Texasgal

You might consider renting a lens and use it for a couple of days before investing in the Nikon 100-500. Thre are online rentals as well as camera store rentals.

Royce Moss Loc: Irvine, CA

Great to know looks, like the zoom is the way I will go. Looks like the extra reach, flexibility and cost is a big plus

Indylp

I love this lens you cant go wrong...Here is one of an Indycar headed straight at me at 225 MPH
Larry

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Indylp

no need to rent this lens...just buy it...you cant go wrong...

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Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

I bought mine several years ago. I use it on my D-800. If you do you job it produces wonderful pictures, even birds in flight. So far would not give it up or anything just yet. Happy shooting.

Royce Moss Loc: Irvine, CA

Wow! So cool. Gonna get this sucker

RonM12 Loc: Washington State

Using the 200-500 with my D850 and very pleased so far. For the $$ it’s hard to beat.

RickTaylor

Royce, I love this lens for exactly what you state you are looking for. I use it on both my D5 and D850. Had the Tamron 150-600 G2 and sold it. There is no comparison between the two. I believe this is one of the best values Nikon has in their lens selection.

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

My 200-500 is also a first grab for planned long distance shots. If you use the 1.4 teleconverter you will lose 2 stops. But you can get some fantastic detail. Without the teleconverter I took these two shots using a D810.

The cement cross is 35' tall. I took it at midnight from a distance of about 1/2 mile shooting up the side of a mountain using a tripod. In some of the photos from that series I could see people with cell phones reflecting in there faces. The cross was barely visible to the naked eye from my distance. Photo is cropped.

The moon is a cropped shot that I took from my backyard leaning against the house. Thanks goodness for VR!


As several have mentioned, reconditioned is good! If I had to do it over again I would buy reconditioned because it gets extra attention and better than new in many cases.

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Royce Moss Loc: Irvine, CA

Thanks for the photos Orange. Gonna get this lens !

pmackd Loc: Alameda CA

I suggest you try this lens out first. It is too heavy for many people to handhold safely for very long. A very strong person might find it OK to carry around for hours, but not everyone falls into this category. I have one and I also have the 300mm f4 VR PF, and the Nikon 1.4x TC. I use what is most appropriate for the situation. For casual shooting and larger birds in flight the 300mm f4 PF without the TC is best. Adding the TC still gives reasonably sharp images, but there is some loss. The 200-500 at 500 is what I use when I need more reach. Usually on a tripod but I also use it seated with elbows on knees (sort of handheld but more stable and less stress on the arms). It is definitely sharper than the 300 PF + TC and more reach: 500 vs 420. It is sharp at 500, but not as sharp as lenses costing many times more. Stopped down to between f5.6 and f8 it gets noticeably sharper. Despite what some have said, you can use it a 1.4x TC and get good results, even for birds in flight. But then it's best to stop down to f10 or f11 as, again, results are sharper; at that aperture though it's only good for static subjects in good light.

Now here's the kicker. For really casual shooting for subjects not too small or far away, with the D7200 you want the inexpensive AF-P DX 70-300. Light lens: one pound. Fast focus, great VR, quite sharp even at 300mm, though not as sharp as the bigger lenses. But you can buy one for about $150 online (Walmart)!

I have all three of these lenses and I use them all.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I think it's a great lens. But after a couple of weeks with one, and a similar time with the Sigma 150-600 sport, I found the sport to be sharper for my use, and it has better sealing against dust and moisture. If I were to do it today, I'd have a hard time justifying the Sigma - at 6.4 lbs, over the Tamron 150-600 G2 which is almost 2 lbs lighter. Both are equally sharp, and both are sharper than the Nikon. I am not talking night and day difference here. All three are the best in this tele-zoom category. But comparing my Sigma shots to my Nikkor 600mmF4, the Sigma (and now the G2) come closer to the image quality and the Nikon a little less so. Plus both the Sigma and Tamron have a greater focal length range. In that respect, the newer Tamron has Sigma beat - it is consistently good at the shorter focal lengths. The G2 would be my pick for your budget. Another plus in favor of the G2 is that the tripod foot is already Arca-Swiss compatible, so you don't have to spend more $$ to get a tripod plate for it. All three have good stabilization, so you can use them hand held. In almost two years of moderate use, I have never used the Sigma on a tripod. I've not been negatively affected by the slightly slower focus performance of the Sigma. You have the option of adjusting that if you get the dock, and from what I have seen, the same functions and adjustments are available with the Tamron G2.


Not that you are interested in spending $1800, but suffice it to say the following images could have been taken with a Tamron G2 - but I did use the Sigma, which I purchased second hand in 2016, just as the G2 was coming to market.

1/25 sec

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ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

Nice photos. My Nikon 200-500 performs similarly. It's good to know that photos from all these lenses are of a similar standard. I could have been steered towards the Tamron, but I'm more than happy with my Nikon, but that extra reach would certainly be nice.

Royce Moss Loc: Irvine, CA

Thanks Hoggers for all the comments. Looks like the Nikon 200-500 is the lens I'll go with based most on all your input. It's going to be an early Xmas/Birthday gift from the wifey. So all is good. Can't wait for the BIG BROWN TRUCK

Bill_de Loc: US

In that case, Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday!

You will enjoy your present!

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