200-500f5.6 Priced Under $1,400: Are You Excited?

Photobug

I have had bogus impact damage claims before as well. Nikon Service Centers are very haphazard and inconsistent. Depending on who you speak to or who repairs your equipment, you could either get it repaired under warranty, or you will get charged for "user damage". You guys experiencing positive results is because you've only dealt with them 1 or 2 times. Try dealing with them for over a dozen times with different items and you'll see how inconsistent it really is.

I have sent DSLR's and lens 7 or 8 times and my experience has always been excellent. That is my basis for my comment...it wasn't 1 or 2 times.

tc88

When your dealing with humans, that is not going to happen.

Photobug, I think you are giving Nikon too much an excuse. When I google "canon service impact damage", I see quite a few entries discussing Nikon. When I google "nikon service impact damage", I don't see Canon's name in the first page. Anyway we can agree to disagree.

spraynpray

Both of mine went in yesterday. @-) I dropped them off and am picking them up to minimise potential for any problems.

Now back to the topic...

Photobug

I just Goggled the 200-500mm lens and found a few reviews but nothing as good as the one Peter posted a few weeks ago.

RRS confirmed they need a copy of the lens to evaluate if they will make a collar with shoe for this lens. I believe that other brand has announced a collar.

jdb

I was super excited about this 200-500 lens, actually had it on pre-order at my local shop. When they called me to let me know they had it in I went in to take a look and ended up passing on it. It's huge, not much smaller than my 300 f/2.8 that I use frequently with a 1.4 TC. In a twist to my lens search saga I found the 80-400 Nikkor at my local Best Buy on sale for $1483 and couldn't pass it up!

autofocus

@jdb, I think you'll be happy with the performance. I've posted several times how nice the lens is only to be shot down. I use it for motocross and other sports on my D4 and the performance is great. Yes, it's not your 300 2.8 but is very flexible in terms of focal range. I find it to be very sharp considering, and the focus on the D4 is instant. The new VR works extremely well also. Happy shooting.

Parke1953

I also like the 80-400. Few weeks back put it on my D80. It was fun.

CEBlueclouds

With the TC 1.4EIII, 700mm, f9.0, 1/1600s, ISO 1000 .....handheld..

Looks quite pleasing

haroldp

@CEBlueclouds

Thank you for posting this. I just received mine and will be calibrating and testing this week.

.... H

CEBlueclouds

@CEBlueclouds

Thank you for posting this. I just received mine and will be calibrating and testing this week.

.... H

>-

retread

This lens has supper multi coating. If I am correct this does not include Nano coating. In situations where Nano coating could help would adding a filter with Nano coating be of any value? It is just a question bouncing around in my head.

Photobug

Great question retread. I am not qualified to answer that one and look forward to see what others say on your question.

pictureted

I would expect that if light source shine directly into the lens, adding any additional layer would make flare worse. I prefer to use protective filters, but sometimes remove them when shooting into the light.

Photobug

Well that Rockwell guy got his lens and updated his review. He is a strong proponent of this lens. If your thinking of buying this lens, check out his comments.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/200-500mm.htm

Do scan to the bottom of the review and check out is lens comparison table. This is one area he does a terrific job.

I am puzzled with his comments on the use of the 1.7 & 2.0 TC.

spraynpray

My answer is a definite no. Nano-coating improves the performance of lens surfaces that are have to be there. Adding another surface just to use it would only subtract from the performance of the lens.

haroldp

The 1.7 and 2.0 tc's would take the aperture below f8 and it would not autofocus on current Nikon camera's

DaveyJ

This lens looks like a winner!

tommay

I own the Tamron 150-600, which is great, but if i had known back there, that a Nikkor 200-500 5.6 at this price comes, I think I would have bought the Nikkor. The quality looks really great, 5.6 fixed is very cool, and the price is very good.

jan

I purchased this lens from my local camera shop this morning and am overall very impressed. Focusing is reasonably quick, but not on par with Nikon f4 or f2.8 telephoto lens (to be expected). I am impressed by the lens's sharpness and very much appreciate that Nikon had the foresight to make the lens a fixed aperture across the entire zoom range. I typically practice ETR using manual mode and the fixed aperture is a huge bonus. The $1400 price is very much appreciated.

My only complaint is that I wised the lens came with a better lens case with more padding. Any aftermarket suggestions?

Photobug

Welcome jan to NRF. My local dealer has sold out of this lens but more are on the way and they have my phone number.

I have used several different lens cases for various lens but prefer and highly recommend the LowePro line of cases. They sell them in different sizes. All you need to know is the total length from lens cap to rear mount cap and the max diameter.

I have not sized one for this lens yet so don't have a recommendation.

CEBlueclouds

I purchased this lens from my local camera shop this morning and am overall very impressed. Focusing is reasonably quick, but not on par with Nikon f4 Orji f2.8 telephoto lens (to be expected). I am impressed by the lens's sharpness and very much appreciate that Nikon had the foresight to make the lens a fixed aperture across the entire zoom range. I typically practice ETR using manual mode and the fixed aperture is a huge bonus. The $1400 price is very much appreciated.

My only complaint is that I wised the lens came with a better lens case with more padding. Any aftermarket suggestions?

I got the Lowepro 13 x 32cm Lens Case and it fits well...

jan

I ended up purchasing the Kinesis E660 case. The Lowepro case measured a bit small 5.1" given the measurement of the lens hood which is 5.4".

CEBlueclouds

The Lowepro is a little smug but fits just right...padding is also excellent...I suspect better than the kinesis if reviews can be relied on...

Photobug

Can you tweak the bottom cushion in the Lowepro case? I did that many years ago to a Nikon black leather case. Removed the cushion and installed my own custom made thinner cushion.

haroldp

I just purchased the tenba LL300 to hold the 200-500 with a D810 attached.

link to B and H

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/473160-REG/Tenba_631_813_LL300_II_Long_Lens.html