I have the Nikon 200-500 f5.6 coupled to the Nikon D500, while shooting hand held with single point back button focus at 1/1600 sec and f8 in manual mode and auto ISO. I nailed 3 in focus pictures of a common Grackel flying through the trees. I was sitting on a park bench and about 50 metres away. And I am 73 years old.
Love my 200-500mm! It's the perfect setup when paired with the D500. I used it for shooting a baseball game yesterday for the first time. As long as the light is good, it works great.
Recently purchased the 200-500mm lens and paired it with the D7500. I shoot birds mostly. This is an absolute beast of a lens. Super smooth and fast focusing.
Nice video - I love the lens - sure, I wish I could have a 300/400 2.8, but definitely can’t afford that. I use an 850 and works perfect. My little tip: Shoot the focusing ring with around 350mm - you can increase to the 500mm or 200mm with a shorter turn versus always shooting at 200mm/500mm.
If you want super cheap wildlife photography. I’d say a d7200 works well with this lense. I own this lense myself and will say for a DX format it really shines, it’s like having a telescope.
Great review. I will be ordering this lens tomorrow. I was intending to use it on my very old D40X and realized I need to step up to a D7500 to make full use of this lens. I love your back garden photography ideas with the feeders and perches. I need to get cracking on those! Thank you Tom!
Just took the leap for this lens. Yours is the first video that helps me see YES!! this is the lens for me. Thank you for making this. Your bird feeder photographs are exquisite, by the way.
I used this lens for a full week paired to my D5300. Shot wildlife in Kanha & Bandhavgarh National Parks in India. The lens is good and does a fair job given the 5.6 aperture.
I love my 200-500mm lens, I pair it my D500 and D850 it works great since I shot mainly wildlife. It has over 12, 000 shots without any problems. It sees all kind of dirt and wet, works flawlessly
Nice review and images! Fully agree with you on the position of the focus ring... I find the best way is to keep your hand at the zoom ring and operate the focus ring with your pinky, big hands come in handy here lol. 5:10 I have used it in desert, crawling in between dunes in order to photograph shy gazelles and have to say that it handled all the sand and dust pretty well! I tried to minimize zooming when in desert so almost always kept it at 500mm... after a few days of using it out of the desert no sand in it anymore giving this scratchy feel when zooming. All in all really love this lens and would recommend it to anyone who does not have enough budget for a big prime! Especially the versatility you get because of the ability to zoom is really nice.
Just made the switch to Nikon from Canon and got the d500, because of this lens, for airshows and wildlife. Was toying with one of 150-600 models, but I think you have convinced me now with this video that this is the one. Great stuff. Very comprehensive review.
You make some fantastic videos Tom. About to buy a second hand D500 and after selling my Sigma 150-600 - this is now my next purchase. Your review is fab and it looks like the combo I will have will be just perfect! (ps that Hawthorn twig idea - had never thought of doing that, so guess what I am doing this weekend!!) Thanks Anne.
Which lens would you choose between the Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 or the Nikon 300mm f.4D? I am shooting on a Nikon D5500 and photograph different wildlife in a huge variety of distances, but sharpness and weather sealing/durability is the most important thing to me since I want to sell prints and I am photographing in snow, mist and rain as much as I am photographing in sunny daylight. Great to see you back again and hoping for more "out in the field" videos.
EiricNJ If Fixed focal length and 300mm is enough for you, Its a Fucking Beast of a Lens. The 300 f4 PF that is. Dunno about the old one. A stop better, quites faster AF, Sharp AF but Pricy.. Also has faster AF even with 1.4x tc at f5.6
Hey there, its a hard one because I love the 300 f4 for the DOF and slightly faster AF, however for such a range of subjects I feel the 200-500 might suit better. The weather sealing on both lenses is decent, however the newer design of the 200-500 seems to be a little better, just be careful of sand getting in when zooming. With either I'd grab a cover to be fully sure - a simply full camera and lens cover will be perfect to see of the harshest weather. Sharpness when used correctly is great with the 200-500 even wide open. Hope that helps, Cheers, Tom
I have both the 200-500 and the 300 f/4 AF-S(non IS). I find the zoom to be both sharper and better in rendering colours at 300mm wide open. Its more contrasty. Are those your findings as well? Thanks
Great video as always. Agree the 200-500 is fantastic value for money and offer great optical performance. For most people it is really an amazing lens for nature and sport. The Camera industry has really developed equipment at relatively affordable prices that has opened for many aspiring photographers. For my use unfortunately the lens did not work out. In very dusty and harsh conditions in Etosha the lens only survived 1 trip. Practically it is not possible to keep the lens covered when you work. The image quality and even focus is impressive. and the constant f5.6 is a big plus.
Hi Tom another great video. I have the 200-500 and D500 and with it have taken photos of birds/wildlife I am very happy with. You mention that the auto focus can struggle in some situations which explains why my pictures are occasionally out of focus I was concerned it was me or something wrong with the lens . Keep the Videos coming. Mal, Southampton
I have the 200-500mm lens and I took it out in the rain, mostly because of this review and the next day the focus was slowed down tremendously due to water getting inside. I couldn't focus on anything close up. I then continuously focused on something really far and back to something really close several times until the heat of the motor seemed to evaporate the water. This took quite a bit of time though. Problem solved, but I honestly felt lucky. Don't use this lens in the rain. Get a rain cover. Please.
Hey will thats good feedback to note, I tested the one I had for 4+ hours in the rain and didn't have any issues but I did wipe water off every so often, the lens seemed to cope well but its certainly interesting to hear your feedback. I doing think it would be an issue in a light shower but for heavy rain I'd agree a cover would be recommended, especially if you are zooming in and out regularly. Thanks for the feedback much appreciated! Cheers, Tom
Nikon is offering us an alternative easy on the pocket (will still save actually) wildlife lens. An opportunity for us to experience the avenue most likely for expensive long range primes. A D800 and D700 (both second hands) user here. Thank you Tom for sharing! And look at those images you got! For me, those images would be tantamount as receiving an achievement award. Regards.
Solid review and you're the only one to pick up on the reverse order of the zoom and focus rings. When I move from my 16-35MM and 24-70MM Nikon lenses to this new 200-500MM, I have to constantly remind myself that these rings are reversed. It can slow me down and make me miss certain wildlife shots.
Thank you! Yeah the reverse to the rings can throw you off, especially if you’re used to other glass. Lots of the newer models are now the same, swapping them over for easier reach of the ring, but in time I’m sure I’ll get used to it!
My Dear Tom Mason I am a Nikon Wildlife Photographer and a Wildlife Researcher from Sri Lanka. My Nature and Wildlife Photography works in the WILDS - the combination is Nikon D 7100 + NIKKOR 200-500mm. Super Telephoto Zoom Lens. When I see your above works and the Review you have done all are praiseworthy and appreciated well. I love this Nikon Wildlife Photography Lens a Lot. To protect my lovely lens I am using a Nikon NC 95mm Neutral Color Filter. I bought it along with the Lens. Made in Japan. When I see your Honor going through the fields with the lovely and valuable and precise Nikon Gear they all greatly motivated Me. Your way of presentation and the happiness of shooting with the only budget and affordable Wildlife Range Lense from the esteemed Nikon Corporation eye soothing and a Happiness to the Mind. By the way I need to get a clear understanding of the Full/ Infinity switch on the Lens. How about your hands on experience in the WILDS with this control ? Second question - For the lens long safety Once our Nikon School Master said that it is good to keep the the Super Telephoto Zoom Lens at 400mm. What about your opinion ? Kindly add my subscription to your esteemed site. Awaiting your Reply in Apppreciation. Will stay connected. Thank you and Warm Regards.
