With all the new mirrorless stuff: Is the 500mm f/5.6 PF still a good buy?

photobunny

webmastadj said:

@photobunny Congrats! I am waiting on my 300mm f/4 PF to be delivered. When did you order the D500 as I haven't been able to find any in stock?

https://www.cameracentreuk.com/nikon-d500-digital-slr-camera-body they have more in stock.

DaveyJ

Nikon better get to releasing telephotos for Z cameras, very soon. I own the Z50 and the two kit lens, the Z fc, and the Z 6 II and the 24-70 F4 lens, but the 200-600 Z lens on the roadmap is what I mostly am after along with most other photographers I know that are using Z cameras. The PROS I know are buying a couple of more D500s this coming winter! That shows the POPULARITY of the D500 and it is to use telephoto lens. THAT is what the D500 is bought for. Nikon needs to get Z lens out. And they better be some ZOOM lens as a 500 prime, even the great 500 5.6 PF is unfortunately not capable of handling a LOT of wildlife shots as it is just a 500. One of the best ever made, but I prefer the 200-500 F5.6 having used both! Sometimes the 200 wasn't wide enough. The 500 F 5.6 PF focuses fast though!

MrFotoFool

Bumping an older thread. I have the 500PF and currently use it on a D500 (and use my shorter lenses on D850). I am thinking of Z7ii and wonder if people have experience with 500PF and FTZ adaptor. Specifically I want to know if autofocus is just as good as with native F mount body?

Also I tried out the Canon RF 100-500 L yesterday on a Canon R5 at a free Canon rental day at Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It is a nice lens and a good range (the camera, however, I hated; the EVF is hideous). Someone who has tried both told me Nikon's EVF is better (which I have not tried yet).

photobunny

I dropped the Nikon D500 and just stuck to my Z6 (not even the ii or 7-series). The AF on the Z6 has gotten me more tack sharp eyeballs on red squirrels and birds than any previous camera. In saying that, the Z9 is coming and my Z6 will become a backup once I have that. I measured the raw focus speed on the Z6 and D500 as equal though will note that I have to use the focus preset button more often if I have subjects at two extreme ranges as the Z6 just couldn't see that cloud of dust so thought it was focused.

DaveyJ

I have used the Z 6 II and the F mount 500PF and used the 200-500. I thought the fact that in the situation I was using it in, Burlington, Vermont, that I needed the 200 mm end of the lens more. I took both stills and video with both rigs. The Z 6 II and the FTZ and the 200-500 F 5.6 lens were mine. I had short term borrowed the Nikon 500PF as I had considered buying it.

My conclusion was I was going to wait for a Z mount zoom lens, either the 100-400 F4-5.6 new lens to be announced tomorrow (October 28th, 2021) with the Z9 or even a longer wait for the 200-600 Z mount non S lens. I myself would buy the Z9 if I thought it was an important as the zoom lens, but it will be around $6,000 and the lens maybe $2,800. So the lens will be my first purchase unless I seriously embrace some credit card debt for both the Z9 and the 100-400 new Z S lens.

WestEndFoto

With the introduction of the Z9 I think that every E and G lens is probably better, despite having an adapter in the mix. The only possible exception “might” be my 400 2.8E with the teleconverters and the additional mounting points.

Every optical system starts with the lens and ends with the display medium. By swapping any f-mount camera in this system with a Z9, I can not think of any situation where the consequence is a decline in image quality. I can think of numerous situations where due to the af, the image quality will significantly increase (more shots will be in focus). And this is doubly true if you shoot video. And this is triply true if a high mp Z body is introduced and not an F body.

This dawned on me when I looked at the FTZii and that how unobtrusive it is.

So I am going to buy one FTZii for each of my G and E lenses where I think it is worthwhile to bring over to Z.

