Nikon 500mm f/4 P lens on a D750 or D850? (Page 2): I used to own and use the Nikon 500mm f4 P lens on my former Nikon film cameras and a D200 and D300 digital cameras. If you can...

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Nikon 500mm f/4 P lens on a D750 or D850?

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Oct 10, 2021 11:01:41 #

photoman43

DocMurdock wrote:

Hi, br I am relatively new to digital photography... (show quote)

I used to own and use the Nikon 500mm f4 P lens on my former Nikon film cameras and a D200 and D300 digital cameras.

If you can afford the D850, get it and not the D750. Use the 500mm f4 P on the D850. Those extra pixels are NEEDED as they allow you to crop more, other things being the same. That lens balances beautifully on a ballhead and tripod and can be even used for some birds in flight shots focusing manually.

The Nikon 500mm f5.6 pf would be a better choice as it is smaller and lighter and has AF. But if that is too $$$, so be it.

Oct 10, 2021 11:08:47 #

photoman43

DocMurdock wrote:

Hi, br I am relatively new to digital photography... (show quote)

Kevin, the matching 1.4x TC for the 500mm f4 P is the Nikon TC 14B. The 2x is the TC 301. I think it can be mounted to a D850, but I would double check. I used both all the time with my 500mm f4 P on film cameras with good results. On a D850, who knows. The TC 14B would be a safer bet.

Finding one to buy may be an issue. I still have my TC 14B and will sell it if you want it.

Oct 10, 2021 11:17:37 #

Photec

DocMurdock wrote:

Hi, br I am relatively new to digital photography... (show quote)

The one thing I would caution you about with the D850 is motion blur. For me, any lens I put on it needs to have VR because of the size and number of the pixels. The longer the lens, the harder it is to stop the blur; but when you do the images are truly magnificent. Good luck.

Oct 10, 2021 11:59:40 #

Nicholas J DeSciose

Consider the Nikon 200 mm to 500 mm lens extremely sharp very versatile. I got a used one for $750

Oct 10, 2021 12:25:14 #

Quixdraw Loc: x

Agree on the Nikon AF S 200-500 1:5.6, have had excellent success with it on the D7200 with and without the TC 1.4 E II. Relatively budget friendly combination if carefully shopped and purchased used.

Oct 10, 2021 14:57:40 #

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

DavidPine wrote:

I like the D850 or Z7 with the 500mm pf. Here's a shot with the D850.

What a dazzling, stunner of a shot
🧡🧡🖤🧡🧡

Oct 10, 2021 16:36:38 #

DocMurdock Loc: Florida

David Pine,
Thanks for your input and sharing the excellent butterfly photo.
Best,
Kevin

Oct 10, 2021 16:39:28 #

DocMurdock Loc: Florida

UHH experts,
Thank you very much to all who gave recommendations. I am learning a lot.
It's great to be part of the UHH community.
Best,
Kevin

Oct 10, 2021 17:20:28 #

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Kevin. Have fun on tuesday field testing the lens. I have some suggestions for you when you do.

1) watch out for thermal movements in the air. If present they will wipe out any conclusions you might be able to draw from testing. With the lense mounted on a substantial tripod, engage live view, magnify the image, let the image settle down and then watch the screen for several seconds. If you see shimmering and focus changes then you are looking through unstable air. This lens and camera magnify so much that magnified instability will simply look blurry.

2) employ all your best techniques. Use a beefy tripod & head, use a cable or remote release, use mirror up, wait about 5 seconds after the mirror flips up to engage the shutter, activate the electronic front curtain.

In a separate post I will show a full size image when conditions were good.

Oct 10, 2021 17:26:41 #

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Here is an image that gives you a good idea of what is possible with this lense in good atmospheric conditions.

This is full size taken in early summer of this year, D850, 500mm f4 ai-p lense, 1/400 sec, f4, iso 125, with an internal BW KSM polarizing filter. Please note the 2 climbers just above the sunlit slopes near the center of the frame. This is uncorrected for and does show a very small amount of green chromatic abberation around the summit ridges. Zero sharpening applied. Mt. Hood taken from Govt. Camp.

Note. Focus is on the ridge over on the right side most of the way up. This was when I realized that wide open the entire peak was not quite in sharp focus.

Charles