Nikon 200-500/5.6 VR Lens....... post your photos!

[Whiskeyman]

If you show up at the M7G in February, I'll let you use mine for an hour or so. I offered it to @Kevin H the last time but he refused . I think he was scared that if he used it he would have to go and buy one.

I plan to be there, but I planned to be at the last one.

I may have to take Kevin's reaction to the offer, because I know I won't be able top resist again!!!:shame:

WM

 

[Elliot87]

Painted Lady on gorse. I thought this lens would be good for butterflies but this was the first time I could try it out. It's nice not to have to get too close and risk them flying off.

Which is better, 1st or 2nd? I can't quite decide.

 

[Fortkentdad]

My presents to me arrived.

The main item was the Kenko Pro 300 1.5 T/C




Mounted it to the D610 and had to go and shoot some birds with my new toy.

Sadly, when I was reviewing the exposure was all over the place - seems I accidentally set it to manual exposure. Got to find that setting and fix it, some of my shots were totally blown out. But I did get a few . . . dozen.



All of these are mega cropped images - mostly from the centre section.

This one just cropped-a-lot


Probably more my skill than the TC capabilities, but I found BIF shots really difficult - hardest part was finding the bird in the sky in time.

Got off a few lucky shots, this was the best BIF of the day:





And for those with ADHD .... SQUIRREL



Well that was Day One with the Kenko 1.4 T/C on my 200-500 /5.6e

Next time, I check all the settings before setting out. And I check the histogram and LCD screen to see how it's coming.

 

[Fortkentdad]

I also bought a bag for my 200-500 5.6e

I picked up an APE Large Lens Case - the "ACPROLC18"



The 200-500 mounted on my D610, with T/C and Tripod Foot fits.
I keep my Speed-Carry shoulder strap attached to the lens, I took it off to fit into the bag. Wish it fit too but it is bulky.
I also wish they had put a lens cap pocket on this case. Sure you can drop the lens cap down into the bag after taking the lens out, but an outside pocket would have been nice.

Cannot be too picky, bought it 'used' from B&H for $29.00 (US$). Came with original tags still attached, does not look like anyone ever used this one.

Next to the the new case is my hard body case which also hold the 200-500 with D610, with T/C attached. And it also hold the shoulder strap. It is far tougher but much heavier.

Now I have options, either lighter softer case, or heavy duty case.

 

[Elliot87]

Congratulations on your new acquisitions @Fortkentdad It would be interesting to see some test shots of the same subject both with and without the TC. If you do feel inclined to do this and get the chance, I'd be very interested to see the RAW files.

Looking forward to seeing more real world results too!

 

[Fortkentdad]

Congratulations on your new acquisitions @Fortkentdad It would be interesting to see some test shots of the same subject both with and without the TC. If you do feel inclined to do this and get the chance, I'd be very interested to see the RAW files.

Looking forward to seeing more real world results too!

Will see what I can do. Maybe this weekend. I could set up and shoot some flowers in the backyard on tripod and the only thing changed would be with and without T/C.

I'm also curious how well it works on my 70-200 2.8 VRI.

Thought about other lenses I have, the 85mm 1.8 is a candidate but would become redundant with they 70-200 2.8 I already have, same holds true for the 105mm 2.8.

Could try it on the Tamron 70-300 4-5.6. No advantage over the 200-500 but maybe people who have that lens would be interested in seeing how it works.

Might get some photo-play time this weekend. We have a forecast gardens love - some rain every day for the next seven days.

Curious about posting RAW files - they would be too large to post as image here. Maybe through my Flickr account? What do you recommend. If you mean a JPG without any creative processing - here is the Ruddy Duck and Yellowheaded from above, converted to JPG reduced to 95% to allow it to get under the 10 limit here.

 

[singlerosa_RIP]

Shot from 10' behind and through a chain link fence.

 

[Elliot87]

Could try it on the Tamron 70-300 4-5.6. No advantage over the 200-500 but maybe people who have that lens would be interested in seeing how it works.

Curious about posting RAW files - they would be too large to post as image here. Maybe through my Flickr account? What do you recommend.

Do try it out on the Tamron 70-300 if you get a chance (is it the VC version you have?), my wife uses mine and if it works, even if not all that well, it would be another reason to consider getting it.

I think a service like dropbox is the best way to share RAW files. I've not used it much but a friend has sent me some RAW files using it. Don't worry about it if it's more trouble than it's worth. Seeing the images on Flickr would be a good alternative.
Thanks

 

[Elliot87]

I also bought a bag for my 200-500 5.6e

I picked up an APE Large Lens Case - the "ACPROLC18"

View attachment 214624

The 200-500 mounted on my D610, with T/C and Tripod Foot fits.
I keep my Speed-Carry shoulder strap attached to the lens, I took it off to fit into the bag. Wish it fit too but it is bulky.
I also wish they had put a lens cap pocket on this case. Sure you can drop the lens cap down into the bag after taking the lens out, but an outside pocket would have been nice.

Cannot be too picky, bought it 'used' from B&H for $29.00 (US$). Came with original tags still attached, does not look like anyone ever used this one.

Next to the the new case is my hard body case which also hold the 200-500 with D610, with T/C attached. And it also hold the shoulder strap. It is far tougher but much heavier.

Now I have options, either lighter softer case, or heavy duty case.
View attachment 214625

I just looked this case up on amazon UK and it is £40 PLUS £65 post and packaging. That's roughly $150!!! A bit different from $29 US $ you paid. I'm no fan of his but the Angry photographer seems to like it too apparently https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig6F6qxi_H8.