Great review, I have owned this lens for about 10 months and initially used it with my D7200, where it outperformed my previous Sigma 150-600contemporary, I have since upgraded to the D500 and this combo is a "killer" combo for the price, in my estimation there is nothing else to upgrade too, before going the "prime" lens route which is a huge price jump.......I meet so many people that are using the D500/200-500 combo and even a few that have moved from Canon over to Nikon just because of this available combo. For extended periods of photographing birds or wildlife I use a monopod.....the VR is a dream
I'n using mine on a D750, I'm enjoying the heck out of this lens! I'm going to get a D850 when ever they become a stock item at B&H here in the States. I want that almost double pixel res, for cropping, along with all the other great features of the D850. I got my 200-500 used for $1050.00 US, and it's in like NITB and is Tack sharp. Love, my D750 also, the High ISO's I use are pretty Noise free.
I’ve had this lens for a few years and tried it on my new Z7. Works great. Just be aware that you should turn off the lens VR if used by a Z6 or Z7 because it creates problems.
Awesome video! I always look forward to watching a new video of yours. I really appreciate how you not only review the lens, but also discuss wildlife tips in general. BTW still saving up for the 300mm f/4 AF-S...hopefully I can snatch one up at ~$500 USD before I go on a road trip this summer.
Agree with all you said. I've enjoyed mine for >2 years now. I've been so impressed with IQ even when forced to shoot into harsh light in backlit situations with fantastic contrast, minimal flare, minimal chromatic aberrations. In fact mine is much better than a more expensive lens in my collection that I wish i'd never bought!
Great video man. I've been looking a lot at this lens online. One of my first bits of research was seeing if this lens is weather sealed and, as far as I can see online this lens isn't weather sealed. Just be wary if you are using it in the rain and it gets water damaged, Nikon won't do anything about it!
This is a wonderful review Tom and thanks for that. I'm watching you at 11:46 talking about shooting over your pack, does that not impede the focus ring from movement? Seems to be a very nice lens with a lot to offer and your small bird portraits were very nice! Thumbs UP of course! Many thanks.
Hey Frederick, shooting over the pack can reduce the ability however often to change zoom, simply lift slightly and re compose. The bag offers stability and is handy for that and the slight effort to lift and zoom is easily overcome. Also you'll find unless you're pressing the camera down its not to much an issue. Glad you enjoyed the video and the shots! Thanks for watching and hope too see you commenting on future uploads, Cheers, Tom
Thank you for your detailed review. Many terrific points and lots of great information. Your information is well taken and appreciated. Now, I have got to get out with the lens and shoot, shoot, shoot. 📸🤩👋😎👍
Love this lens with the D500. The prints I get are amazing. I do a lot of stock work and the video and photos I get are great and have more than paid for it. Just sold a bunch of 16x20 prints to a client of some deer... Always hated that clicking of the Nikons, but ....live and learn, I wrap a towel around the mount area where it overlaps on the camera, doesn't interfere with any controls and noise is muffled to where the deer and turkey don't notice at all now.
I use this on my D850 and its a brilliant setup for wildlife photography. I did test out a 400mm 2.8 the other day and that was excellent but the weight and size made it a faff to navigate.
Interesting review with some great information. So in a previous video you praised the 300 f4, how does the 200-500 compare for sharpness and focus speed and which would you go for if you could only choose one?
Both the 300/4 and 200/500 are great however both sit in different budget categories. The 300 can be found for £500 whilst the 200/500 is at least double this. Both perform great in terms of sharpness - I would give the edge to the prime - however when a TC is added to get the 420mm focal length to compare with the 200/500 they are very comparable. The 200/500 has the benefits of flexibility, as well as VR but the focus speed from my personal testing I would say it similar, the 200/500 hunts a little less in backlit situation or when it starts to get darker. Personally if I could only have one I think I would still choose the prime (mainly because I love the 300mm focal length) and the f4 aperture makes very nice Bokeh -but the 200/500 is a stunning all round performer, especially for those going after smaller birds. I’m going to be very intrigued with the new 500 PF being announced so we shall se how that changes things! Cheers, Tom
Great video Tom. I have the 200-500 and agree with everything you said about it. I would be interested to know what vr settings you used and what your thoughts on the vr are.
VR is a very handy, not only for slower shutter speed handholding but also keeping things stable in the viewfinder for composing. I had VR on the whole time in Normal mode, but still aimed to have a 1/1000 sec shutter speed for sharpness on the D500 D850. With the file size and crop being so great, you need to make sure the technique is nailed down, however I did get good results even at 1/320. Cheers, Tom
Tom Mason thanks for you thoughts. It's the first vr lens I've owned and I often end up using the sport mode as the view through the viewfinder stays more steady between frames in a burst of shots when tracking a subject.
Certainly if its not too expensive it could be a very cool lens for bird photographers and especially those who travel, I'll be interested if the performance is better than my 300 2.8 + 2.0 TC for sure, and if the weights low it could be awesome! Thanks for watching, Tom
Wonderful video Tom. Been following your work for some time and regarding this lens, I am not sure whether or not using a teleconverter will get me some better results or should I be looking into the more serious f4 600mm.. would be nice to hear from you. Cheers mate👍
Personally on the 200/500 I’d skip a TC, the focus and IQ really are best when the lens is used bare. The 600 f4 is a different beast - if you have the ££ you’ll not regret a super tele, I couldn’t imagine not having my 300 2.8 in my bag. The IQ and performance will blow you away and also you’ll never have the excuse that your lens wasn’t up to the job. At a personal level 600mm would be too long for me to be fixed at hence why the 300 2.8 works great with TCs giving me 300/420/600 in a travel friendly package. If smaller birds however are your bag the 600 f4 is a beast or even the 400 2.8 might be a great option - both a different league to the 200/500, let me know if you’ve got more q’s! Cheers, Tom
@@TomMasonPhoto Thank you for your opinion Tom. Currently I m using a 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 but looking forward to upgrading soon😊 I would like give an opinion on the 70-300, you have mentioned earlier that the focusing on the lens is quite slow. But I find that it works pretty well for a beginner like me although it tends to miss out on some fast bird shots. But its really low light conditions where this lens is a nuisance! Most of the time I have to switch to MF and rely on my eyes for the shot👀😂 Thanks again buddy. Keep up the good work. Cheers.
Ik heb de d300 en de D800. Mijn persoonlijke ervaring is dat alhoewel de 500 mm een 750 wordt op een dx camera je erna niet veel meer moet croppen en ook niet te hoog in de ISO moet klimmen. (1600 is te veel naar mijn mening. Ik heb auto ISO naar maxi 800 afgesteld)) Ik schiet scherpere foto's met de d800 en croppen erna dan met de d300. Ik raad je aan Topaz Denoise AI aan te schaffen voor nog meer scherpte en ruis verwijdering.
I’ve got a D750 and a D7100 and I’ve finally broken down and ordered this lens. I think it’s going to pair with both cameras really nicely but especially the D7100 to get that DX crop reach.
Hi Tom, Just working my way through your vids. Some great content for a beginner Wildlife Photographer. Not sure if I can stretch to the 300mm F2.8 VR but notice a slightly cheaper AF-S model. Would you say that this older style 300mm lens would still be a better bet than the 200-500mm zoom. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Keep the content coming. Cheers
Hmm its a hard one, personally a lens I RATE on a budget is the 300mm F4 AF-s. You can find them for under £550 in good shape and the optics are class, great with a TC too with awesome close focus. The older AF-S 2.8 is good but optically the VR or VR are superior and TBH you'd be better off saving longer and buying the VR / VR II. If you shop around I'd even a VR I go for £1850! The 200-500 is lighter, zoom's that ideal for hide work and video work and has VR. However for still images I'd always pick my 300mm 2.8 especially for the "look". its a hard thing to describe but, It just has a nicer feel to me! hope that helps in some way! Cheers, Tom
Excellent presentation Tom and, without sounding anyway racist, it great to hear the English language spoken in the way that people from England might better understand! Way too many Americanisms in RUclips. Can you please tell me what you consider to be the most important factor between camera and lens when looking for sharp, crisp images? I realise that there is much more than my question asks, but I’m just moving to a full frame Nikon D600 ( only recently purchased with less than 2500 shutter count) and I’m looking to upgrade my existing Sigma telephoto to a Nikkor 200-500. The sigma lens is 70-200 and has served me well for many years, buy I just have a sense that a Nikon camera with Nikon lens is the best way to go on my personal budget.
