Nikon 500 f 5.6 PF ED VR Discussion

DChan wrote:

Scott Fairbairn wrote:

[snip] The reason I shoot with M43 was to get the weight down and make air travel easier and this lens with a D500 is lighter than the new Olympus M1x on their 300f4 and offers better AF and reach. 

Still, generally speaking, the m43 system is still not as bulky as the Nikon aps-c system although in some combo they may weigh similarly.

I think Olympus would rather you compare its EM 1X to the D5 rather than the D500...

I bet. I don't know if it's age or what, but I'm done lugging around the big D5 and 1Dx plus 600mm lenses. It doesn't seem that long ago I hiked with a Gitzo 410, plus original wimberly, 600f4, 1.4x, extension tubes, flash and bracket, better beamer type flash extender........and used Velvia 50, and all with no stabilization.

I've done a little more experimentation and with a 1.4x; turning on the focus limiter switch transforms the flight experience with this lens - very usable.

E.J. Peiker wrote:I've done a little more experimentation and with a 1.4x; turning on the focus limiter switch transforms the flight experience with this lens - very usable.

Good to know E.J....and as far as IQ goes the samples I've seen @f8 look really sharp which is kind of amazing considering it's an f5.6 lens. Too bad the only way I can shoot BIF @f8 is in bright sunshine which is the worst type of light to shoot anything in.

Gary Irwin wrote:

E.J. Peiker wrote:I've done a little more experimentation and with a 1.4x; turning on the focus limiter switch transforms the flight experience with this lens - very usable.

Good to know E.J....and as far as IQ goes the samples I've seen @f8 look really sharp which is kind of amazing considering it's an f5.6 lens. Too bad the only way I can shoot BIF @f8 is in bright sunshine which is the worst type of light to shoot anything in.

So a f5.6 lens is not expected to be sharp let alone as sharp as other lenses of larger aperture?? Why, if I may ask? Anyone?

DChan wrote:

Gary Irwin wrote:

E.J. Peiker wrote:I've done a little more experimentation and with a 1.4x; turning on the focus limiter switch transforms the flight experience with this lens - very usable.

Good to know E.J....and as far as IQ goes the samples I've seen @f8 look really sharp which is kind of amazing considering it's an f5.6 lens. Too bad the only way I can shoot BIF @f8 is in bright sunshine which is the worst type of light to shoot anything in.

So a f5.6 lens is not expected to be sharp let alone as sharp as other lenses of larger aperture?? Why, if I may ask? Anyone?

Empirical evidence. Hi quality f2.8 "pro" lenses have always accommodated TC's better than f4 lenses. There really haven't been any f5.6 f-mount lenses that could be considered "pro" quality, but the 500PF is challenging that assumption especially when used with the TC14EIII.

There is absolutely no issue with sharpness with the 1.4x but it is much better stopped down 2/3 of a stop to f/10. But then even the f/2.8 and f/4 lenses are much better with a 1.4x when stopped down a bit.

Another review:

https://www.photographyblog.com/reviews ... _vr_review

Joe