NatureScapes.net Forums

Gary Irwin wrote:

SantaFeJoe wrote:I see nothing impressive in this article from Nikon:

Nikon 500

Hope better samples come out soon, especially flying  towards the photographer.

Joe

Well as the lens start shipping I'm sure there will be plenty of examples to view...you could start with this...

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61650731

Aside from the obvious size and weight considerations early reports are the lens is acceptably sharp as is AF performance (i.e. acceptable) -- a solid and unique entry into the prosumer market. It certainly looks like it will sell well, though not quite as well as the 200-500VR I expect.

Usually I've been quite wary on dpreview as the photographers they use for their reviews have demonstrated variable skill levels.  No grumbles with Lance on this one.  Sort of makes you sit up and take notice.  Worth clicking on the images to view original size too.  

Wow. I’ve just seen a video of this lens. Amazing. I wonder how much I’ll get for my Sigma 150-600 Sport. 

Another convincing video: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61679005

Thanks for posting this Tim! Mine is on the FedEx truck today (with a LensCoat attached) so hopefully tomorrow morning ill get out and use it. Will let you know how I make out.

Mine arrived yesterday. I took some test shots in my backyard of bumble bees on passion flowers with my D 810 and D 500 with the aperture set at f 5.6. I did not notice any AF acquisition issues even when the flowers/bees were in shade. Focus distance was pretty much as close as I could get to the subject with the lens focusing. On my D 810, AF-C with S produced very accurate focus when I had the focus point in the right spot. AF-C with Dynamic d-9 produced about the same results. On the D 500 I used AF-C with Dynamic d 25 and got good results too. More tests this weekend where I hope to do dome birds in flight.

The only "weak" spot on the lens might be the tripod collar mount and foot that seem to be made of "thin" materials. I am not sure how they will hold up over frequent use on a tripod.

I should have added to the above that the collar looks like it cannot be replaced. The foot can be replaced. The foot is about 2.5 inches long and accepts two screws.

Got the lens today but had no time after I got it to go anywhere so went to the back yard. Nothing at all to photograph except one damselfly and some junk in the yard..... Figures.

I had the 500pf on a D500 with a x1.4 eIII for these 3 images, wide open f8. I had the AF on D25 and it looks like it caught the left wing. Tomorrow I will go out and give it a good test.

All straight from camera, no sharpening at all just resized for web. Photos of camera are from Iphone and just to show size. The x1.4 is attached to lens in these photos showing size relative to 200-500 and with converter attached. Amazingly small, pretty darn fast AF with x1.4 also. More tomorrow when I get home. Lenscoat is available from them now. I switched foot to a RRS 70-200 foot, works fine!

http://www.decamp.net/hold/image1.jpg

http://www.decamp.net/hold/image2.jpg

http://www.decamp.net/hold/image3.jpg

http://www.decamp.net/hold/image4.jpg

http://www.decamp.net/hold/image5.jpg

Thanks for those George All in all looks pretty sharp. I would have done the side by side with the 200-500 zoomed at 500mm for a direct comparison. Can you elaborate on the foot you replaced it with. Joe said in his post that he thought the stock collar could not be taken off. I assume it can and you replaced it with the RRS 70-200 collar? Does the RRS collar have the Swiss Arca mount built in to it? Assuming you can take the collar off and replace it, I suspect Kirk will have a replacement soon as well.

Looking forward to more of your impressions once you have had a chance to really put it through its paces.

I know we are not supposed to talk about rumors here, but I want the 600 f5.6 PF so bad, and there are some rumors floating around that it may be in the works.

No collar Tim just the foot, it comes off the collar!. Didn’t even try to get collar off. Lens is sharp even wide open with converter. Never tried it without converter yet figured I wanted to see it with converter first.

Thanks George. So can we assume then that Joe was correct and you cannot take the stock "collar" off?

Just looked, I cant see a way to take it off, built into lens it seems.

George DeCamp wrote:Just looked, I cant see a way to take it off, built into lens it seems.

Thanks George.

Interested that Nikon would decide to make this collar irremovable, yet still be stubborn about not having a Swiss Acra mount built into the foot. Why will these companies never listen to their customers? I assume the collar is decent enough that we won't be wishing we could replace it. 

You got me Tim, I always wondered why they do not use the Arca Swiss type foot. Wonder if they have to pay a royalty to use it? Don't really know.

I would not worry about the collar so much, seems fine in this case. The foot will need to be replaced though to use the way we like.

The above being said if this lens is to be used hand held do you really need a new foot! Food for thought.

George DeCamp wrote:The above being said if this lens is to be used hand held do you really need a new foot! Food for thought.

I still do 90% of my photography with a tripod (even with the 300 f4 pf), so for me . . . . . yes. 

George, thanks for the tip about the foot from the 70-200mm. I emailed Really Right Stuff to see what they had for the 500mm f5.6 and have not had a response yet. Kirk Enterprises says they are still looking into it. I will check out Lens Coat too.

You can see some of my test shots with the lens at this link. Cameras used were D 500 and D 810.

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/n ... st-5696816

Joe

You can see some of my test shots with the lens at this link. Cameras used were D 500 and D 810.

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/n ... st-5696816

Joe

A few more from this morning. Again a bit of a rush job here, we are expecting flooding soon around here but wanted to get out this morning. Our home should be ok but needed food, etc.

Anyway, mostly early morning stuff. First 3 are ISO 2000 hand held, rest are various with x1.4 EIII attached to D500. Lens is very small and I need more time with it but here you go;

http://www.decamp.net/hold/image6.jpg

http://www.decamp.net/hold/image7.jpg

http://www.decamp.net/hold/image8.jpg

http://www.decamp.net/hold/image9.jpg

http://www.decamp.net/hold/image10.jpg

http://www.decamp.net/hold/image11.jpg

Again RRS 70-200 foot is solid. They may be making a new one though so just a FYI. All hand held.

Hey George.
Great morning shoot! Looks like the lens is a winner!

Joe