have posted to your question ... have a peek at a bunch more images people are getting with this lens. Nikon made a keeper for me with the 20-500 f/5.6 and depending on the photo subjects I strap on a Nikkor TC 1.7 III for 750mm @ f/8. If I really want to 'reach out and touch someone, the DX mode produces 1050mm. I love the results with all three.
Having gone from serious amateur to semi-pro to pro photographer, I've packed around a lot of 'Fast Glass' lenses. Yes, these lenses do produce some sharper images, yet, even though I could afford it, I gave up trying to 'keep up with the Jone's' of the photo world. Much less trying to impress anyone, especially fellow shooters. Having shot next to 'Top Guns' from Time, Life, and other rival publications, my slower and un-impressive lenses compared to theirs did the jobs just fine!
You might be new to photography, and if so, always remember ... it's not the camera that creates the picture, but the person behind the camera. You don't need a high-dollar piece of 'Fast Glass' to take stunning photographs.
I'm partial to Nikon gear, don't get paid to endorse or promote their stuff, but I graduated to it and I truly love it. And, I just don't understand why folks continue to screw cheaper, lesser costing glass different make glass in front of their Nikons, Cannons, Sony's, just for the sake of pinching a few bucks or getting some smok'n deal. Then, the next thing they do in short order is to put the thing up or sale for what-ever reasons.
So, have a look at these images some of these SM'ers have posted to your question ... have a peek at a bunch more images people are getting with this lens. Nikon made a keeper for me with the 20-500 f/5.6 and depending on the photo subjects I strap on a Nikkor TC 1.7 III for 750mm @ f/8. If I really want to 'reach out and touch someone, the DX mode produces 1050mm. I love the results with all three.
Feb 3, 2019 21:36:44 #
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