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Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR review

Posted: Sat 19 Sep 2015 15:48
by Stany Buyle
Topic directory: Introduction

Bought my Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm this morning. Expectations are high... :?
At this moment I have also the Sigma 150-600 "C" and the Tamron 150-600 to my disposal.
I was trying the Sigma 150-600 "S" a couple of weeks ago. Fantastic lens but too heavy to my taste, at that moment.... Weight difference between the Nikon and the Sigma "S" is "only" 560 gram.

First impressions after approx 100 pictures on my D750:
  • Very solid, well built lens. I did not expect that in relation to it's price setting.
  • 2,3 kg is just around the limit of what I consider as comfortable to carry around. :D If weight would not have been a factor in my choice, I would have gone for the Sigma 150-600 "S"
  • Amazing sharpness at near to closest focus distance(makes my tamron 150-600 look poor, sharper than my 80-400 AF-S VR at 400mm)
  • Great image stabilisation
  • A bit disappointing AF speed. Not really fast, but significantly faster when using the 6meter- setting, but still slow compared to a 70-200 AF-S
  • F5.6 at 500mm is a significant improvement over my tamron 150-600 which is F6 from 330mm and F6.3 from 450mm.
  • The lens is very sharp from F5.6.

Going to try to find some birds now...

Updated with this picture, taken with my 200-500 AF-S VR on Sep 25th.
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Images will follow later this weekend.

Kindest regards,
Stany

:arrow: related topic: Sigma 150-600 HSM OS S, first impressions

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Technically...

Posted: Sat 19 Sep 2015 21:44
by Stany Buyle
  • This Nikon looks and feels very solid, a feeling I did not expect for a lens with this attractive pricing.
  • The nikon 200-500 mm is a bigger and heavier lens than both tamron and sigma "c" 150-600mm lenses. The Nikon is approx 2400 grams (including tripod collar & suncap), the Tamron 2050, the Sigma C 1950.
  • It has an excellent, sturdy tripod collar which also feels very comfortable when carrying this lens upside down.
  • The VR (which works outstanding) has three settings over 2 buttons: normal, sports and off.
  • AF performance is not very fast like the 70-200 AF-S VRII but it's acceptable fast in full focal setting, and significantly faster in the 6m- setting.
  • ...
Everything you want to know more on the technical side of this great glass can be found here and on the Nikon website of your location and language.

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To understand the technical abbreviations better :arrow: NIKKOR Lens Glossary

First images near to the closest focus distance on D750

Posted: Sat 19 Sep 2015 21:55
by Stany Buyle
As a macro shooter I like to test these kind of lenses also at closest focusing distance and although closest focusing distance is 2.2 meter the result is excellent!
At closest focus distance, the Nikon 200-500 is soooo much better than both tamron 150-600 and sigma 150-600 :o

:!: All underneath images have been taken handheld.

:!: Please notice that these images have zero post processing with exception of the © mark.
No sharpening, no contrast increase, nothing.

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and a 100% crop of the focus area:

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and a 100% crop of the focus area:

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First images near to the closest focus distanceon D7200

Posted: Sat 19 Sep 2015 21:56
by Stany Buyle
:!: Please notice that these images have zero post processing with exception of the © mark.
No sharpening, no contrast increase, nothing.

:!: All underneath images have been taken handheld.

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and a 100% crop of the focus area:

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and a 100% crop of the focus area:

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BIF with Nikon 200-500 AF-S VR

Posted: Sat 19 Sep 2015 23:44
by Stany Buyle
One of the main reasons several people will buy this lens is to capture birds in flight (BIF)

Tried a couple this afternoon on my D7200 and it works very well. AF can follow even when it's going rather fast.

:!: Please notice that these images have zero post processing with exception of the © mark.
No sharpening, no contrast increase, nothing.

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VR findings with the nikon 200-500 AF-S VR

Posted: Sun 20 Sep 2015 00:08
by Stany Buyle
VR test

From the first pictures I took I had the feeling that the VR of this lens is just amazing.

To test the VR I did an extreme experiment:
Even though AF doesn't function anymore with the 2 x TCe -yes, it tries but it's not useable- I took some picture HANDHELD at 1000mm and a shutter speed as slow as 1/6 sec indoors and 1/15 sec outdoors

Indoors under artificial light at 1000mm on D750 at 1/6 sec, handheld:

Full exif:
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Outdoors under early morning light at 1000mm on D750 at 1/15 sec , handheld:

Full exif:
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samples images where VR is important:

:!: Please notice that these images have zero post processing with exception of the © mark.
No sharpening, no contrast increase, nothing.