Hey Alan, thank for watching and glad you enjoyed the video! In regards to the most important between camera and lens, the lens is a key, purchasing the highest quality optics you can afford. The 200-500 is a great lens and having reviewed it myself I can certainly recommend it, however for the best of the best you really can't beat the dedicated prime lenses with fast apertures. They offer the best sharpness across the board alongside brighter optics for working in more varied situations, but of course that does come with added cost! Cheers, Tom
Excellent - I'm not a Nikon user and have been looking at the Tamron, but it is great to hear your comments on the range. New cameras give better high ISO than even the low ISO of the older ones, so light loss is less of an issue than it was, though the DoF looked good enough, too in your images.
PGC Knaphill, I looked at the Tamron 150-600 mm f 5.0 to 6.3 and also the Signature in the same focal length. The conclusion was that the Nikon 200-500 was sharper.
PGC Knaphill I shoot at ISO 3200 sometimes higher with my D500, cleaning up noise is easy with DXO, I use DXO and finish my PP with Affinity photo. These images where shot at 3200 ISO. flic.kr/p/25HMn3K flic.kr/p/272mY2d
My camera body is 10 years old with a CCD sensor... it only goes to 1600 and that is too noisy, I really max out at 400. Time for a new body, but I'm a pensioner so have limited funds
Good video with some great tips and images. I agree with your asessment wholeheartedly: it's a brilliant lens. I was debating whether or not to purchase a Nikkor 200 - 500mm or a Tamron 150 - 600mm G2. As I walked passed London Camera Exchange I noticed they were selling the 200 - 500 at £999.99, went in and bought one. I actually prefer it to my Nikkor 300mm f4 PF ED (with or without the TC14EIII). I've owned mine for about a year and immensely pleased with it. I use mine on the end of a D500 and feel they were made for each other.
I use a range of Gitzo tripods, here I had my traveller series one although I’ve recently updated to the 2 series. I have a 4 series systematic for most of my work with the new 4 series ball head but the traveller is awesome when I don’t need the weight capacity for smaller kit, landscapes etc!
Tom, what are your recommended settings for large birds in flight with the Nikon 200-500 and Nikon D-500 camera in good early morning and evening light? Reviewers are all over the map on this. Some say shoot wide open with vibration reduction OFF and focus limiter on and use Group Focus setting, ISO 1,000 to 2,000 or more. Others say shoot f/7.1 or f/8 if light allows, use Full focus mode, vibration reduction ON and 21 point focus mode, ISO 640-800. I am using AF-C mode with focus tracking and lock-on. Do you set AF-C priority selection to Focus or Release? I suppose the answer might be whatever works best for me but I'd like to know what works best for you. Thanks!
I'd be working wide open in early light, looking to use a group mode of 21 points or 3d Tracking, ISO 800 as for flight stuff in the air often that will easily provide a 1/1000 - 1/2000 shutter speed. If the light gets stronger, I'd up my F stop for more depth of field to ensure full focus and then slowly drop the ISO. Although in honesty I tend to prefer a little more movement in my flight shots so would also try dropping to 1/60 ish and panning!
Tom, I noticed that you mentioned that the lens missed some shots when AF tracking was used, I could be wrong, but, I think the Camera body handles the AF Modes, and not the Lens?
I always hold the lens when I'm shooting and actually with this lens being around the weight of the 70-200 I didn't feel any more stress on the mount that with that (when carrying by the strap etc) as you say best to be safe and carry the lens by the lens in most situations.
Tom Mason I use a wrist strap attached to the lens, nothing dangling around, I got rid of the neck strap a long time ago. If not using the wrist strap I use a shoulder strap, again attached to the lens.
Kind of a myth...100-400 Canon L used hard and mount is fine.surf,sports and at work surveillance for hours on end..for 3 years. Use your stuff like you mean it.
Fjällräven best trouser pants! I've got the Barents Pro, and the Vida Pro, comfy as all get out. Been trying to get the kneepads but local store Fjällräven Canada, here in Toronto is flat out >.< gotta wait hah.
Hi Tom, I do have this lens, too and I really like it. I use the D850 and D7500, both are brilliant. Now my question, is the focus ring at your lease also very loose. Mine is quite loose and I sent to Nikon to adjust but it came back pretty much the same. Is this normal? I know other Nikon lenses such as 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 and on these lenses the focus ring feels more solid and stabil. What do you think?
Markus its due to the pro grade lens/consumer lens. The 24/70 70/200 in my mind are some of the best built and designed lenses around. The focus rings are both dampened to add additional friction to aid in perfect focusing, something lacking on the 200-500. In reality it just because of the price.. The 180-400 I am sure would have an equal feel to the 70-200 or the 300mm 2.8 I always use, again down to them being pro lenses with the added investment in features like that. I do however feel its the right compromise for this lens and for most people, who'll rarely touch the MF ring! Cheers, Tom
Hey Tom have you shot with the older 200-400 F4 VR and compared it to the 200-500. I'm wondering if the extra 100mm of reach is worth considering when the Obviously far superior 200-400 can be picked up 2nd hand for around $2200 to $2400(and likely to hold close to that value) I know it's a stop faster but with the D500 being so good in low light that's not my concern as much as loss off reach especially as I'm likely to use it predominantly for wildlife...hope that all makes sense
Hi, I’m currently shooting a D850 and going on safari next year so thought about a second camera to stop lens changes in dusty environments. The question I have is - should I get a FX (D750) for second camera or DX (D500). Baring in mind the D850 has cropped shooting built in, my main consideration is the extended reach of the crop factor. Wanting to make the most of my current telephoto lenses. 300pf, 70-200fl.
Hey Tom good review. I bought tamron 150-600mm some years ago after seeing your excellent review on that. It does most of the things I need but f8 is a pain. Is upgrading to nic 200-500 going to be a worthwhile investment
Hey Tom, I’ve been looking at this lens along with the D500 and you’ve just sold it :) currently I have a Canon 6d which is a great camera but not for wildlife. Kept looking at the 7d2 and 90d and using a 100-400 mk2 but I think I’m going to make the change to Nikon for this style of photography now...think I’ll regret it?lol
Canon doesn't have a lot of full frame cameras that have fast burst speed, and those that have are well over 4000$. Nikon also has a much better upgrade path since they only have 2 lens mounts, f and z. The d500 is a great camera for wildlife.
Hey Ant. Did you make the change. Also looking at D850 and the 200-500 and the Sony camp A74 and 200-600 Sony. Also coming from Canon. The Nikon is less expensive and Im old school i love ovf.
I don't think 5.6 is a big compromise- A stop difference is nothing with the ISO capabilities of a D500/D5/D850. You showed that you get plenty of separation at 5.6 or better. I feel that the real compromise with this lens is the focus speed. It's quick, but not lightning fast like the 300 2.8. I also have heard that image quality at the long end varies a lot between lenses. I'm not sure how really true it is but it's the kind of thing that makes me skittish. I have an old Sigma 150-500 on a D500- It's light and crazy sharp at the long end. The focus isn't super fast but I can catch and track a bird in flight well enough with it I think I will stick with it for now. My old 500 f4 (first version- Still have aperture ring) is great, actually amazing but HEAVY and I don't feel that I compromise much at all with the slower zoom. Thanks for the great video!
