This lens is almost perfect price/performance wise, if it weren’t for the sample variation, the lack of weather sealing and the lack of an arca-swiss compatible lens collar. The Tamron 150-600 G2 does have weather sealing and arca compatible lens collar, but the downside is that it is much softer near the edges and has significant vignetting on FF.
Michael
June 3, 2020 4:03 pm
Just one comment. Combined with the Z50 the 500-200 works excellently with the TC1.4 and TC2.0 converters. I did notice some tendency for back focussing and AF-Fine Tuning might be important to get the best out of the system. Actually after the AF-Fine-Tuning I use my system mostly with the 1.4 times converter getting really pleasant results. I take of the converter only in difficult light conditions. With the 2.0 converter I have mixed feelings – cropping into the picture of the 1.4 converter gives often better results.
This is absolutely no problem – I get very sharp images after doing the AF-Fine Tuning. I would call my 700 mm combination pixel sharp. The AF works reliably in all modes. VR of course as well. With the 2.0 times converter AF still works. However, the sensitivity towards light reflexes etc increases, the contrast decreases and the resolution as well. I also AF-Fine Tune at 500 mm only and I see clear improvement when stopping down the lens to F8, F11, and even F16 for the combinations with 500 mm, 700 mm, and 1000 mm, respectively. Nevertheless its possibly the fastest and most light weight solution to 1000 mm with AF and VR capabilities. With the crop factor of… Read more »
Hi Michael, I’m planning on moving to mirrorless and I was wondering if I could use a F lense with the FTZ and a TC 1.4 on a Z50 or Z6 II. It´s the only way, us, Nikon users can get reach on a Z system. Either that or switching brands! Thanks a lot and keep on “shooting” photos Pedro
I understood you cannot do af-fine tunning on mirror less cameras, only on dslr
Carl Galdos
June 1, 2020 1:59 pm
Oops — newbie with discussions — re: Nikon 200-500. I have been using it for a couple of years now, on a Nikon D7200, for nature (birds, wildlife) as well as Air Shows, quite often handheld — and it has given me wonderful results. As a newbie here, I don’t know how to post some examples — Birds, Foxes, Blue Angels, the Moon etc. Thank you. Love the website, comments and excellent advice.
Carl Galdos
June 1, 2020 1:54 pm
Nikon 200-500mm
Imtiyaz K
May 30, 2020 2:13 am
Hi Nasim, As always masterful analysis of the famed 200-500mm 5.6. Among the sample images which are of course great, I dint see any picture of a bird in flight that can give a fair indication of speed of focus acquisition of this lens. A bird like kestrel or a swift requires very quick focus for sharp picture, specially when they have just taken off from their pirch. I am reasonably confident many super telephotos can’t handle such speed, assuming the camera is capable. Do you think I make sense? I will be honoured to see your response.
Cheers, Imtiyaz
Michael Tuzio
January 27, 2020 12:14 pm
Has anybody notices that the 200-500 lens does not fit tight on the camera body? I put mine on my d850 and noticed it kind of wobbles on there not like any of my other lenses they fit tight and dont move.
Virag
January 8, 2020 8:02 am
Planning to replace my 300F4 (non-VR) + 1.4 TC with 200-500. In rain-forest jungle birding with non VR lens is bad idea
Jigar
November 28, 2019 9:05 am
Nasim, did you ever write a post on D500 with 200-500 lens as you promised in this review. On my recent Alaska trip I struggled alot with one camera as changing lens became cumbersome and many times I lost the shot. So, I am in the market for 2nd camera and debating between D500, D750 and D810. Would love to get your take on D500 and 200-500 combo for wildlife photography. I have D750 for landscape and portrait.
Hi Jigar, If you have D750 already, you must try your hands on D500. I have realised that one who has handled Nikon FX cameras will sincerely appreciate D500 for its performance, build, frame rate etc. I have both these cameras. They compliment each other brilliantly well.
I’m one step beneath you and have a D610 and D7500. I find that they complement each other very well, even when just using them with my 300/f4D and 1.4TC.
Howard Holden
October 25, 2019 6:58 am
Re. Your comment “Why can’t Nikon make its tripod feet compatible with Arca-Swiss?” Perhaps because not everyone uses Arca type mounts? Nothing would persuade me to change from Manfrotto RC2. Nikon gives us the choice, what’s wrong with that?