The VR of this lens is magic. Underneath a picture of the moon, HANDHELD at 500 mm on D7200 (750mm)

click on the image to download the full size jpeg
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exif of the above image:
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AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR with TCs

Posted: Sun 20 Sep 2015 00:18
by Stany Buyle
TC test
  • Nikkor AF-S 200-500mm VR ED with 1.4 x TCIIIe
    I'm sure that the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR works very well with the latest version 1.4x TCeIII, but I don't own that TC right now. I have the latest sigma version and this works so-so...
    On behalf of this lens I will buy a nikon 1.4TC III and publish test results later.
  • Nikkor AF-S 200-500mm VR ED with 2x TCIIIe
    correction after further testing: TMHO the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR is not useable with the 2xTCeIII. On shorter distance it seems OK, but with the subject at further distance, IQ is unacceptable.

    With the subject at long distance, on tripod, LV and exposure delay, this was the best result I could capture... :( :?
    This might be partly the result that I am not good in manual focusing... :?
    Anyhow, unacceptable to my taste...
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More images with AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR

Posted: Sun 20 Sep 2015 08:04
by Stany Buyle
More images will be published this week.

Thanks for visiting and kindest regards,

Stany
http://www.nikonuser.info" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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:!: :idea: :?: If you have questions, thoughts, your own findings, critiques or remarks related to this or other topics on this forum: Join this forum starting by your registration now!! Everybody is welcome. :D Read about how to make a registration here.
Sincerely.
posted by admin
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Re: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR user review

Posted: Sun 20 Sep 2015 19:46
by Leen Koper
Congratulations on your latest acquisition! I hope it will serve you as you expected.
There was a time when I would consider buying it myself but its weight would make me think twice nowadays. But as far as I can see the images are what you expected.

BIF tracking with Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR

Posted: Wed 23 Sep 2015 22:22
by Stany Buyle
BIF tracking with Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR

This afternoon I was testing the 200-500 on my D750 for tracking of BIF.
On a blue sky the % of pictures in focus is very high. With some attention and preparartion work I get easily 80% or even more.

In much more tricky AF circumstances with a disturbing background at relative close distance behind the bird the 200-500 is doing also surprisingly well.

Some samples:
:!: :!: :!: Please notice that the underneath samples are straight out of the camera, without any modification about sharpness, contrast, WB, picture style or whatever

click on the image to download the full resolution jpeg.
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and a 100% crop of the focus area of the above picture:
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:idea: :!: :arrow: With 3 clicks of post processing in Nikon Capture NX2 you get this:
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and a 100% crop of the focus area of the above picture:
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and a 100% crop of the focus area of the above picture:
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and a 100% crop of the focus area of the above picture:
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:idea: :!: :arrow: With 3 clicks of post processing in Nikon Capture NX2 the above image looks like this:
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The latest picture is the most interesting of the 5 because the bird was:
  • relative far away, flying rather fast
  • :!: ... and close to the (back-)ground.
    Still the 200-500 seemed to keep tracking the bird effortless. Kudos to Nikon.
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and a 100% crop of the focus area of the above picture:
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:idea: :!: :arrow: Again with 3 clicks of post processing in Nikon Capture NX2 the above image looks like this:
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:!: :idea: :?: If you have questions, thoughts, your own findings, critiques or remarks related to this or other topics on this forum: Join this forum starting by your registration now!! Everybody is welcome. :D Read about how to make a registration here.
Sincerely.
posted by admin
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Re: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR user review

Posted: Fri 25 Sep 2015 06:48
by ADeVos
Good review,nice images.

Re: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR user review

Posted: Fri 25 Sep 2015 22:11
by Stany Buyle
Some images from today with D750 and 200-500 AF-S VR

:!: Please notice that the underneath samples are without any post processing which improves sharpness, contrast, WB, picture style or whatever

An image at 500mm and wide open (F5.6), taken handhold

Click on the image to download the full size jpeg
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and a 100% crop of the AF area:
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An image at quite long distance of the intended subject, taken handhold:


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and this is what a 100% crop of the above image gives.

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And two birds in flight...


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and a 100% crop of the AF area:
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and a 100% crop of the AF area:
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Close up with 200-500AF-S VR F5.6

Posted: Fri 25 Sep 2015 22:12
by Stany Buyle
:!: related topic :arrow: Dragonflies with nikon 200-500 on D500

In another review I read that "it's only made for long distance while it doesn't focus close and while F5.6 is too slow". I respectfully disagree with that.
The combination of great sharpness wide open (F5.6) and incredible vibration reduction makes it very useable for close ups...

Underneath a picture taken handheld at F5.6(*), iso 3200, and 1/50 shutter speed.

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and a 100% crop of the original image:

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(*) To ensure you that it's taken handheld I also posted the full exif, where you can see that VR was on, and VR doesn't work on tripod.

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:idea: If you like this topic, and you appreciate the time we did spend to back up with pictures and information...
then you can support this website
with a donation...

