Nikon 500 f 5.6 PF ED VR Discussion

SantaFeJoe wrote:New review by Thom:

https://dslrbodies.com/lenses/nikon-lens-reviews/nikkor-prime-lens-reviews/nikon-500mm-f56e-pf-lens.html

Joe

George DeCamp wrote:

SantaFeJoe wrote:New review by Thom:

https://dslrbodies.com/lenses/nikon-lens-reviews/nikkor-prime-lens-reviews/nikon-500mm-f56e-pf-lens.html

Joe

The lens is a game changer!

E.J. Peiker wrote:

George DeCamp wrote:

SantaFeJoe wrote:New review by Thom:

https://dslrbodies.com/lenses/nikon-lens-reviews/nikkor-prime-lens-reviews/nikon-500mm-f56e-pf-lens.html

Joe

The lens is a game changer!

That's what I keep saying   They are just super hard to get.

photoman4343 wrote:My copy of the 500mm f5.6 is kept mounted on my D500 and the rig rests on a table right near my family room window. I use it hand held for birds at my feeder, moon shots, etc. I am just amazed how sharp my moon pictures are with this combo hand held.

Tim Zurowski wrote:While Nikon have really "hit it out of the park" with the 500 f5.6 pf, they have also really screwed up again with the delivery of it. This lens is still not available in Canada! [snip]

E.J. Peiker wrote:My first impressions after the first half day of testing:
- so tiny, so light, I could handhold this all day long even with a bum shoulder
- the Kirk replacement foot works like a champ
- this lens is much sharper with VR off when mounted on a tripod - even at 1/100s if your long lens technique is good.  I would only recommend VR on when not on a tripod.  With VR off this lens is on par with the 500 f/4 lenses.  With it on it is not, it's more on par with lenses like a Sigma 150-600 Sport which is good but not in super tele f/4 prime territory.  This is even more true with the TC-14E III
- with the TC-14E III AF is still very good and you can still select any AF point, even on an older body like a D7200
- AF is very quick and very accurate once calibrated but I haven't done any birds in flight yet.

Brian Stirling wrote:

E.J. Peiker wrote:My first impressions after the first half day of testing:
- so tiny, so light, I could handhold this all day long even with a bum shoulder
- the Kirk replacement foot works like a champ
- this lens is much sharper with VR off when mounted on a tripod - even at 1/100s if your long lens technique is good.  I would only recommend VR on when not on a tripod.  With VR off this lens is on par with the 500 f/4 lenses.  With it on it is not, it's more on par with lenses like a Sigma 150-600 Sport which is good but not in super tele f/4 prime territory.  This is even more true with the TC-14E III
- with the TC-14E III AF is still very good and you can still select any AF point, even on an older body like a D7200
- AF is very quick and very accurate once calibrated but I haven't done any birds in flight yet.

Surprised the VR performance is not so good -- any idea if a firmware update is to be expected or if a firmware update could address the issues.  


Brian

E.J. Peiker wrote:I finally got to put the 500PF through it's paces for flight shooting including fast subjects pretty close to the lens.  With the bare lens, it works exceptionally well, with the 1.4x it is much more of a challenge - you need to acquire early and track well.  Not a problem at all on predictable flyers that you can pick up at a distance but not fast enough for fast pop-up flyers.

E.J. Peiker wrote:I finally got to put the 500PF through it's paces for flight shooting including fast subjects pretty close to the lens.  With the bare lens, it works exceptionally well, with the 1.4x it is much more of a challenge - you need to acquire early and track well.  Not a problem at all on predictable flyers that you can pick up at a distance but not fast enough for fast pop-up flyers.

Scott Fairbairn wrote:

E.J. Peiker wrote:I finally got to put the 500PF through it's paces for flight shooting including fast subjects pretty close to the lens.  With the bare lens, it works exceptionally well, with the 1.4x it is much more of a challenge - you need to acquire early and track well.  Not a problem at all on predictable flyers that you can pick up at a distance but not fast enough for fast pop-up flyers.

What camera were you using? I assume the D500 or D850, or do you think the camera wasn't the issue with the 1.4x?

E.J. Peiker wrote:

Scott Fairbairn wrote:

E.J. Peiker wrote:I finally got to put the 500PF through it's paces for flight shooting including fast subjects pretty close to the lens.  With the bare lens, it works exceptionally well, with the 1.4x it is much more of a challenge - you need to acquire early and track well.  Not a problem at all on predictable flyers that you can pick up at a distance but not fast enough for fast pop-up flyers.

What camera were you using? I assume the D500 or D850, or do you think the camera wasn't the issue with the 1.4x?

D500 and it did what I expected for an f/8 optic.

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.