The compromise of the f5.6 is key as it affects all of the other areas you're talking about. The slower AF is a result of the aperture allowing less light to aid the focusing system slowing it down. Yes the lens also wont have the same top end motor as in the f4/2.8 ranges but the aperture is key in enabling focusing speed. The older primes are still awesome, and often great value, if as you say you don't mind the weight. I saw a 300 2.8 AFS selling for £1200 the other day thats an awesome deal! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks for an honest review . I'll go get this lens tomorrow . By the way weren't you aware of that snake which was passing by you at 7:43 (right bottom corner of the video ) 😃
Hi Tom, what are your thoughts on the d7100 ? I currently use it with a nikkor 18-140mm & 70-300mm. I was thinking of upgrading either the body or lens or both. Do you think i should stick with this setup? If not, what lens & body do you recommend?
Hey Brandon, I would pretty much always invest in lenses over new cameras. The 7100 is certainly cabal of great images and has a good AF system inside. Personally the 200-500 would be a great fit for the camera giving you excellent scope to then upgrade to either an FX camera or DX in the future. The 200-500 would certainly be a big improvement over the 70-300, hope that helps, Tom.
Hi Tom, great to see you back! I am a student that is currently shooting with a tsmron 150-600mm vc usd with a d500, is it worth the money it switch to the 200 to 500? Cheers!
Very good video. Loved the pictures.... I am a Nikon shooter but thinking about moving to Sony but after seeing this video I think Nikon is still a very good company with marvelous bodies. Maybe the D850 is a good option indeed.
Hey Tom, thanks for sharing your experience with that lens! I am looking to buy one of these but I heard some youtubers having problem with the sharpness of the lens. They had to return it to Nikon to get it fixed. Apparently this problem is affecting one lens out of 4-5 😮 Did you or any viewers had experience some kind of sharpness issue with the 200-500? In either case I would like to hear your thoughts on that matter. Thanks and keep up with the great content!!!
Personally I had no problem with the sharpness of the lens in any way, on my D850 is was truly great and thats a hard sensor to work Wirth due to its high resolution that really shows any flaws. I think sometimes people make an issue about lenses when in most situations its just not visible. If you shoot test charts all day then yeah you might see a tiny lack of focus however in the most part, in the real world I could see no issues at all, Hope that helps! Cheers, Tom
The Nikon 200-500mm weighs 2.3kg. Is it safe to carry the lens and camera by the camera strap, or would you recommend attaching a strap such as Kirk Photography's sling strap (ss-1) to the tripod collar?
Personally I's usually have it in my hands by the lens, often holding the foot when walking to avoid stress, just when filming myself I needed to use the strap! I think having a strap mount for the lens would certainly reduce the stress over a long period and would probably say if you work a lot with a strap and walking then its probably worth going for it long term. Cheers, Tom
Hi Tom, Thanks a lot for the review. The Question I have is does 200-500 do justice to D850 ? I ask this Question since in one of your other videos, you mentioned that to get the best out of high performance bodies like D850, one must use prime lenses. Can you please answer this Q soon as Im planning to buy D850 in next 3 days.
Great video. I loved it. I am 12 and you are extremely inspiring for me so thank you. I am a canon user and I am thinking about getting the sigma 150-600 mm lens. What do you think?
Really glad you're finding the content helpful and inspiring. As for canon if you can afford it, saving for the 100-400 MK II might be a better option. Its sharper with faster AF and although you loose a bit of reach the native lens will last a lot longer in your kit bag. Looking for one second hand might be a good option, just make sure its the MK II as they are a far greater improvement over the MK I. But save up and spend wisely would be my advice, use what you've got to save a little longer for the 100-400 and then use it every day! Cheers, Tom
Or you can get the Canon 400mm f5.6 it’s an amazing lens super sharp and fast. I tried the 150-600 and it’s too slow and not sharp. Hands down for the Canon though it’s a great value for the lens.
I partly disagree about the sharpness of the sigma 150-600, i have sharp images. but I agree with you on the AF speed of the Sigma. This Goose pic was taken with a sigma 150-600..... 500px.com/photo/207928547/goose-2-by-phil-watson?ctx_page=5&from=user&user_id=16698061
Hi Tom enjoying all your videos,I have the 200-500 f5.6 on the D500. Do you think this combination would have any benefits by adding a nikon TC-14E AF-S Teleconverter III or is it better to crop. There are so many differing opinions out there so I would appreciate your take on it please.
Hey Janet, sorry for the slow reply, Personally I'd skip the TC. The AF will slow down and the max aperture will be brought down to f8 that often will really reduce the speed. With the 200-500 and the D500 you'd be best to crop slightly (there 1.2 mode is great) and you'll get much better all round performance, Cheers, Tom
I have the Nikon 200-500 f5.6 coupled to the Nikon D500, while shooting hand held with single point back button focus at 1/1600 sec and f8 in manual mode and auto ISO. I nailed 3 in focus pictures of a common Grackel flying through the trees. I was sitting on a park bench and about 50 metres away. And I am 73 years old.
Nailed it. It's a great lens and the combo with the D500 is certainly a top class one!
Would be great if you could post the link to the pictures
Isaac Mazique 👍🏻
Isn't the 200-500 plenty sharp wide open? Nicer DoF and lower ISO that way, too
@Butch Dye if weight is ever an issue you should look at Olympus cameras
Love my 200-500mm! It's the perfect setup when paired with the D500. I used it for shooting a baseball game yesterday for the first time. As long as the light is good, it works great.
Recently purchased the 200-500mm lens and paired it with the D7500. I shoot birds mostly. This is an absolute beast of a lens. Super smooth and fast focusing.
Nice video - I love the lens - sure, I wish I could have a 300/400 2.8, but definitely can’t afford that. I use an 850 and works perfect. My little tip: Shoot the focusing ring with around 350mm - you can increase to the 500mm or 200mm with a shorter turn versus always shooting at 200mm/500mm.
Great recommendation!
Thanks for the garden bird photography tips - very helpful.
If you want super cheap wildlife photography. I’d say a d7200 works well with this lense. I own this lense myself and will say for a DX format it really shines, it’s like having a telescope.
Great review. I will be ordering this lens tomorrow. I was intending to use it on my very old D40X and realized I need to step up to a D7500 to make full use of this lens. I love your back garden photography ideas with the feeders and perches. I need to get cracking on those! Thank you Tom!
Just took the leap for this lens. Yours is the first video that helps me see YES!! this is the lens for me. Thank you for making this. Your bird feeder photographs are exquisite, by the way.
I used this lens for a full week paired to my D5300. Shot wildlife in Kanha & Bandhavgarh National Parks in India. The lens is good and does a fair job given the 5.6 aperture.
After my 600/4 was stolen last october this lens was all I could afford and I’m really happy with it. It was my plan b worst case go to lens.
" it was my plan B worst case goto lens " ummmm lol, and this is a good thing how ? 😂
I love my 200-500mm lens, I pair it my D500 and D850 it works great since I shot mainly wildlife. It has over 12, 000 shots without any problems. It sees all kind of dirt and wet, works flawlessly
Great lens mate. Use it all the time with my D500. I’ve gotten some great images of BIF in Florida and wildlife at Kugler Park S. Africa.
Nice review and images!
Fully agree with you on the position of the focus ring... I find the best way is to keep your hand at the zoom ring and operate the focus ring with your pinky, big hands come in handy here lol.
5:10 I have used it in desert, crawling in between dunes in order to photograph shy gazelles and have to say that it handled all the sand and dust pretty well! I tried to minimize zooming when in desert so almost always kept it at 500mm... after a few days of using it out of the desert no sand in it anymore giving this scratchy feel when zooming.
