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tele zoom lens for Nikon D500

Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 8:57 pm
by Bruce Sherman
After reading all the replies to my recent post about a camera that will perform better at higher ISO settings I have pretty much decided to go with the Nikon D500 (and maybe get the D850 later). I would like to get one of these two lenses:
Nikon AF-S 200-500 mm f/5.6E ED VR lens OR
Tamron SP 150-600mm F5/6.3 Di VC USD G2 lens

Both lenses are almost identical in price, weight, and size. The Tamron has a little more reach (at the expense of 1/3 f-stop) and can be used with the TAP-in console to fine tune AF. The Nikon can be used with the Nikon 1.4X TC.

Which would you get if you were in my shoes?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 9:03 pm
by E.J. Peiker
There's also the Sigma 150-600 pair which are compatible with Sigma's 1.4x...

But I would never recommend a TC on any of these super tele zooms.

Re: tele zoom lens for Nikon D500

Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 9:28 pm
by jyunker
I've been using the 200-500 with the D500 for over a year now and have been very pleased so far. 

Re: tele zoom lens for Nikon D500

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 2:38 pm
by david fletcher
Bruce, I've been using the Sigma 150-600 OS Sport for a year and a half now.  Have posted quite a few images here.  Been pleased. 
Image
Nothing special... was waiting for Barn Owls to show, in 2016... no show.  the post behaved and never moved.  details better view larger lol

techs,  D500 150-600 at 600.  1/1000 F6.3  ISO 800 HH.  F8 is a real sweet spot on my lens.  Edge definition not bad at all

Re: tele zoom lens for Nikon D500

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 3:03 pm
by Mark Picard
david fletcher wrote:Bruce, I've been using the Sigma 150-600 OS Sport for a year and a half now.  Have posted quite a few images here.  Been pleased. 
Image
Nothing special... was waiting for Barn Owls to show, in 2016... no show.  the post behaved and never moved.  details better view larger lol

techs,  D500 150-600 at 600.  1/1000 F6.3  ISO 800 HH.  F8 is a real sweet spot on my lens
I also own the Sigma Sport, and although it is heavier than the Tamron or the Sigma C, I find the image quality to be better than either of those two. In my opinion, you MUST calibrate the Sigmas (and camera of choice) with their USB Dock software. You can fine tune the lenses to four different focal lengths and four different distances. My girlfriend uses the Nikon 200-500mm, and I find it to be of excellent quality with a fantastic VR. The 200mm-500mm is a perfect lightweight lens for hand holding like from a kayak or grab shots from a vehicle. I would recommend it above either the Tamron G2 or the Sigma C, even though it's a hundred millimeters shorter.
 
As a side note, I sold my D500 in favor of the D850. You can crop to the D500 size and have essentially the same file size, while maintaining the full frame size when there's no need to crop. Excellent all around camera capable of either landscape or wildlife images, with a slightly better high ISO capabilities compared to the D500. I opted for the grip with the larger D5 battery to achieve the 9 frames per second too.   

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 2:04 pm
by calvin1calvin
I have a D500 and the Nikon 200-500 and Sigma 150-600 C and had an original version of the Tamron 150-600 which I sold. I prefer the Nikon 200-500 lens for the 5.6 aperture and the image quality. The original Tamron seemed a bit slow on autofocus but the newer version was supposed to improve that. The reason I purchased a Sigma 150-600 c version instead of the Sport version was that there was a special where the lens plus dock was selling for 789 which was 1/2 of the cost of the Sport. I don't use the Sigma much but it is nice when I have to walk around and the light is bright. For my purposes the Sigma works for me although I prefer the Nikon.

Re: tele zoom lens for Nikon D500

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2018 4:58 pm
by hersch
Had the Sigma Sport and the C as well as the 200-500. Got an opportunity to score a 500 f4 VR II
so I sold them all.to fund it. The only one I repurchased was the 200-500. Just sayin' ;)