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update after http :arrow: https
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Shooting wide open (F5.6) with the 200-500 AF-S VR

Posted: Sat 26 Sep 2015 07:00
by Stany Buyle
Top lenses are considered to be sharp already from their widest aperture. This gives an advantage in shutter speed, iso setting combined with noise levels and subject isolation against the background (DOF). According to some people, price wise the 200-500 F5.6 AF-S cannot be a top lens, but several times I found out that this bias does not always fit with reality...

In relation to that I got a couple of requests to document with images how sharp the 200-500 AF-S is at F5.6....

While some images -straight out of the camera with exception of adding ©- mean thousand times more than words, I selected 10 images shot at F5.6.

For direct viewing on this forum and saving bandwidth in the same time I posted a 1000px largest size image .
Under each image I posted a 100% crop and you can see the full exif and a thumbnail size image of the AF point as you see in Nikon Capture NX-i.

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And a 100% crop of the above image:
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And a 100% crop of the above image:
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And a 100% crop of the above image:
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And a 100% crop of the above image:
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And a 100% crop of the above image:
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And a 100% crop of the above image:
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And a 100% crop of the above image:
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And a 100% crop of the above image:
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And last but not least, NEVER a detailed review without a picture of my little ( :lol: ) darling ;) :

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And a 100% crop of the above image:
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:idea: You can support www nikonuser.info and forum with a donation...
**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
:!: :idea: :?: If you have questions, thoughts, your own findings, critiques or remarks related to this or other topics on this forum: Join this forum starting by your registration now!! Everybody is welcome. :D Read about how to make a registration here.
Sincerely.
posted by admin
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Nikon 200-500 AF-S VR F5.6: How about CA ?

Posted: Sun 27 Sep 2015 16:44
by Stany Buyle
Nikon 200-500 AF-S VR F5.6: How about CA ?

CA= Chromatic aberration

Normally CA and purple fringing of a lens is visible in magnifictions of images taken in contrasty scenes.
I did my best to find a reasonable sample:

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and seen at 400% in Nikon Capture NX-i :

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Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR for pics at long distance

Posted: Sun 27 Sep 2015 16:45
by Stany Buyle
Some long distance pictures with the 200-500 AF-S VR on D7200.
For pictures of subjects further than that, I use different gear... ;)

An image straight out of the camera, no post processing whatsoever.

Click on the image to download the full size jpeg
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Nikon 200-500 AF-S VR compared to other lenses

Posted: Sun 4 Oct 2015 14:41
by Stany Buyle

Re: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR user review

Posted: Thu 15 Oct 2015 14:16
by Stany Buyle

Catched a fish!

Posted: Sun 25 Oct 2015 11:21
by Stany Buyle

Re: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR user review

Posted: Tue 24 Nov 2015 10:33
by GAshby
Nice review!

Warm regards,
George.

Kingfisher action captured with D500 & 200-500 VR

Posted: Mon 25 Jul 2016 21:18
by Stany Buyle

Nikon 200-500mm for VERY fast action

Posted: Sat 20 May 2017 11:21
by Stany Buyle
The 200-500 is even suited for VERY fast action while used on the amazing D500:

Very fast action, with upto that an extremely challenging AF situation (Sandhill background approx 1 meter behind the very fast flying swallow.).
Nikon D500 and nikon 200-500 AF-S VR

Click on the image to open the full size jpg.
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related topic :arrow: Nikon D500 has an amazing AF system

You can support this website...

Posted: Sat 20 May 2017 11:35
by ritaB
If you like this topic, and you appreciate the time we did spend to back up with pictures and information...
then you can support this website
with a donation...

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Nikon 200-500mm VR setting on tripod

Posted: Sat 20 May 2017 12:49
by Stany Buyle

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm VR, one more sample

Posted: Sat 27 May 2017 07:00
by Stany Buyle
The nikon 200-500 has two caracteristics which turn it into an amazing lens: very sharp wide open and astonishing VR.
Another sample of the incredible VR, taken yesterday evening while getting dark, handheld at 500mm and 1/13 sec, :
The image comes straight from the memory card, no PP at all.

The exif
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:arrow: Click on the image to open the full size jpg.
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Dragonflies with nikon 200-500 on D500

Posted: Thu 1 Jun 2017 21:14
by Stany Buyle
I really LOVE this lens, after one year of use and now with a second copy after I exchanged my first one for a sigma 150-600 because of weight. :roll: :roll: :roll:
Both my first one and the new one are exceptionally sharp, and already from F5.6.
It's a 200 to500mm telezoom and normally not intended to do close up photography with, but I use it also for this very frequently.

A couple of days ago I went to the natural parc next to where I live and I found a quite large number of dragonflies, the first one I saw in this area this year.

Some pictures...

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the above image is a crop from the Original.