All in all really love this lens and would recommend it to anyone who does not have enough budget for a big prime! Especially the versatility you get because of the ability to zoom is really nice.
I would love to see England. The houses and the countryside is beautiful.
The only Problem eith it is there's no 2A
Just made the switch to Nikon from Canon and got the d500, because of this lens, for airshows and wildlife. Was toying with one of 150-600 models, but I think you have convinced me now with this video that this is the one. Great stuff. Very comprehensive review.
Best 200-500 review yet, by far, thanks mate!
Guy, thumbs up the way you’re able to one-hand that set-up. I have the lens (D750), and it is a beast weight-wise...✌🏾
You make some fantastic videos Tom. About to buy a second hand D500 and after selling my Sigma 150-600 - this is now my next purchase. Your review is fab and it looks like the combo I will have will be just perfect! (ps that Hawthorn twig idea - had never thought of doing that, so guess what I am doing this weekend!!) Thanks Anne.
I have just bought this lens today! Your videos are fantastic, very informative and enjoyable to watch. Thank you!
So many of us with the D500 & the 200-500 hookup it just works great together 📸
Totally agree!
Love this lens, crisp and sharp brilliant to work with, ...and not a photographer who is easily impressed. Paired with D800.
Which lens would you choose between the Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 or the Nikon 300mm f.4D? I am shooting on a Nikon D5500 and photograph different wildlife in a huge variety of distances, but sharpness and weather sealing/durability is the most important thing to me since I want to sell prints and I am photographing in snow, mist and rain as much as I am photographing in sunny daylight.
Great to see you back again and hoping for more "out in the field" videos.
EiricNJ If Fixed focal length and 300mm is enough for you, Its a Fucking Beast of a Lens. The 300 f4 PF that is. Dunno about the old one.
A stop better, quites faster AF, Sharp AF but Pricy.. Also has faster AF even with 1.4x tc at f5.6
Hey there, its a hard one because I love the 300 f4 for the DOF and slightly faster AF, however for such a range of subjects I feel the 200-500 might suit better. The weather sealing on both lenses is decent, however the newer design of the 200-500 seems to be a little better, just be careful of sand getting in when zooming. With either I'd grab a cover to be fully sure - a simply full camera and lens cover will be perfect to see of the harshest weather. Sharpness when used correctly is great with the 200-500 even wide open. Hope that helps, Cheers, Tom
I have both the 200-500 and the 300 f/4 AF-S(non IS). I find the zoom to be both sharper and better in rendering colours at 300mm wide open. Its more contrasty. Are those your findings as well? Thanks
I would like to see more of the waterfowl pictures. Thank you for sharing this video.
Great video as always. Agree the 200-500 is fantastic value for money and offer great optical performance. For most people it is really an amazing lens for nature and sport. The Camera industry has really developed equipment at relatively affordable prices that has opened for many aspiring photographers. For my use unfortunately the lens did not work out. In very dusty and harsh conditions in Etosha the lens only survived 1 trip. Practically it is not possible to keep the lens covered when you work. The image quality and even focus is impressive. and the constant f5.6 is a big plus.
Hi Tom another great video. I have the 200-500 and D500 and with it have taken photos of birds/wildlife I am very happy with. You mention that the auto focus can struggle in some situations which explains why my pictures are occasionally out of focus I was concerned it was me or something wrong with the lens . Keep the Videos coming. Mal, Southampton
I like the way your flipping that long lens around from the camera body. Must not be too heavy.
Went ahead and purchased this lens thanks in part to your wonderful review. Great work. Thank you for posting.
Terrific review and shots mate. I couple this with my d750. It performs quite well in good light, the sharpness and bokeh are better than expected 🍻
I have the 200-500mm lens and I took it out in the rain, mostly because of this review and the next day the focus was slowed down tremendously due to water getting inside. I couldn't focus on anything close up. I then continuously focused on something really far and back to something really close several times until the heat of the motor seemed to evaporate the water. This took quite a bit of time though.
Problem solved, but I honestly felt lucky. Don't use this lens in the rain. Get a rain cover. Please.
Hey will thats good feedback to note, I tested the one I had for 4+ hours in the rain and didn't have any issues but I did wipe water off every so often, the lens seemed to cope well but its certainly interesting to hear your feedback. I doing think it would be an issue in a light shower but for heavy rain I'd agree a cover would be recommended, especially if you are zooming in and out regularly. Thanks for the feedback much appreciated! Cheers, Tom
Good tip about background palettes and including a little sky. Backgrounds are important - even if hey are out of focus.
Nikon is offering us an alternative easy on the pocket (will still save actually) wildlife lens. An opportunity for us to experience the avenue most likely for expensive long range primes. A D800 and D700 (both second hands) user here. Thank you Tom for sharing! And look at those images you got! For me, those images would be tantamount as receiving an achievement award. Regards.
Solid review and you're the only one to pick up on the reverse order of the zoom and focus rings.
When I move from my 16-35MM and 24-70MM Nikon lenses to this new 200-500MM, I have to constantly remind myself that these rings are reversed. It can slow me down and make me miss certain wildlife shots.
Thank you! Yeah the reverse to the rings can throw you off, especially if you’re used to other glass. Lots of the newer models are now the same, swapping them over for easier reach of the ring, but in time I’m sure I’ll get used to it!
Thanks for letting us know what you think of the lens, just ordered one. Looking forward to get it and start using it with the D500.
Me too - about to have this combo :-)
My Dear Tom Mason I am a Nikon Wildlife Photographer and a Wildlife Researcher from Sri Lanka. My Nature and Wildlife Photography works in the WILDS - the combination is Nikon D 7100 + NIKKOR 200-500mm. Super Telephoto Zoom Lens. When I see your above works and the Review you have done all are praiseworthy and appreciated well. I love this Nikon Wildlife Photography Lens a Lot. To protect my lovely lens I am using a Nikon NC 95mm Neutral Color Filter. I bought it along with the Lens. Made in Japan. When I see your Honor going through the fields with the lovely and valuable and precise Nikon Gear they all greatly motivated Me. Your way of presentation and the happiness of shooting with the only budget and affordable Wildlife Range Lense from the esteemed Nikon Corporation eye soothing and a Happiness to the Mind. By the way I need to get a clear understanding of the Full/ Infinity switch on the Lens. How about your hands on experience in the WILDS with this control ? Second question - For the lens long safety Once our Nikon School Master said that it is good to keep the the Super Telephoto Zoom Lens at 400mm. What about your opinion ? Kindly add my subscription to your esteemed site. Awaiting your Reply in Apppreciation. Will stay connected. Thank you and Warm Regards.
Great review, I have owned this lens for about 10 months and initially used it with my D7200, where it outperformed my previous Sigma 150-600contemporary, I have since upgraded to the D500 and this combo is a "killer" combo for the price, in my estimation there is nothing else to upgrade too, before going the "prime" lens route which is a huge price jump.......I meet so many people that are using the D500/200-500 combo and even a few that have moved from Canon over to Nikon just because of this available combo. For extended periods of photographing birds or wildlife I use a monopod.....the VR is a dream
I would switch to Nikon for D500 and 200-500 for sure.
Nikon D3s + Nikon 200-500mm. It rocks!
I'n using mine on a D750, I'm enjoying the heck out of this lens! I'm going to get a D850 when ever they become a stock item at B&H here in the States. I want that almost double pixel res, for cropping, along with all the other great features of the D850. I got my 200-500 used for $1050.00 US, and it's in like NITB and is Tack sharp. Love, my D750 also, the High ISO's I use are pretty Noise free.
I’ve had this lens for a few years and tried it on my new Z7. Works great. Just be aware that you should turn off the lens VR if used by a Z6 or Z7 because it creates problems.
or if you of camera ibis ? wr work ? with mirorles ?
