Your experience or knoledge of Nikon 200-500mm lens (Page 2): Ditto on the raves about this new lens. Use it on the D500, D750 and D4.... fastest and sharpest lens in my bag for sports...

kenneil Loc: Jupiter, Fl, Ochlocknee, Ga, Iron Range, Mn

Ditto on the raves about this new lens. Use it on the D500, D750 and D4.... fastest and sharpest lens in my bag for sports and wildlife!! HIGHLY recommended!! Focuses on birds in flight better than U can imagine!! 😎

pendennis

I tried using TC's on my Nikkor 300mm f4, and a Tokina 400 f5.6, but there's no substitute for a true long lens, and the 200-500 fits my needs. Yes, it's a bit heavy, bit I've used it mounted on a Manfrotto gimbal, and a Promaster carbon fiber tripod. It's a solid combination for me and my needs. I've used a Kenko 1.4x TC with great results on my D500 and D750.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better lens.

MichaelL

I really like mine. It is big and heavy though. It also attracts comments when you are carrying it around.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

FoxT wrote:

I'm considering a Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 E ED VR lens for use on my Nikon D610 and would greatly appreciate any input on the lens. Will be using it for wildlife shots in the rocky mts and grandkids sports. The grandkids are playing on much larger fields now so 300mm just isn't quite enough.

The 200-500 is a high magnification lens and therefore, challenging to point accurately and keep on target ( stabilize) - see my topic on facial stabilization - http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-236741-1.html

It also weighs 5 lbs. which adds to the pointing/carrying challenge - see my topic for BODYPOD - http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-384073-1.html

Regarding quality control, it IS made in China - but so is the new 105 1.4 BTW !

All of the data I have seen on the image quality of the 200-500 suggest that resolution falls off (significantly) away from the center - so a crop frame body is the best case scenario for image quality rather than a full frame.

Tom337

Love it for wildlife. When I'm shooting hand held I remove the tripod collar-any reduction in weight is welcome.

Dan De Lion Loc: Montana

FoxT wrote:

I'm considering a Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 E ED VR lens for use on my Nikon D610 and would greatly appreciate any input on the lens. Will be using it for wildlife shots in the rocky mts and grandkids sports. The grandkids are playing on much larger fields now so 300mm just isn't quite enough.

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Very sharp across the frame at all focal lengths and all apurtures. You can hand hold this lens because of it relatively light weight and it's excellent VR. That, alone, puts it way ahead of its heavier competitors from Sigma and Tameron.

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JohnKlingel

It's a great lens for certain situations. I recently took it to the Badlands and Black hills because I was going to be in a car and photographing wildlife where I wouldn't have to hold the lens for extended periods or could rest it on the car or car window. If you have to hand hold for extended periods, it's too heavy.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Here is a Laughing Gull Portrait taken with D500 - 200-500 + 1.4x VIII

(Download)

charlespkeith

I use it on a D810 for nature (birds, animals, plants/flowers, etc) and to get reach where I need it for landscape photography. Fantastic lens. I like the zoom but others in my photography club (pro photographers) chose to go with a 500 prime f4. Not sure, for me, if the extra aperture is needed in lieu of zoom but it is something to consider. Either way, you wont go wrong.

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

Outdoorsafe wrote:

My only discontent with the lens is the lens colla... (show quote)

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

All you have to do to make it rotate smooth is put car wax on the lens and it works smooth and save 190.00

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

I don't have the lens myself, but I am hoping to be able to purchase it sometime in the not to distant future. Here is one of the reviews on the lens for you to look at. I always read the equipment reviews on this site.
https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-200-500mm-f5-6e-vr

Warbird Loc: Sweden

Vince68 wrote:

I don't have the lens myself, but I am hoping to be able to purchase it sometime in the not to distant future. Here is one of the reviews on the lens for you to look at. I always read the equipment reviews on this site.
https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-200-500mm-f5-6e-vr

Anyone can choose what to see in a review, but with this in the text I would not by the Nikon:
"I would say most of the time, autofocus is fairly good for tracking birds in flight." :-)

RoadDog

I have had the lens since it came out. Hemmed and haud tween that and the Sigma 150-600. So far It has performed very well. Don't expect super snappy focus. Its a bit slow, but darn accurate.

Nikon D610, 200-500 f5.6
Nikon D610, 200-500 f5.6...

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

Warbird wrote:

Anyone can choose what to see in a review, but with this in the text I would not by the Nikon:
"I would say most of the time, autofocus is fairly good for tracking birds in flight." :-)

I didn't say they gave it a spectacular review, just that they reviewed it, and also that I always read the gear reviews there because they are honest and tell you whats good, as well as whats not so good. Hence their review sentence "I would say most of the time, autofocus is fairly good for tracking birds in flight." Pretty straight forward I would say, not sugar coating it at all and telling you whats not so good. Its up to the reader then to make a determination after that. After reading reviews from Pros, it is always a good idea to get feedback from actual owners of a piece of equipment, thats for sure. Your initial response to the OP on this lens was what was posted on DPReview. I gave a website that reviewed the lens, and pointed out things not so good, which is what someone purchasing gear would want to know.