adrianpd wrote:
Apart from price what do UHers think are the pros and cons of the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED AF-S VR Zoom NIKKOR Lens versus the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR Lens?
I now own both and I find that I love um both for what each is good for. If you can afford the Nikon 500 5.6, buy it. If you can't, buy the 200-500.
I have found the 500 5.6 to be a shade faster in initial focusing than the 200-500, but my keep rate on both lenses is about 98% once focusing is locked on using Group Auto Focus.
Sharpness and image quality is a toss up, their are instant's where each out preforms the other. But overall I would tend to favor the 500 5.6.
The 500 5.6 is weather proofed where the 200-500 is not, but to tell you the truth when it starts to rain I cover my equipment with my ever present trash bag, so weather proofed is not a deal breaker for me.
My main concern is weight as I hand hold my camera for wildlife photography in Florida Wetlands 7 days a week. And yes, the 500 is much lighter than the 200-500. But the 200-500 is more versatile. On my D500 the 200-500 has equivalent field of view of a 300-750 mm lens. On the other hand the 500 becomes like a 750MM 5.6 lens on the D500. Both are sharp and a lot depends on the ability of the photographer. A good photographer can make the 200-500 a fantastic lens, and on the other hand, I am sure someone can make the 500 5.6 lens look bad.
The front element of the 500 5.6 is especially coated to repel dust, I cannot tell you what a blessing this is. I have yet to clean the surface, I just blow any dust (very little) off with my Giottos blower.
Yes, the front element of the 500 5.6 is a FL lens, but I do not see that it has made any difference in the outcome of a shot, and sometimes I shoot into the sun but do not allow the sun to come into my field of view.
The lens shade on the 500 5.6 is a better fit than the one on the 200-500.
Again, I like both lenses for what their advantages are. I am still experimenting with the newer 500 5.6 and have found it works really nicely off my D850. I am blessed to be in a position to get the 500 5.6 because I am a member of Nikon Professional Services and I can get a lens when others sometimes cannot.
Below are some grab shots with both, I chose a Great Egret for both shots. Please do not use these as a basis of comparison, I am just showing what each is capable of. The first shot was taken with the 200-500 and was used as a lead in shot for one of my shows. The second was take just a week ago at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. Actually both were taken there about two years apart.
Again, I believe you would be happy with either. I have found them both to deliver excellent results.