My full list of lenses is:

NIKKOR 15mm f/3.5 AIS
NIKKOR 18mm f/3.5 AIS
20/1.8S
NIKKOR 20mm f/2.8 AIS
AF-S NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED
24/1.8S
NIKKOR 24mm f/2.8 AIS
PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED
NIKKOR 28mm f/2.8 AIS
AF NIKKOR 28mm f/1.4D
28/2.8 (SE)
AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.4E
35/1.8S
40/2.0
Voigtlander 40mm f/2.0 Ultron SL II
50/1.8S
50/1.2S
NIKKOR 50mm f/1.2 AIS
NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AIS (Japanese Version)
AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G
58/0.95S Noct
AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G
NIKKOR 58mm f/1.2 AIS (Looking to buy)
AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8
85/1.8S
AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G
AF NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4D
NIKKOR 85mm f/2.0 AIS
NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4 AIS
NIKKOR 100mm f/2.8 Series E
AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E
NIKKOR 105mm f/2.5 AIS
NIKKOR 105mm f/1.8 AIS
AF DC-NIKKOR 135mm f/2D
NIKKOR 135mm f/2.8 AIS
NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8 AIS
AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED
NIKKOR 200mm f/4.0 AIS
AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E
NIKKOR 400mm f/5.6 AIS
AF-S Fisheye Nikkor 8-15mm 1:3.5-4.5E ED
AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR
AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR

I will buy one FTZii each for these E and G lenses: 28, 105, 400 and the four zooms, permanently leave them on and shoot them on Z9 bodies. Along with my 1.8, 1.2 and 0.95 primes, these will make a nice system. You will notice that I am not bringing over my 20 1.8G, 50 1.4G or 85 1.4G, as my Z lens equivalents are superior ( and my next Z lens will be the 85 1.2).

The rest of the lenses I will shoot on one of my Z7ii bodies that has an FTZ permanently attached - most will be mf.

MrFotoFool

Naysayers claim Nikon is doomed, but as long as @WestEndFoto is still photographing they will never go under. Look at all the gear they have!

bcmmike

We have the 500PF, a Z7 and a D850. Using the 500 on the Z7, I see no difference/decline in performance vs using it on the D850. YMMV

WestEndFoto

Yes, the only hesitation I have about using my current 400 2.8 on my future Z9 is that the S model looks awesome and I wonder how my TCs will fair in combination with the FTZii.

snakebunk

I also think that a TC and an adapter is probably one thing too much. I actually like to not have anything between the camera and the lens. Therefore I was happy to see the built in converter on the 400/2.8, and I hope Nikon does the same thing when they make a 600/4 for the Z mount.

I like the Z9 camera, and if Nikon also makes a nice 600/4 and a 300/4, the Z mount will be a good alternative for bird photography. A 150/2.8 macro would also be nice.

bcmmike

snakebunk said:

I also think that a TC and an adapter is probably one thing too much. I actually like to not have anything between the camera and the lens. Therefore I was happy to see the built in converter on the 400/2.8, and I hope Nikon does the same thing when they make a 600/4 for the Z mount.



I like the Z9 camera, and if Nikon also makes a nice 600/4 and a 300/4, the Z mount will be a good alternative for bird photography. A 150/2.8 macro would also be nice.

I've heard the same thing from others. Funny thing..... my wife was talking to her store's Nikon rep just Friday and he actually encouraged her to try the 500 PF on the Z7 with a teleconverter. I'm no expert but I'm not sure about that advise.

Photobug

bcmmike said:

snakebunk said:

I also think that a TC and an adapter is probably one thing too much. I actually like to not have anything between the camera and the lens. Therefore I was happy to see the built in converter on the 400/2.8, and I hope Nikon does the same thing when they make a 600/4 for the Z mount.



I like the Z9 camera, and if Nikon also makes a nice 600/4 and a 300/4, the Z mount will be a good alternative for bird photography. A 150/2.8 macro would also be nice.

I've heard the same thing from others. Funny thing..... my wife was talking to her store's Nikon rep just Friday and he actually encouraged her to try the 500 PF on the Z7 with a teleconverter. I'm no expert but I'm not sure about that advise.

+1 on your last comment. Totally agree unless you want softness in that photograph.