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And a 100% crop of the above picture...
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And a 100% crop of the above.
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Sitting dragonflies are an easy subject, while dragonflies in flight can be rather challenging to get a sharp one...
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And a 100% crop
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To assure next generation... :o
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and a 100% crop of the above
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Thanks for your attention and kindest regards,

Stany
http://www.nikonuser.info
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If you like this topic, and you appreciate the time we did spend to back up our conclusion with information and pictures ...
then you can support this website
with a donation...

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Kindest regards,
Rita and Stany Buyle - eSBee creations.

From this morning, a kestrel with D500 & 200-500

Posted: Sun 4 Jun 2017 17:09
by Stany Buyle
From today in PAarc, Gravelines.

Final images are heavily cropped from the originals. The scene to illustrate the cropping.
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Re: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR review

Posted: Sat 24 Jun 2017 06:16
by Stany Buyle

Re: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR review

Posted: Sat 22 Jul 2017 09:46
by Stany Buyle
With 200-500 on D500, no post processing out of resizing.
Image taken handheld, iso 500, 1/400 sec and F7.1

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A 100% crop from the original:
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Nikon AF-S 200-500mmon D850...

Posted: Sun 10 Sep 2017 19:40
by Stany Buyle
Underneath image was captured with D850 & nikon 200-500 at F5.6, M mode, (auto)iso 500, 1/1000 sec. Image taken handheld with VR on. Cropped from the original. The Original crop is 2403px longest side.
I'm happy with this picture because I never captured a Kingfisher with a fish speared on its beak before during many years and hundreds of hours of Kingfisher observation and photography on different locations.
The image was totally unprepared while I was taking pictures of a heron sitting in the other direction. All of a sudden I heard a splash in the water behind my back and I saw my little friend with a relative big fish speared on its beak. There was barely enough time to aim and shoot before he flew in the foliage.
D850 did a good job by nailing AF fast and accurate. I love the D850 & 200-500 combo.

The only PP that has been done was adding +0.66 EV and shadow lifting with ADL in NCNX-D. A tad sharpening in NC and © in PS5. NO noise reduction applied.

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The original didn't look promising though, while underexposed...

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I think that if I would have captured this image with my D500, with the same underexposure, the outcome would have been worse or even unusable because of noise.

Thanks for looking and kindest regards,
Stany
http://www.nikonuser.info


More pictures with this combo :arrow: D850 with Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6 E ED VR

close up with Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR on D5

Posted: Sun 8 Apr 2018 21:10
by Stany Buyle
With D500 and nikon 200-500 @ 500mm

A close up with this amazing lens
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And a 100% crop:
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Nikon200-500mm for close up

Posted: Sun 1 Jul 2018 15:35
by Stany Buyle
Every time again I use my 200-500 for close up in nature I'm amazed by the amount of detail.

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Nikon Z7 is amazing with FTZ & 200-500 at close distance...

Posted: Mon 10 Sep 2018 12:18
by Stany Buyle
Among all lenses I tested on the Z7 with FTZ adapter, the 200-500 AF-S Vr impressed me the most.
It focuses and locks focus relative fast but it blew me away with images in the very close focus range, with an even significantly better VR performance than the extraordinary VR this lens natively already has.
Underneath 2 images taken HANDHELD, Manual mode, 1/1250 sec, F5.6 @ 500mm. Auto iso (iso 560 & iso 400)
The images haven't been sharpened in PP. Only converted from NEF in view NX-i with my preferred picture style for this kind of images.

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and a crop of the above image, resized to 1000px longest side: (click on the image to get the 100% crop)
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and a crop of the above image, resized to 1000px longest side: (click on the image to get the 100% crop)
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Under while I'm working on a more complete Nikon Z7 hands on review...

Thanks for visiting my website and kindest regards,
Stany

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related topic :arrow: [posting.php?mode=edit&f=117&p=9033&sid= ... 11281dd162]Nikon Z7 hands on review[/url]

related topic :arrow: The F mount adapter quality will be the key part…
related topic :arrow: Pre-order your Z6, Z7 with 24-70 F4 + FTZ adapter at A&C

Dragonfly beauty queen with nikon 200-500

Posted: Sun 16 Sep 2018 10:54
by Stany Buyle
A beautiful big dragonfly captured yesterday with D850 & nikon 200-500.
The image was taken handheld.

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Sharpness & detail did not disappoint... (100% crop)

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You can support this website...

Posted: Thu 22 Nov 2018 10:02
by ritaB
If you appreciate all the time Stany puts into this non-commercial website..

:idea: If you like this topic, and you appreciate the time we did spend to back up with pictures and information...
then you can support this website
with a donation...

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Sincerely,
Rita.

Re: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR review

Posted: Wed 6 Feb 2019 17:17
by jamesmilner
Good afternoon.
Thank you so much for very informative topic and good pictures. That was I looking for.
Best regards
James

Re: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR review

Posted: Sat 2 Dec 2023 10:55
by DiederikVP
:idea: