kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

I call mine “The Beast”. I’m more worried about breaking the lens mount. What kind of a shoulder strap do you use? I need something like that.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I got married when I was 79.

Age is just a number. It might be a painful number on occasion, but old is in your mind.

JimBart Loc: Western Michigan

I’m 76 and frequently kick myself when I go out and don’t take my Sigma 150-600c because I think I’ll get tired. I miss a lot of shots because of only using the Nikon 55-300.
Good luck on the purchase.

ggttc Loc: TN

Try a pistol grip. Make the lens much easier to handle.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

leftyD500 I wish you wellness and much luck with your AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E, it is likely one of the most highly regarded pieces of Nikon kit both for image IQ and worth/value.

However please listen to your body if it starts to complain under the load of transport & deployment and seek guidance and clearance from a trusted medical practitioner (not from ego testosterone driven "I'm awesome" replies that have dominated this discussion). Personally I'm passing on my cherished copy of this optic at the advice of critical weight limits for my fragile cervical spine from the surgeon who did what he could to repaired it.

Sadly "Aging" UHH members are becoming children again as such lacking sound judgement... This has always been true throughout antiquity... After their patents reach 75 years of age medial practitioners typically have to follow "best practices" and place these patients in a different category, and for very compelling reasons.

Please heed the wisdom of latent within one of the greatest minds of the past century...
“When one door closes another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” - Alexander Graham Bell

While I understand and appreciate those who follow Welsh poet Dylan Thomas advice...
"...Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light..." Dylan Thomas

I do not believe Dylan Thomas' guidance contains the wisdom of Alexander Graham Bell...
Sound too good to be true, that is because it's not something you would find in a peer reviewed medical journal... enough said.

And do consider seeking medical advice on what is appropriate and germane for your current situation. Remember PT is an excellent adjunct to prolonging the usefulness of your physical condition. I can certainly attest to what Physical Therapy has done to increase the quality of my life...

Wishing you all the best leftyD500... Please do not miss seeing the a new door which has opened for you...

francosp Loc: Arizona

I have been using for years, all day long, my 200-400 F4 Nikon zoom to take photos during motorcycle racing. Heavy but very sharp lens. I still use it during Air Show handheld. Never got tired to use it and never missed a good shot. I own the 200-500 too, much lighter. I enjoy it but it does not give me the same result as the 200-400 zoom lens. Do not tell me that I can do it because I am young. I am over 80. Just find the way to operate handheld your camera without getting tired. Keep your harms exercised and lift the camera+lens just a second before you press the trigger. Nikon fast focus feature will take care of the rest. That's the advice I can give you and I am glad you bought back the Nikon 200-500 lens. Enjoy your great companion for actions photos.

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

I am 77 and it is one of my favorites with my D5 or D850.I use My Jan Gear to carry it. Very comfortable and easy.

LeRoy V. Loc: Oro Valley, Az

Well I must say I'm 85 years old and I have the 150-600mm Sigma lens and the weight has never really bothered me, love the shots I get with it.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Come on,Thomas!
"Ego, testosterone driven "I'm awesome". Where did you get that?? I, and most of the other commentors on this thread offered good advice from getting appropriate exercise to alternate methods for making it easier/possible to carry a damned good, relatively reasonably priced lens. If the OP is a dedicated outdoors photographer and doesn't want to give that up, this was all heartfelt attempts to help out with a difficult decision! I realize that New York based "professionals" are far superior to us hicks from the hinterlands, but cut us a little slack!!

wcastro

I am 90 and still going strong, I owned the 200-500 twice just like you will and will not let it go again. I did just as you did but went to some thing even further and found I was better off with the 200-500 for all I do. I too am a long time Nikon, from way back- NikonF days. before that Im shot with a Canon F1. Enough war stories already,

Bill

IDguy Loc: Idaho

I have the 200-500 and love it for reach and image quality. I use my Z50 mostly with it reducing total weight even with FTZ. The DX image area in effect adds a 1.5 TC with no loss of min fstop and of course free because I have the Z50 for other purposes (mostly when hiking).

If Nikon ever issues the Z 200-600 that has been on their map for years I’ll consider it. But likely they will price it to not interest me.

I am considering a 100-400 for when I want to venture further for less weight. Nikon has priced theirs beyond my level of interest so I might go with Tamron or Sigma. They require FTZ also so weight reduction would be only the lens difference. And I’d most use it on the Z50 as well because I have the 24-200 on my Z72.

I seem to be a youngster here…only 75 till next month.

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

I already had the 70-300 f4.4-5.6, the FX version, but bought the 200-500 for this situations when 300 isn’t enough. I really need only 500. From 300, 400 does not give me much more. 500 makes a difference and I’m usually racked all the way out to 500. BUT… the 500 prime is three times the cost of the 200-500. I call it “The Poor Man’s 500”.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Just my experience, but I will never have another Tamron big zoom. I've had two of them and gotten rid of them in favor of the Nikon 200~500. No comparison in my opinion. Others have had better luck with the Tamrons.

Judy795

I have the 500PF and the 200-500. Was going to sell it but now I think I’ll just use it more and look for a wagon or stroller for free

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I don't know if there is any better IQ coming from the 500 prime, but I would go with the 200~500 even if they were the same price. Even though I have my zoom racked out to 500mm most of the time, I'm not going to give up the versatility of having that shorter reach in a hurry when I need it. And I have needed it and got the shot that I would have missed with the prime. I can live with the "poor man's" tag!