Awesome video! I always look forward to watching a new video of yours. I really appreciate how you not only review the lens, but also discuss wildlife tips in general. BTW still saving up for the 300mm f/4 AF-S...hopefully I can snatch one up at ~$500 USD before I go on a road trip this summer.
Agree with all you said. I've enjoyed mine for >2 years now. I've been so impressed with IQ even when forced to shoot into harsh light in backlit situations with fantastic contrast, minimal flare, minimal chromatic aberrations. In fact mine is much better than a more expensive lens in my collection that I wish i'd never bought!
Great video man. I've been looking a lot at this lens online. One of my first bits of research was seeing if this lens is weather sealed and, as far as I can see online this lens isn't weather sealed. Just be wary if you are using it in the rain and it gets water damaged, Nikon won't do anything about it!
You can make or get a lens sleeve to keep it dry and protect it better.
This is a wonderful review Tom and thanks for that. I'm watching you at 11:46 talking about shooting over your pack, does that not impede the focus ring from movement? Seems to be a very nice lens with a lot to offer and your small bird portraits were very nice! Thumbs UP of course! Many thanks.
Hey Frederick, shooting over the pack can reduce the ability however often to change zoom, simply lift slightly and re compose. The bag offers stability and is handy for that and the slight effort to lift and zoom is easily overcome. Also you'll find unless you're pressing the camera down its not to much an issue. Glad you enjoyed the video and the shots! Thanks for watching and hope too see you commenting on future uploads, Cheers, Tom
@@TomMasonPhoto Thanks Tom! I do like the lens by the way, tack sharp and a pleasure to use. All the best!
Thank you for your detailed review. Many terrific points and lots of great information. Your information is well taken and appreciated. Now, I have got to get out with the lens and shoot, shoot, shoot. 📸🤩👋😎👍
The D500 and 200-500mm is my setup, love it. Excellent video by the way.
Love this lens with the D500. The prints I get are amazing. I do a lot of stock work and the video and photos I get are great and have more than paid for it. Just sold a bunch of 16x20 prints to a client of some deer... Always hated that clicking of the Nikons, but ....live and learn, I wrap a towel around the mount area where it overlaps on the camera, doesn't interfere with any controls and noise is muffled to where the deer and turkey don't notice at all now.
Nice review, Tom and lovely images! Thank you for sharing the information!
I use this on my D850 and its a brilliant setup for wildlife photography. I did test out a 400mm 2.8 the other day and that was excellent but the weight and size made it a faff to navigate.
I'm looking to buy a nikon d850 to pair with this lens... Can you please tell me if i am making a good decision or not?
that and about a $9500 price difference lol
Interesting review with some great information. So in a previous video you praised the 300 f4, how does the 200-500 compare for sharpness and focus speed and which would you go for if you could only choose one?
Both the 300/4 and 200/500 are great however both sit in different budget categories. The 300 can be found for £500 whilst the 200/500 is at least double this. Both perform great in terms of sharpness - I would give the edge to the prime - however when a TC is added to get the 420mm focal length to compare with the 200/500 they are very comparable.
The 200/500 has the benefits of flexibility, as well as VR but the focus speed from my personal testing I would say it similar, the 200/500 hunts a little less in backlit situation or when it starts to get darker.
Personally if I could only have one I think I would still choose the prime (mainly because I love the 300mm focal length) and the f4 aperture makes very nice Bokeh -but the 200/500 is a stunning all round performer, especially for those going after smaller birds.
I’m going to be very intrigued with the new 500 PF being announced so we shall se how that changes things!
Cheers, Tom
Great video Tom. I have the 200-500 and agree with everything you said about it. I would be interested to know what vr settings you used and what your thoughts on the vr are.
VR is a very handy, not only for slower shutter speed handholding but also keeping things stable in the viewfinder for composing. I had VR on the whole time in Normal mode, but still aimed to have a 1/1000 sec shutter speed for sharpness on the D500 D850. With the file size and crop being so great, you need to make sure the technique is nailed down, however I did get good results even at 1/320. Cheers, Tom
Tom Mason thanks for you thoughts. It's the first vr lens I've owned and I often end up using the sport mode as the view through the viewfinder stays more steady between frames in a burst of shots when tracking a subject.
That was a quick turn around to my question Tom! Lol nice work!
Have you heard about the rumored 600mm f5.6 PF lens that is to be released this year? Could be exciting if not too expensive.
Certainly if its not too expensive it could be a very cool lens for bird photographers and especially those who travel, I'll be interested if the performance is better than my 300 2.8 + 2.0 TC for sure, and if the weights low it could be awesome! Thanks for watching, Tom
Wonderful video Tom. Been following your work for some time and regarding this lens, I am not sure whether or not using a teleconverter will get me some better results or should I be looking into the more serious f4 600mm.. would be nice to hear from you. Cheers mate👍
Personally on the 200/500 I’d skip a TC, the focus and IQ really are best when the lens is used bare. The 600 f4 is a different beast - if you have the ££ you’ll not regret a super tele, I couldn’t imagine not having my 300 2.8 in my bag. The IQ and performance will blow you away and also you’ll never have the excuse that your lens wasn’t up to the job. At a personal level 600mm would be too long for me to be fixed at hence why the 300 2.8 works great with TCs giving me 300/420/600 in a travel friendly package. If smaller birds however are your bag the 600 f4 is a beast or even the 400 2.8 might be a great option - both a different league to the 200/500, let me know if you’ve got more q’s! Cheers, Tom
@@TomMasonPhoto Thank you for your opinion Tom. Currently I m using a 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 but looking forward to upgrading soon😊
I would like give an opinion on the 70-300, you have mentioned earlier that the focusing on the lens is quite slow. But I find that it works pretty well for a beginner like me although it tends to miss out on some fast bird shots. But its really low light conditions where this lens is a nuisance! Most of the time I have to switch to MF and rely on my eyes for the shot👀😂
Thanks again buddy. Keep up the good work. Cheers.
Great review, thanks! I have the nikon d300 body. Hopefully it works just as great with this lens as the d500.
Hope you enjoy the lens!
Ik heb de d300 en de D800. Mijn persoonlijke ervaring is dat alhoewel de 500 mm een 750 wordt op een dx camera je erna niet veel meer moet croppen en ook niet te hoog in de ISO moet klimmen. (1600 is te veel naar mijn mening. Ik heb auto ISO naar maxi 800 afgesteld)) Ik schiet scherpere foto's met de d800 en croppen erna dan met de d300. Ik raad je aan Topaz Denoise AI aan te schaffen voor nog meer scherpte en ruis verwijdering.
I’ve got a D750 and a D7100 and I’ve finally broken down and ordered this lens. I think it’s going to pair with both cameras really nicely but especially the D7100 to get that DX crop reach.
Hi Tom, Just working my way through your vids. Some great content for a beginner Wildlife Photographer. Not sure if I can stretch to the 300mm F2.8 VR but notice a slightly cheaper AF-S model. Would you say that this older style 300mm lens would still be a better bet than the 200-500mm zoom. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Keep the content coming. Cheers
Hmm its a hard one, personally a lens I RATE on a budget is the 300mm F4 AF-s. You can find them for under £550 in good shape and the optics are class, great with a TC too with awesome close focus.
The older AF-S 2.8 is good but optically the VR or VR are superior and TBH you'd be better off saving longer and buying the VR / VR II. If you shop around I'd even a VR I go for £1850!
The 200-500 is lighter, zoom's that ideal for hide work and video work and has VR. However for still images I'd always pick my 300mm 2.8 especially for the "look". its a hard thing to describe but, It just has a nicer feel to me! hope that helps in some way! Cheers, Tom
Excellent presentation Tom and, without sounding anyway racist, it great to hear the English language spoken in the way that people from England might better understand! Way too many Americanisms in RUclips.
