Lens Summary
Brand: Nikon
Also Known As: Nikon 500mm f/4 P IF-ED
Lens Type: Prime Lens
Format: Full Frame / FX
Focus: Manual Focus
Lens Mount: Nikon F
Release Date: 1988-01-01
MSRP Price: N/A
Made in: Japan
Production Status: Discontinued
Lens Description: A powerful super telephoto P-Type Nikkor lens with built-in CPU for communication with the electronic metering and exposure features of Nikon\'s more recent SLR's. Photographers interested in bird photography will find the Nikon P ED IF AI-S camera lens ideal for their interests. The lens construction of 8 elements in 6 groups gives you an amazing picture quality. With a maximum aperture of f/4.0, this Nikon 500 mm lens delivers bright and clear images, in any lighting condition. The minimum aperture of f/22 in this Nikon camera lens gives you outstanding still images of the moving birds. The 5-degree picture angle of this Nikon 500 mm lens captures maximum area within a single frame. The automatic diaphragm in the Nikon P ED IF AI-S lens gives an out-of-focus background effect to the picture. The 39 mm filter size protects your Nikon camera lens from dust and scratch.
Nikon NIKKOR 500mm f/4 P IF-ED Specifications
| Lens Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens Type | Prime Lens |
| Focal Length | 500mm |
| Mount Type | Nikon F |
| Format | Full Frame / FX |
| Compatible Format(s) | 35mm SLR |
| Compatible with Teleconverters | Yes |
| Vibration Reduction (Image Stabilization) | No |
| Aperture Information | |
| Aperture Ring | Yes |
| Maximim Aperture | f/4 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/22 |
| Optical Information | |
| Lens Elements | 8 |
| Lens Groups | 6 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
| Focus Information | |
| Focus | Manual Focus |
| Built-in Focus Motor | No |
| Internal Focusing | Yes |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 5m |
| Filter Information | |
| Filter Size | 39mm |
| Accepts Filter Type | Slip-in |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weather / Dust Sealing | Yes |
| Mount Material | Metal |
| Tripod Collar | Yes |
| Dimensions | 384 x 138mm |
| Weight | 3kg |
| Other Information | |
| Available in Colors | Black |
I’m digging up this old post! I have the 500 P and the 200-500, used on D3s and d700. I’m saying that you have to compare like with like and consider the results of a lens according to its production period. The 500 P is really excellent, even with a modified TC 16A. Of course, at f/4 it can seem to lack contrast and indeed it fringes, but at the time, it wasn’t a deal breaker and if at f5.6 it is better, this aperture is largely usable. It is now easily correctable in software. The 200-500 is much more recent, the optics have made very significant progress, the results are more refined. The most important thing is to know the strengths and weaknesses of the lenses you use and to exploit them according to their qualities. Yes, the 500 P is long and heavy, and unbalanced towards the front, it is used especially on a tripod. The 200-500 is not light and extends a lot in 500 position, but it remains relatively balanced, it is more of a versatile lens that can be used handheld. For me, the two are complementary. In a series of photos taken with both lenses, it is almost impossible to tell the difference.
“Photographers interested in bird photography will find the Nikon P ED IF AI-S camera lens ideal for their interests.” I don’t think so!
“The minimum aperture of f/22 in this Nikon camera lens gives you outstanding still images of the moving birds.” Madness.
“The automatic diaphragm in the Nikon P ED IF AI-S lens gives an out-of-focus background effect to the picture.” ?? At large apertures.
“The 39 mm filter size protects your Nikon camera lens from dust and scratch.” NO! It’s inside.
Well I’m testing a 500/4 P on Nikon Z7. Everything works fine. The bad thing is that with his teleconverters TC-14B and TC-301 the automatic diaphragm doesn’t function, works in stop-down as with the other Ai-Ais lenses without chip, loosing also exif data etc. The good is that the viewfinder with focus peaking and the + button helps a lot for focusing. Focusing on a DSLR was really critical. VR on Z7 body helps on monopod. I have not decided quite now if a 200-500/5,6 would be a better choice. (I had it). Given that I paid the 500 P + 2 teleconverter and suitcase only 700 Euro I think it is worth to try it. My goal is to do a comparison between 500/4 and 200-500/5,6 about bokeh. I’m not satisfied about out-of-focus rendition of the 200-500. Bye!
