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Home → Reviews → Cameras and Lenses → Nikon 500mm f/5.6E PF Review

Nikon 500mm f/5.6E PF Review

By Jason Polak 118 Comments
Last Updated On February 11, 2025

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Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • Build Quality and Handling
  • Optical Features
  • Verdict
  • Reader Comments
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118 Comments
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Robert John
Robert John
February 25, 2025 2:52 am

I think the 600/f6.3 is more than ‘a bit more expensive’. A used 500/f5.6 is now £1,500 and a new 600/f6.3 a cool £3,700 (and used Z-mount can be 90% of the new price).

The 500/f5.6 seems to work well on my Z8 (a bit of an unexpected windfall self-indulgence, I admit). I’ve just spent a day in a hide and didn’t shoot with any other lens, even though I had a 300/f4 PF and 100-400 in my bag.

I had a go with a 180-600 and, while it’s wonderfully versatile, I’d sooner walk round with one of the 100-400 or 500/f5.6 on the camera and the other in a cylinder shoulder lens case than just the 180-600. But that’s probably personal preference from an old codger.

Id say that a used 500/f5.6 is well worth a punt from a trusted seller.

2
Reply
Luka
Luka
December 23, 2024 5:43 am

Can you really tell the difference between focusing @2.8 and 5.6?
The point is, even if I want to shoot 2.8 lens at 5.6 for dof, Nikon Z cameras won’t let me focus @2.8! They stop it to set aperture…
Can you mitigate that?
Thanks.

0
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BorislavK
BorislavK
October 28, 2024 10:06 am

Just bought a used 500pf to go with my Nikon Zf for some birding, but I find it hard to see if the VR is actually doing something or not…No matter the setting – off,normal or sport, absolutely nothing changes both in the shakiness of the viewfinder and the number of sharp shots I do for testing it out…Is there something I’m missing for the VR to work on a Z camera ? I’m using the FTZ2 adapter, so it should work.

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Reply
Jason Polak
Jason Polak
Reply to  BorislavK
October 28, 2024 3:58 pm

The 500PF should work with the FTZ2 without problems. I use it with the FTZ2 myself. And, there should definitely be a difference in VR on versus off. In fact, the viewfinder through the Nikon Zf should be very smooth when the VR is on without any jitter. Something is wrong there…I’d try a camera reset and make sure your firmware is up to date, and see if the problem persists, but if you got your lens used, it’s possible the VR doesn’t work on it and the original user broke it.

Do you have another camera to test the lens on?

1
Reply
BorislavK
BorislavK
Reply to  Jason Polak
October 29, 2024 12:25 am

Thanks Jason, I’m gonna test it today with an older DSLR. I’m with the latest firmware on the Zf and as far as I know there is no firmware for the lens, so everything should be working, or at least in theory. I seems I’ll just have to return it…

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Reply
Jason Polak
Jason Polak
Reply to  BorislavK
October 29, 2024 4:15 am

Yeah I’d return it. Sorry it happened but don’t give up, it’s a great lens!

1
Reply
Neale
Neale
October 8, 2024 11:48 pm

It’s been a brilliant lens on my Z8 (and before that my Z7ii and my D500). Works very well with my 1.4x TCiii-e teleconverter. The only issue I have with it is that the lens hood lock is prone to wearing out quite early. Mine still locks on in the forward position without difficulty, but falls off when it’s reversed (for travel). Same thing happened to a friend’s and his is prone to falling off both in the forward and reversed position. I bought a replacement hood, which costs $Au99 (about $USD67).

1
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Steven
Steven
June 6, 2024 3:52 pm

FWIW

The specifications have a typo. It says

Optical Design: 9 elements in 11 groups

It should be 19 elements

Great review and great lens!

2
Reply
Jason Polak
Jason Polak
Author
Reply to  Steven
June 6, 2024 4:43 pm

Thanks very much. I corrected it!

2
Reply
Klaus Poeschel
Klaus Poeschel
May 25, 2024 4:47 am

I have just recently used extensively the combination of the 500 PF + TC 1.4 III + FTZ Adapter with the Z8. Works perfectly.

0
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Gary
Gary
Reply to  Klaus Poeschel
June 6, 2024 7:45 am

Used the D850 & 500mm PF upon their initial respective Nikon releases – amazing combo! Wildlife & birding is “easy – light weight with 45mp & very sharp 500mm PF”.