Can you please tell me what you consider to be the most important factor between camera and lens when looking for sharp, crisp images? I realise that there is much more than my question asks, but I’m just moving to a full frame Nikon D600 ( only recently purchased with less than 2500 shutter count) and I’m looking to upgrade my existing Sigma telephoto to a Nikkor 200-500. The sigma lens is 70-200 and has served me well for many years, buy I just have a sense that a Nikon camera with Nikon lens is the best way to go on my personal budget.
Hey Alan, thank for watching and glad you enjoyed the video!
In regards to the most important between camera and lens, the lens is a key, purchasing the highest quality optics you can afford.
The 200-500 is a great lens and having reviewed it myself I can certainly recommend it, however for the best of the best you really can't beat the dedicated prime lenses with fast apertures. They offer the best sharpness across the board alongside brighter optics for working in more varied situations, but of course that does come with added cost!
Cheers, Tom
Great review..👍
Is it compatible with kenko DGX 1.4 tele converter ?
Excellent - I'm not a Nikon user and have been looking at the Tamron, but it is great to hear your comments on the range. New cameras give better high ISO than even the low ISO of the older ones, so light loss is less of an issue than it was, though the DoF looked good enough, too in your images.
PGC Knaphill, I looked at the Tamron 150-600 mm f 5.0 to 6.3 and also the Signature in the same focal length. The conclusion was that the Nikon 200-500 was sharper.
That should have been Sigma not Signature.
If you are not a Nikon shooter, I would pick the Tamron 150-600 mm over the Sigma.
PGC Knaphill I shoot at ISO 3200 sometimes higher with my D500, cleaning up noise is easy with DXO, I use DXO and finish my PP with Affinity photo.
These images where shot at 3200 ISO.
flic.kr/p/25HMn3K
flic.kr/p/272mY2d
My camera body is 10 years old with a CCD sensor... it only goes to 1600 and that is too noisy, I really max out at 400. Time for a new body, but I'm a pensioner so have limited funds
It was a great review, thanks to you.
But can you help me to choose between: 200-500mm vs 200-400mm f/4 vr II.
thank you.
Good video with some great tips and images. I agree with your asessment wholeheartedly: it's a brilliant lens. I was debating whether or not to purchase a Nikkor 200 - 500mm or a Tamron 150 - 600mm G2. As I walked passed London Camera Exchange I noticed they were selling the 200 - 500 at £999.99, went in and bought one. I actually prefer it to my Nikkor 300mm f4 PF ED (with or without the TC14EIII). I've owned mine for about a year and immensely pleased with it. I use mine on the end of a D500 and feel they were made for each other.
I'd certainly agree the D500 and 200-500 were made for each other, such a great combination and price for the setup you get!
What a FANTASTIC video!! I enjoy my 200-500 as well. Wondering what tripod you're using with it?? P.S. love the images - great birding tips!
I use a range of Gitzo tripods, here I had my traveller series one although I’ve recently updated to the 2 series. I have a 4 series systematic for most of my work with the new 4 series ball head but the traveller is awesome when I don’t need the weight capacity for smaller kit, landscapes etc!
Tom, what are your recommended settings for large birds in flight with the Nikon 200-500 and Nikon D-500 camera in good early morning and evening light? Reviewers are all over the map on this. Some say shoot wide open with vibration reduction OFF and focus limiter on and use Group Focus setting, ISO 1,000 to 2,000 or more. Others say shoot f/7.1 or f/8 if light allows, use Full focus mode, vibration reduction ON and 21 point focus mode, ISO 640-800. I am using AF-C mode with focus tracking and lock-on. Do you set AF-C priority selection to Focus or Release? I suppose the answer might be whatever works best for me but I'd like to know what works best for you. Thanks!
I'd be working wide open in early light, looking to use a group mode of 21 points or 3d Tracking, ISO 800 as for flight stuff in the air often that will easily provide a 1/1000 - 1/2000 shutter speed. If the light gets stronger, I'd up my F stop for more depth of field to ensure full focus and then slowly drop the ISO. Although in honesty I tend to prefer a little more movement in my flight shots so would also try dropping to 1/60 ish and panning!
Tom, I noticed that you mentioned that the lens missed some shots when AF tracking was used, I could be wrong, but, I think the Camera body handles the AF Modes, and not the Lens?
I really wish we could have seen more sample images and video.. really interested in the video capability with a z6ii
good video Tom. I especially like the Coot images
The coot images are my favourites too!
Yo you gotta stop holding the camera instead of the lens when you have that lens on , you're gonna 100percent break the mount.
I always hold the lens when I'm shooting and actually with this lens being around the weight of the 70-200 I didn't feel any more stress on the mount that with that (when carrying by the strap etc) as you say best to be safe and carry the lens by the lens in most situations.
Tom Mason yeah just looking out , never can be too safe with gear haha. Well great video , thanks for response !
Tom Mason I use a wrist strap attached to the lens, nothing dangling around, I got rid of the neck strap a long time ago. If not using the wrist strap I use a shoulder strap, again attached to the lens.
Yeah the lens is only just about 4 pounds
Kind of a myth...100-400 Canon L used hard and mount is fine.surf,sports and at work surveillance for hours on end..for 3 years. Use your stuff like you mean it.
Fjällräven best trouser pants! I've got the Barents Pro, and the Vida Pro, comfy as all get out. Been trying to get the kneepads but local store Fjällräven Canada, here in Toronto is flat out >.< gotta wait hah.
You got that right. The winter Ovik's are also superb for the colder temps.
I use it with D850.. And I love the results.. They are amazing..
Howe's the High ISO's as far as noise goes on the D850?
Leon Kolenda it's great.. The performance is amazing...
Hi Tom, I do have this lens, too and I really like it. I use the D850 and D7500, both are brilliant. Now my question, is the focus ring at your lease also very loose. Mine is quite loose and I sent to Nikon to adjust but it came back pretty much the same. Is this normal? I know other Nikon lenses such as 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 and on these lenses the focus ring feels more solid and stabil. What do you think?
Markus its due to the pro grade lens/consumer lens. The 24/70 70/200 in my mind are some of the best built and designed lenses around. The focus rings are both dampened to add additional friction to aid in perfect focusing, something lacking on the 200-500. In reality it just because of the price.. The 180-400 I am sure would have an equal feel to the 70-200 or the 300mm 2.8 I always use, again down to them being pro lenses with the added investment in features like that. I do however feel its the right compromise for this lens and for most people, who'll rarely touch the MF ring! Cheers, Tom
Hey Tom have you shot with the older 200-400 F4 VR and compared it to the 200-500. I'm wondering if the extra 100mm of reach is worth considering when the Obviously far superior 200-400 can be picked up 2nd hand for around $2200 to $2400(and likely to hold close to that value) I know it's a stop faster but with the D500 being so good in low light that's not my concern as much as loss off reach especially as I'm likely to use it predominantly for wildlife...hope that all makes sense
Am here because I just picked one up today with a 50 F1.4 both for $950/ Used gear for the win. Budget photographer
Superb shots and good review thank you.
Hi, I’m currently shooting a D850 and
going on safari next year so thought about a second camera to stop lens changes in dusty environments. The question I have is - should I get a FX (D750) for second camera or DX (D500). Baring in mind the D850 has cropped shooting built in, my main consideration is the extended reach of the crop factor. Wanting to make the most of my current telephoto lenses. 300pf, 70-200fl.
love the channel 📸
Nice review just ordered it from lens rental to try it on my z7
Enjoy it!
My favourite camera is the Nikon D5
Mine works really well with my D3 which seems to balance well with this lens.
