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What suggested lenses and accessories would you suggest when buying a Nikon D500?
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Jan 18, 2020 11:26:12   #
SteveR Loc: Michigan
 
larryepage wrote:
You have received some good replies here. I would encourage you to recognize that the D500 is an outstanding camera that will do a great job for you far beyond the bounds of wildlife photography. Be careful not to limit yourself when you are selecting lenses. I do not photograph wildlife as one of my primary genres, but have two of these cameras that get extensive use alongside my full frame bodies.

There are two guidelines to keep in mind as you select your lenses. The first is that any lens you own or buy will give better results on your D500 than on just about any other camera...certainly any other DX body. The second is that the D500 is completely able to take full advantage of any great lens you put on it. With latest firmware, it is the Nikon DSLR that is fully compatible with the longest list of Nikkor lenses.

I endorse the suggestions you have already received for the 17-55 mm f2.8 DX zoom as your primary "normal" lens. It is a fully professional grade lens that delivers outstanding image rendition. Sometimes I feel that it is better than the 24 - 70mm f2.8 to which it provides equivalent full frame field of view.

I can also second the recommendations for the 200 - 500mm f5.6. It's not built to quite the same standards of ruggedness and durability as some other similar zooms, but it is optically excellent and comes at a great price. If you ever ended up having to replace it, you'd still be financially ahead of a lot of other options.

I cannot endorse the 16-80mm zoom. It is sold as an f2.8-f4, but ends up being f4 over almost all of its zoom range. Because of that, and because it's really pretty average (in my opinion), I feel that it is pretty severely overpriced, even on the used market.

When I need a little extra versatility, I've been using a 24-120mm f4 G zoom that I bought used for $425 at my local camera store. This is the lens that the 16-80 is intended to emulate. On the D500, it covers a full frame equivalent of 35-180mm, which I find very useful. I'm not sure it renders images that are as good as the 17-55, but it is very good. I've taken some images with it that did pretty well in contests.

You have a lot of good choices available to you. I'd suggest not getting in too big a hurry and taking time to look carefully.
You have received some good replies here. I would ... (show quote)


No matter how great the 17-55 might be, it provides absolutely no zoom capablitliy.

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Jan 18, 2020 11:31:12   #
hammond
 
queencitysanta wrote:
24-70 2.8
70-200 2.8
150-600 Sigma or Tamron
105 Macro

These lenses will handle anything you will ever need


... unless you want to create images that you can't capture with these lenses.

Such as images with fisheye distortion.
Or images with extremely shallow depth of field (f2.8 compared to f1.4 is pretty noticeable in portraiture).

And that 24mm is gonna be closer to a 35mm lens on a D500... so there's a good chance you might want something with a wider angle.

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Jan 18, 2020 12:07:57   #
photoman43
 
For lenses, buy the longest tele (s) you can afford, carry and use either handheld or with a tripod and a gimbal head. I use a Nikon 300mm f4 PF and a Nikon 500mm f5.6 PF lens and a Nikon 70-200mm f4. If you are budget constrained get the Nikon 200-500mm f5.6. And add a Nikon 1.4x teleconverter, the TCE 1.4 III.

If you like zooms also consider the Nikon 180-400mm f4 which comes with a 1.4x tc built into it. But it will cost you a lot of money.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1383763-REG/nikon_180_400mm_f_4e_tc_1_4.html

If you like small birds, get the Nikon 600mm f4

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1166859-REG/nikon_af_s_nikkor_600mm_f_4e.html

If you shoot in low light conditions, consider the the Nikon 500mm f4

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1166858-REG/nikon_af_s_nikkor_500mm_f_4e.html

And then you may need a good series four tripod and a gimbal head.

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Jan 18, 2020 12:19:40   #
bbrowner Loc: Chapel Hill, NC
 
Eye cup... size depending on whether or not you wear glasses.

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Jan 18, 2020 12:23:38   #
larryepage Loc: North Texas area
 
SteveR wrote:
No matter how great the 17-55 might be, it provides absolutely no zoom capablitliy.


I don't want to start an argument in someone else's thread, but cannot let your comment pass without stating that the zoom range of the 17-55mm lens is actually a little wider than the zoom range (or ratio, if you prefer) of the 24-70mm f2.8 that has been recommended multiple times in this thread. It's a little more than 3x, while the 24-70 is a little less than 3x.

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Jan 18, 2020 13:07:45   #
don646
 
I have a D300 - 2 D6o bodies
Lots of lens and stuff
will sale the lot for $600.00
Call me 615 504 02 nine 7
All in very good to excellent condition
I will send pictures

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Jan 18, 2020 14:34:26   #
Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA
 
mborn wrote:
For lighter weight Tamron 18-400. I use it regally .


I concur.

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Jan 18, 2020 15:03:10   #
CO
 
SteveR wrote:
queencitysanta has a good starting list. Shooting wildlife and landcape I'd get the 70-200mm last. The 24-70mm will cover much of what you need, but since it's on a crop sensor camera you DO need something to cover the lower ranges. I don't think 10-18 is wide enough. I prefer a 10-24mm because I DO use that 24mm selection for landscape on my crop D7000 quite a bit. Tamron makes one that is a second version that is supposed to be excellent. I have the first and have enjoyed it. Nikon makes one also. I have a friend who uses the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary on safaris and takes excellent photos with it. He previously used the Sigma 50-500 to the same effect but wanted more range. You could pick up a Bigma (50-500) used for a song, I'll bet.
queencitysanta has a good starting list. Shooting... (show quote)


I just got the second version of the Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 HLD lens yesterday for my Nikons. I'm just now in the process of taking some test shots. It's supposed to be the best ultrawide zoom for cropped sensor cameras right now.

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Jan 18, 2020 15:08:34   #
RickL Loc: Vail, Az
 
mas24 wrote:
You have many options for a flash. Depending if you need one for indoor photography. New, used, and third party. Prices low to high. The Nikon SB-5000 flash, mentioned earlier, is Nikon's best, and most expensive. $596. Nikon's 200-500mm pairs well with the D500. And the Tamron 150-600mm.


Make sure the Tamron lens is G2

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Jan 18, 2020 16:17:53   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
RickL wrote:
Make sure the Tamron lens is G2


You are correct. It slipped my mind. Same for the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 G2.

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Jan 18, 2020 17:12:38   #
Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI
 
A Raynox diopter is an inexpensive way to quickly modify a lens for close up photography. This high quality attachment is the easiest and quickest way to switch back and forth between close up and regular photography.
https://www.amazon.com/Raynox-DCR-150-Snap-On-Macro-Lens/dp/B0007KS7D0/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Raynox+150&qid=1579385290&sr=8-3
A good way to carry the Raynox is in a simple coin purse that is lined with microfiber cloth. Like this: https://www.amazon.com/FurArt-Genuine-Leather-Change-Zipper/dp/B07D3R5JQD/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=Coin+purse&qid=1579385373&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzTFQxNjVNVE9GOVJXJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDYwMTQ2NVZDMElRNFk0TTE4JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1ODIyNzkyVk1MWFhBQjE0SVgyJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
The cloth lining will not scratch the glass. You can get this item at most any department store or drug store. Don't buy every #%*$& thing from Amazon.

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Jan 18, 2020 17:18:21   #
John Sh Loc: Toronto, Australia
 
I think the issue here is if you don't know what lenses to buy why get a D500?

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Jan 18, 2020 18:04:15   #
rangel28
 
I would definitely get the Nikon 16mm-80mm f2.8-4 lens. It's the kit lens for the D500 and it provides a nice range as an everyday walk around lens, and it's sharp. I would also get the Nikon 70mm-300mm AF-P FX lens. It's relatively inexpensive for a Nikon lens, is pretty light, and focuses quickly and silently since it's an AF-P lens. There is also a DX version that is a little cheaper, but I would spend the few extra dollars and get the FX version.

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Jan 18, 2020 20:55:42   #
ELNikkor
 
Nikon 18-140 for daily walk-around, Nikon 200-500 for birds & sports

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Jan 18, 2020 23:11:42   #
DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA
 
imagemeister wrote:
The 300 and/or 500 PF - if cost is no object and you do not already have one. These two lenses and the D500 are the main best reasons to be shooting Nikon .....IMO.
.


I like my Nikon 200-500 on both FF and crop. The 500 PF looks nice but is more than I want to spend AND I find that having the zoom allows me to find subjects then zoom in. I have added a hot shoe red dot sight mount to my FF and that helps a lot. In summary, if I were to go with the 500PF, I'd figure the red dot sight to be almost mandatory. I also use a 16-80 f2.8/4 on my crop and like it. Depends on what your already have. I did not bother to mentioning the primes I already have that I can use on the crop body.

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