Thanks Pup,
I totally agree with your comments!
Would you know if the TC 20 E for afs lenses works please?
What did you decide upon, lens wise?
The TC-20 E and TC-14 E both work fine in all possible modes. They do not add AF.
Thank you!
just for new readers: modern nikon Tc´s (like 20E, 14E and newer versions) only work with the 500 f4 ED Ai-P if they are modified; you need to cut a little piece on the TC frontal mount. Otherway, you can´t mount the lens. There is a lot of info on that mod in online forums.
I have the D750 body with 200-500mm F/5.6G VR, AF-S… I love my setup, thinking about buying this old lens from eBay, I photograph mostly birds and I would like to have more quality, I read an article comparing several primes with my lens above… happens that the 200-500mm F/5.6G above mentioned performs pretty surprising well, however I know prime lens superb image quality cannot be out ranked… will the autofocus be a mayor issue, giving that for example birds to move quickly… how about the lens weight, 200-500mm weights considerable more the weight of the D750… please give me some insights… thanks.
I got both lenses, I sold off my D750. 200-500 is fantastic, You’ll get lot more keepers with that. It is very sharp, and fringing is a lot less. The 500 F4 is great too, with a few caveats. Far away object focusing is hard on a manual focus lens, with modern dslrs. Also very harsh lighting/ lots of reflections will make focusing difficult. I feel that it makes more sense with mirrorless where one can happily use focus peaking to get proper focus.
Having said that, using the 500mm is an experience, there is something rather nice about nailing the focus manually, Photography is a much more involving process with that lens. It is 1 kg heavier than 200-500. yet it is more comfortable to carry over shoulders. Somehow I end up exploring more with that lens.
Hi,
I am looking for something very long, but almost solely for landscapes..so what matters to my is maximum sharpness accross the whole with good contrast transfer.. do not care about IS or AF…
Since I don’t have budget to modern supertele primes, so I am looking for something else around 1000 -1500 dollar range.
How would you compare this one against the 200-500mm (or 150-600 Sigmas and Tamron) in terms of sharpness?
Thanks for any insights!
Jan
have you found any more info about the 500mm f4 P sharpness? I’m looking at one as well
thanks
Here you can find. I hope it helps you out.
www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html
Your comments about the obviously wrong things in the blurb made me laugh.
I am hoping this is the right place to ask this question. Recently purchased the Nikon NIKKOR 500mm f/4 P IF-ED. Works great with my Nikon 700 and D3s. When mounted on my Z5 and Z50 with the FTZ adapter, I continue to get the “Lock lens aperture ring at minimum aperture” Even after I set the aperture ring to 22 and lock it in place. I am scratching my head on this one. I am sure it is something very obvious that I just do not see.
I have a number of older non-cpu lenses that work just fine with my FTZ adapters.
I ordered a Fotasy F to Z mount adapter that has not CPU contacts and see if that fixes this issue. Seeing as this lens has CPU contacts to send aperture information to the camera, perhaps making it a “dumb” lens will solve this issue?
Any thoughts or ideas I can try?
Thanks!
This lens can work in limited autofocus mode on a D810 with a modified TC-16A or used on a D7000 with a split prism replacing the focusing screen and a 2x magnified eyepiece.
– “The 39 mm filter size protects your Nikon camera lens from dust and scratch.” NO! It’s inside. ”
.
Protects the last lens inside the telephoto, the same with all the big IF ED lenses (300, 400, 500, 600, 800) Over the years of use, dust and particles tend to accumulate there as well. With the small filter in the way, you just take it out, clean it and that’s it.
.
This 500, the latest versions of the 300 f2.8, the 600 f4 Ais, the 400 f2.8 Ais, all have a protective multicoated glass (like a big filter) in front of the 1st lens element , it comes from the factory (and Nikon sold it as a spare part in case of damage)
.
(ED glass is a bit more delicate; in the first version of the 300 2.8, the 600f4 Ai and the 400 f3.5, the 1st lens is exposed, without any protective glass)