Nice garden shooting tips, Tom.
Cheers Ken, glad you enjoyed the video!
What a nice review, great images to.
Hey Tom good review. I bought tamron 150-600mm some years ago after seeing your excellent review on that. It does most of the things I need but f8 is a pain. Is upgrading to nic 200-500 going to be a worthwhile investment
Hey Tom, I’ve been looking at this lens along with the D500 and you’ve just sold it :) currently I have a Canon 6d which is a great camera but not for wildlife. Kept looking at the 7d2 and 90d and using a 100-400 mk2 but I think I’m going to make the change to Nikon for this style of photography now...think I’ll regret it?lol
Canon doesn't have a lot of full frame cameras that have fast burst speed, and those that have are well over 4000$. Nikon also has a much better upgrade path since they only have 2 lens mounts, f and z. The d500 is a great camera for wildlife.
Hey Ant. Did you make the change. Also looking at D850 and the 200-500 and the Sony camp A74 and 200-600 Sony. Also coming from Canon. The Nikon is less expensive and Im old school i love ovf.
I don't think 5.6 is a big compromise- A stop difference is nothing with the ISO capabilities of a D500/D5/D850. You showed that you get plenty of separation at 5.6 or better. I feel that the real compromise with this lens is the focus speed. It's quick, but not lightning fast like the 300 2.8. I also have heard that image quality at the long end varies a lot between lenses. I'm not sure how really true it is but it's the kind of thing that makes me skittish. I have an old Sigma 150-500 on a D500- It's light and crazy sharp at the long end. The focus isn't super fast but I can catch and track a bird in flight well enough with it I think I will stick with it for now. My old 500 f4 (first version- Still have aperture ring) is great, actually amazing but HEAVY and I don't feel that I compromise much at all with the slower zoom. Thanks for the great video!
The compromise of the f5.6 is key as it affects all of the other areas you're talking about. The slower AF is a result of the aperture allowing less light to aid the focusing system slowing it down. Yes the lens also wont have the same top end motor as in the f4/2.8 ranges but the aperture is key in enabling focusing speed. The older primes are still awesome, and often great value, if as you say you don't mind the weight. I saw a 300 2.8 AFS selling for £1200 the other day thats an awesome deal! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks for an honest review . I'll go get this lens tomorrow . By the way weren't you aware of that snake which was passing by you at 7:43 (right bottom corner of the video ) 😃
Glad you enjoyed the review and found. it helpful! The snake is actually an earth worm! Its just really close to the camera! Cheers, Tom
Hi Tom, what are your thoughts on the d7100 ? I currently use it with a nikkor 18-140mm & 70-300mm. I was thinking of upgrading either the body or lens or both. Do you think i should stick with this setup? If not, what lens & body do you recommend?
Hey Brandon, I would pretty much always invest in lenses over new cameras. The 7100 is certainly cabal of great images and has a good AF system inside. Personally the 200-500 would be a great fit for the camera giving you excellent scope to then upgrade to either an FX camera or DX in the future. The 200-500 would certainly be a big improvement over the 70-300, hope that helps, Tom.
Honestly had not thought of twisting the camera and reframing for the quick zoom in/out, might have to steal that technique.
Thank you Tom great Video again
superb review, thank you Tom!
Hi Tom, great to see you back! I am a student that is currently shooting with a tsmron 150-600mm vc usd with a d500, is it worth the money it switch to the 200 to 500? Cheers!
Personally I haven't used the Tamron so I couldn't say
Very good video. Loved the pictures.... I am a Nikon shooter but thinking about moving to Sony but after seeing this video I think Nikon is still a very good company with marvelous bodies. Maybe the D850 is a good option indeed.
I use mine with D850 or D810 in combination with monopod Gitzo and working very well, also I am 73 year older
Thank you for a well done video. For USD 1,100 on sale, this lens is an unbeatable value.
Did you also try the Tamron 150-600 G2? I tested them side by side and it seems snappier at AF than the 200-500
I haven't used the Tamron so couldn't say!
Hey Tom, thanks for sharing your experience with that lens! I am looking to buy one of these but I heard some youtubers having problem with the sharpness of the lens. They had to return it to Nikon to get it fixed. Apparently this problem is affecting one lens out of 4-5 😮 Did you or any viewers had experience some kind of sharpness issue with the 200-500? In either case I would like to hear your thoughts on that matter. Thanks and keep up with the great content!!!
Personally I had no problem with the sharpness of the lens in any way, on my D850 is was truly great and thats a hard sensor to work Wirth due to its high resolution that really shows any flaws. I think sometimes people make an issue about lenses when in most situations its just not visible. If you shoot test charts all day then yeah you might see a tiny lack of focus however in the most part, in the real world I could see no issues at all, Hope that helps! Cheers, Tom
The Nikon 200-500mm weighs 2.3kg. Is it safe to carry the lens and camera by the camera strap, or would you recommend attaching a strap such as Kirk Photography's sling strap (ss-1) to the tripod collar?
Personally I's usually have it in my hands by the lens, often holding the foot when walking to avoid stress, just when filming myself I needed to use the strap! I think having a strap mount for the lens would certainly reduce the stress over a long period and would probably say if you work a lot with a strap and walking then its probably worth going for it long term. Cheers, Tom
Hi Tom, Thanks a lot for the review. The Question I have is does 200-500 do justice to D850 ? I ask this Question since in one of your other videos, you mentioned that to get the best out of high performance bodies like D850, one must use prime lenses. Can you please answer this Q soon as Im planning to buy D850 in next 3 days.
Great video. I loved it. I am 12 and you are extremely inspiring for me so thank you. I am a canon user and I am thinking about getting the sigma 150-600 mm lens. What do you think?
Really glad you're finding the content helpful and inspiring. As for canon if you can afford it, saving for the 100-400 MK II might be a better option. Its sharper with faster AF and although you loose a bit of reach the native lens will last a lot longer in your kit bag. Looking for one second hand might be a good option, just make sure its the MK II as they are a far greater improvement over the MK I. But save up and spend wisely would be my advice, use what you've got to save a little longer for the 100-400 and then use it every day! Cheers, Tom
Or you can get the Canon 400mm f5.6 it’s an amazing lens super sharp and fast. I tried the 150-600 and it’s too slow and not sharp. Hands down for the Canon though it’s a great value for the lens.
I partly disagree about the sharpness of the sigma 150-600, i have sharp images. but I agree with you on the AF speed of the Sigma. This Goose pic was taken with a sigma 150-600..... 500px.com/photo/207928547/goose-2-by-phil-watson?ctx_page=5&from=user&user_id=16698061
Philip Watson wow that’s a very sharp picture I’m impressed. Is that the sport version?
no, it is the contemporary version, Handheld as well, it was too fast to have on my gimbal. PS thanks for the follow, I have followed back :)
Nice review
Could you do a review with 1.4x converter?
Fantastic Video, Keep up the good work!
Hi Tom enjoying all your videos,I have the 200-500 f5.6 on the D500. Do you think this combination would have any benefits by adding a nikon TC-14E AF-S Teleconverter III or is it better to crop. There are so many differing opinions out there so I would appreciate your take on it please.
Hey Janet, sorry for the slow reply, Personally I'd skip the TC. The AF will slow down and the max aperture will be brought down to f8 that often will really reduce the speed. With the 200-500 and the D500 you'd be best to crop slightly (there 1.2 mode is great) and you'll get much better all round performance, Cheers, Tom
Great video Tom.
Nice. I have jist bought thos to use on my D7200
Hello. Novice here. Really enjoy your videos. What about this lens with use on D 3100? Birds and mammals primarily. Drawbacks ? Thank you so much.
The new 70-200/2.8E has the zoom ring in front also. Perhaps this design is cheaper to make, hence why it's used on the 200-500?