Thanks for this comparison, i’ll get the nikkor 🙂
This lens is almost perfect price/performance wise, if it weren’t for the sample variation, the lack of weather sealing and the lack of an arca-swiss compatible lens collar. The Tamron 150-600 G2 does have weather sealing and arca compatible lens collar, but the downside is that it is much softer near the edges and has significant vignetting on FF.
Just one comment. Combined with the Z50 the 500-200 works excellently with the TC1.4 and TC2.0 converters. I did notice some tendency for back focussing and AF-Fine Tuning might be important to get the best out of the system. Actually after the AF-Fine-Tuning I use my system mostly with the 1.4 times converter getting really pleasant results. I take of the converter only in difficult light conditions. With the 2.0 converter I have mixed feelings – cropping into the picture of the 1.4 converter gives often better results.
Hi Michael, I am really fascinated to hear that you can combine the 1.4 converter with Z50 and the 200 – 500mm. Sounds great!
This is absolutely no problem – I get very sharp images after doing the AF-Fine Tuning. I would call my 700 mm combination pixel sharp. The AF works reliably in all modes. VR of course as well. With the 2.0 times converter AF still works. However, the sensitivity towards light reflexes etc increases, the contrast decreases and the resolution as well. I also AF-Fine Tune at 500 mm only and I see clear improvement when stopping down the lens to F8, F11, and even F16 for the combinations with 500 mm, 700 mm, and 1000 mm, respectively. Nevertheless its possibly the fastest and most light weight solution to 1000 mm with AF and VR capabilities. With the crop factor of… Read more »
Hi Michael,
I’m planning on moving to mirrorless and I was wondering if I could use a F lense with the FTZ and a TC 1.4 on a Z50 or Z6 II.
It´s the only way, us, Nikon users can get reach on a Z system. Either that or switching brands!
Thanks a lot and keep on “shooting” photos
Pedro
I understood you cannot do af-fine tunning on mirror less cameras, only on dslr
Oops — newbie with discussions — re: Nikon 200-500. I have been using it for a couple of years now, on a Nikon D7200, for nature (birds, wildlife) as well as Air Shows, quite often handheld — and it has given me wonderful results. As a newbie here, I don’t know how to post some examples — Birds, Foxes, Blue Angels, the Moon etc.
Thank you.
Love the website, comments and excellent advice.
Nikon 200-500mm
Hi Nasim, As always masterful analysis of the famed 200-500mm 5.6.
Among the sample images which are of course great, I dint see any picture of a bird in flight that can give a fair indication of speed of focus acquisition of this lens. A bird like kestrel or a swift requires very quick focus for sharp picture, specially when they have just taken off from their pirch.
I am reasonably confident many super telephotos can’t handle such speed, assuming the camera is capable.
Do you think I make sense?
I will be honoured to see your response.
Cheers,
Imtiyaz
Has anybody notices that the 200-500 lens does not fit tight on the camera body? I put mine on my d850 and noticed it kind of wobbles on there not like any of my other lenses they fit tight and dont move.
Planning to replace my 300F4 (non-VR) + 1.4 TC with 200-500. In rain-forest jungle birding with non VR lens is bad idea
Nasim, did you ever write a post on D500 with 200-500 lens as you promised in this review. On my recent Alaska trip I struggled alot with one camera as changing lens became cumbersome and many times I lost the shot. So, I am in the market for 2nd camera and debating between D500, D750 and D810. Would love to get your take on D500 and 200-500 combo for wildlife photography. I have D750 for landscape and portrait.
Hi Jigar,
If you have D750 already, you must try your hands on D500. I have realised that one who has handled Nikon FX cameras will sincerely appreciate D500 for its performance, build, frame rate etc.
I have both these cameras. They compliment each other brilliantly well.
Cheers,
Imtiyaz
I have both, and totally agree with you. In fact, I have two D500 cameras since they are so good!
I’m one step beneath you and have a D610 and D7500. I find that they complement each other very well, even when just using them with my 300/f4D and 1.4TC.
Re. Your comment “Why can’t Nikon make its tripod feet compatible with Arca-Swiss?”
Perhaps because not everyone uses Arca type mounts?
Nothing would persuade me to change from Manfrotto RC2.
Nikon gives us the choice, what’s wrong with that?