Six months ago I sold the d850 (my niece loves it) and bought a Z8. I can’t take anything away from the d850/500mm PF combo BUT can say the Z8 adds a lot! The Z8/500MM PF with new FTZ adapter works as well/better than previous d850.

The Z8 autofocus is so good with birds/wildlife I seemingly have much more time to think more creatively – composition/lighting/etc. as the focus just locks on. And 20 fps vs 7/9 on D850 is another tool to capture frames unavailable with slower fps.

Great time for wildlife/nature hobbyist Photogophers’!

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William Korn
William Korn
May 13, 2024 7:02 am

Have (and adore) the 500PF for my D850. My question is, can I use this lens on a Z6ii or Z8 with an FTZ adapter AND a teleconvertor? If so, is there any reason not to do this other than the normal loss of light? I have seen conflicting information here and there on the shminternet.
Thanks

2
Reply
Jason Polak
Jason Polak
Author
Reply to  William Korn
May 13, 2024 7:17 am

Yes you can, but you need to use the F-mount 1.4 TC.

2
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Klaus Poeschel
Klaus Poeschel
May 9, 2024 1:05 pm

Thanks for the advise. I use the Z8 and the D850, so it makes sense not to change. The weight difference is also considerable. So yes, I stay with what I have.

0
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Sanford
Sanford
March 27, 2024 7:08 pm

Reserved this lens to shoot the 4/8/2024 Total Solar Eclipse with my D850. Thoughts, suggestions or concerns? Or other lens?

0
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K.Poeschel
K.Poeschel
Reply to  Sanford
May 5, 2024 11:02 am

I was travelling lately in Namibia, using mainly a D850 with the 70-200/2.8 FL together with a TC 1.4 III (means 280 mm) and a Z8 with the 500/5.6 FL (with FTLZ). Sometimes I used the TC 1.4 on this combo as well, bringing ist 700 mm. I have not seen the pictures yet (came only back yesterday), but I noticed very often, that 280 mm was a bit to short and 500 mm was a bit too long (game drives). Birds is a different story.
So I started looking for the Z180-600 mm, but wonder, if it really makes sense to trade these two top lenses against one heavy beast like the 180-600 mm, specially considering that I do those trips only occasionally and still want to keep my D850.
Any thoughts?

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Reply
K.Poeschel
K.Poeschel
Reply to  K.Poeschel
May 5, 2024 11:05 am

Sorry, it’s the 500/5.6E PF

1
Reply
Jason Polak
Jason Polak
Author
Reply to  K.Poeschel
May 6, 2024 4:32 am

Depends. The 180-600 is a decent lens but I wouldn’t recommend it for birds over the 500PF. Is the 180-600 sharp enough? For most purposes, yes. But bird feathers are exceptionally fine structures and a weaker lens will immediately show its weaknesses on bird feathers. It’s just a fact. If you’re filling the frame, maybe it won’t be visible but I’m not shy to admit that I crop, a lot some times. And if you’ve got a shot of a rare bird and it’s feather details are a bit degraded, it’s disappointing.

My philosophy is that it’s okay to lose a shot or two if it means that the shots you get will be tack sharp. So, I would not trade for the 180-600, especially if you’re using the 500PF elsewhere. Of course, the 180-600 could be a fine addition to your collection but no way would I ever trade down from a sharp prime to it.

4
Reply
stephan
stephan
February 15, 2024 5:09 am

I own the 500mmPF (and the 300mm PF) for years, using it almost every day with a D850. Before I own the 200-500 F5,6, so I can speak with experience. I can assure you that there was a reason why I sold my Zoom and spent almost tripple money: The 200-500 Zoom ist not really a 500mm lens as the quality fails in maximum focal lenght. There is no contrast and a lot of blurr. The speed of the AF is a disaster. When I got my 500PF I thought I was in heaven. As I travel too much by airplane and motorbike I could never do wildlife-photography like this, with a heavy pro-lens. Sometimes I would like to have more range and a 800 FL would help a lot, but there is no benefit from TCs, that’s a myth. And by the way: in hot countries is a limitation of range by the effect of heat flimmering, no matter how sharp your lens is.

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Robert John
Robert John
Reply to  stephan
April 14, 2024 11:20 am

Agree 100% about the AF speed of the 200-500 – truly awful. I have the 500 PF and the older 300/f4D, both bought used (£3,000 in total), and think both are excellent. I use them mainly with a D7500 – no mid-price Z mount has better AF, so I’m sticking with it.

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