 

[Fortkentdad]

I just looked this case up on amazon UK and it is £40 PLUS £65 post and packaging. That's roughly $150!!! A bit different from $29 US $ you paid. I'm no fan of his but the Angry photographer seems to like it too apparently https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig6F6qxi_H8.

That $29 US was 'used' - but with the tags still attached and still smelling new it was not used much. Probably a return that someone decided didn't suite them. Checked today and new is $42. Should see what they want to ship it across the Atlantic?


FYI Amazon.CA in Canada wants $68.76 CDN for this - which comes to $53.91 US$ today. A far cry from $150. Shipping is free. So that is competitive with B&H because their "free" shipping fee is $19.30, total would be $77 CDN so Amazon would win if I were to buy new.

I have noticed prices on amazon.ca are sometimes total nonsense coming in at several times what other vendors want. For example, I'm looking at buying a filter system. Formatt Hitech is under consideration. Direct from the UK $626 (CDN) Amazon.CA wants $2410.11 (and no free shipping). OK then?





You really have to watch, I have no confidence at all in their pricing system. It must be based on the old "fool and their money" policy.

Now usually their prices are just a little higher and every now and then their price is the best I can get. Sometimes they are the only supplier of some products in Canada - although cross border shopping from the USA is getting a little better. I even find with some products I can buy it cheaper from the UK and ship it across the pond for less than I can buy it in Canada. Find this with model railway items for example.

Pays to shop around - globally in this world market.

 

[Elliot87]

That $29 US was 'used' - but with the tags still attached and still smelling new it was not used much. Probably a return that someone decided didn't suite them. Checked today and new is $42. Should see what they want to ship it across the Atlantic?


FYI Amazon.CA in Canada wants $68.76 CDN for this - which comes to $53.91 US$ today. A far cry from $150. Shipping is free. So that is competitive with B&H because their "free" shipping fee is $19.30, total would be $77 CDN so Amazon would win if I were to buy new.

I have noticed prices on amazon.ca are sometimes total nonsense coming in at several times what other vendors want. For example, I'm looking at buying a filter system. Formatt Hitech is under consideration. Direct from the UK $626 (CDN) Amazon.CA wants $2410.11 (and no free shipping). OK then?

View attachment 214818



You really have to watch, I have no confidence at all in their pricing system. It must be based on the old "fool and their money" policy.

Now usually their prices are just a little higher and every now and then their price is the best I can get. Sometimes they are the only supplier of some products in Canada - although cross border shopping from the USA is getting a little better. I even find with some products I can buy it cheaper from the UK and ship it across the pond for less than I can buy it in Canada. Find this with model railway items for example.

Pays to shop around - globally in this world market.

I looked on Ebay and I can ship from the US for around £50. I'm quite happy using my flipside 400 for the most part.

 

[Elliot87]

Black headed gull gave me something to look at whilst I was sitting in my car having some lunch out of the rain.

 

[Fortkentdad]

These two Avocet's were cruising along the lake in tandem

And then I caught this one looking right at me.
The sun was low in the sky but still pretty bright.




Both shot with a D610 and a Kenko Pro-300 1.4 TC - handheld.

 

[Elliot87]

I had the good fortune today of bumping into this fox and the better fortune that she wasn't too bothered by me being there so I got a few photos.

 

[Elliot87]

I've just set up a Flickr page at long last. Not too many pictures on there yet but the majority from the 200-500mm so if anyone wants a closer look at you can go here https://www.flickr.com/photos/eleaphotography/ I was a little surprised at just how much better images can look on there vs Nikonites.

 

[Elliot87]

I was back working where I saw the vixen on Wednesday, today I saw her feeding her cubs but I didn't have my camera with me, a good photo wouldn't have been possible anyway. I went back a little later and managed to get photos of a couple of the cubs, one of which trotted towards me to investigate the shutter noise. Unfortunately it has been a very cloudy day and they were in dense woodland so very high iso and low shutter speeds.
Still I managed to get an acceptably sharp, if very noisy, shot at 500mm (750mm equivalent) at 1/60th handheld, not too shabby the VR on this lens.

 

[Blacktop]

I was back working where I saw the vixen on Wednesday, today I saw her feeding her cubs but I didn't have my camera with me, a good photo wouldn't have been possible anyway. I went back a little later and managed to get photos of a couple of the cubs, one of which trotted towards me to investigate the shutter noise. Unfortunately it has been a very cloudy day and they were in dense woodland so very high iso and low shutter speeds.
Still I managed to get an acceptably sharp, if very noisy, shot at 500mm (750mm equivalent) at 1/60th handheld, not too shabby the VR on this lens.

View attachment 215970

View attachment 215971

View attachment 215972

View attachment 215973

Nice. I like the first shot the best, even if the pup is a bit underexposed. That could be easily fixed.

 

[Elliot87]

Nice. I like the first shot the best, even if the pup is a bit underexposed. That could be easily fixed.

Yes I like that one too. I think I underexposed it due to hitting max auto iso even though I'd increased from my normal 1600 max iso. I was also using matrix metering when I'm usually in spot metering. I did a very hasty PP job, might go back and spend a little more time on it.

 

[Elliot87]

How slow can you do?

I thought I'd put this lenses VR to the test on this lazy cat.

These are handheld at 1/15th second at 35mm equivalent of 750mm, second photo is a near 1:1 crop. Just a few minor adjustments in LR with some slight sharpening.

Not too shabby in my opinion. A faster shutter would get things a bit crisper but good to know I can push the shutter speed quite far if needs must.

 

[Blacktop]

Time to post in this thread. We can't have @Elliot87 have all the fun!