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

TedG954

Senior Member
Mine came today. I was only able to take a few test shots, but I can say I'm very pleased.

The Nikon box it came in is HUGE. But, so is the lens. I called a neighbor to help me lift it on to the camera.

I'll be looking forward to using it on something worthwhile.

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PapaST

Senior Member
Congrats on the lens. This very well could be my next one. I'm waiting to see what kind of performance it has with the 1.4tc.

Hope to see more!
 

Michael J.

Senior Member
Are you using it handheld? If yes, it is amazing how calm you are even you are exited about the new gear. (Looked at the shutter speed)
 

TedG954

Senior Member
Are you using it handheld? If yes, it is amazing how calm you are even you are exited about the new gear. (Looked at the shutter speed)

No Michael, I didn't hand-hold the camera and lens. The D800 weighs about 400 pounds and the lens is at least 500 pounds. :p And, while I'm sure someone on here will tell of their handheld 500mm 200 yard shots, it won't be me.

Actually the lens is just a little over 5 pounds, and the D800 is 2 pounds, for a total of 7 pounds. While that doesn't sound like much, trying to hold that steady on target is more than I can handle.

I wonder if Charlie could manage it......

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For me, this is a tripod-use only, and even then I'll use a remote. I'm sure the VR is fine, but this is not a practical "walk-around" lens.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
No Michael, I didn't hand-hold the camera and lens. The D800 weighs about 400 pounds and the lens is at least 500 pounds. :p And, while I'm sure someone on here will tell of their handheld 500mm 200 yard shots, it won't be me.

Actually the lens is just a little over 5 pounds, and the D800 is 2 pounds, for a total of 7 pounds. While that doesn't sound like much, trying to hold that steady on target is more than I can handle.

I wonder if Charlie could manage it......

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For me, this is a tripod-use only, and even then I'll use a remote. I'm sure the VR is fine, but this is not a practical "walk-around" lens.
I'm actually planning to handhold that lens shooting BIF. I would love to put in on a nice 1,200 dollar tripod with a 400 dollar Gimbal head, but then I would be broke and would have no funds for emergencies, like a broken water heater or sumpin like that.
 
Great shots. I would really like to have a lens like that but the things I would want to shoot with a very long lens like this would be impractical to use a tripod with. Carrying the lens around plus the tripod would require me to hire an assistant. LOL I already have one photography project where I have to have someone with me to shoot and it is a pain to have to rely on someone to be with you when you shoot.
 

Wolfeye

Senior Member
Maybe it's just me, or maybe I expect too much, but none of those shots are sharp. Based on the images in this thread it looks like a lens to avoid.
 

D200freak

Senior Member
Have you used the AF fine tune procedure with your lens(es)? I thought my 14-24 was not quite measuring up to its much hyped sharpness, until I printed out a focus chart, laid it on a table, and started taking pictures of it an oblique angle, discovered that the AF had a back focus bias to it, and then used AF fine tuning to correct it. Now it's so sharp it's silly.

AF fine tune is, in my opinion, absolutely essential. Use it. Check your lenses with a focus chart and get them trimmed to perfection.
 

salukfan111

Senior Member
Great shots. I would really like to have a lens like that but the things I would want to shoot with a very long lens like this would be impractical to use a tripod with. Carrying the lens around plus the tripod would require me to hire an assistant. LOL I already have one photography project where I have to have someone with me to shoot and it is a pain to have to rely on someone to be with you when you shoot.
Get a 400mm f/5.6 with a TC-16a (modified) if worried about handholding.

I handhold a 400 f/3.5 with TC-16a and it is not that bad even without the 4 stops of VR the 200-500 has. I know women that handhold the Tamzooka so you'd do fine with the 200-500.
 

salukfan111

Senior Member
Maybe it's just me, or maybe I expect too much, but none of those shots are sharp. Based on the images in this thread it looks like a lens to avoid.
None of those are macro shots. Take a couple of 200 to 500 yard photos with a 20 element zoom and you'll appreciate the difficulty of obtaining super sharp images without a 500+mm prime.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
Maybe it's just me, or maybe I expect too much, but none of those shots are sharp. Based on the images in this thread it looks like a lens to avoid.

First of all you need practice shooting a long lens like this. I remember when I first got my 300mm it took a while to figure out nuances, technique and so forth.

Second of all, he is shooting at things far away. Considering that he is on the ocean (water vapor) atmospheric conditions and everything else that comes with shooting at that distance, I think he's shots are pretty sharp.

Third of all, go on Flickr or anywhere on the net and do search for shots taken with this lens, and you'll see that is the best lens that you're going to get in short of a prime lens.
As a matter of fact it is almost indistinguishable from an AF-S 300mmF/4 with a 1.4TC attached. Believe me. I have been researching this lens for the last few months hours on end almost every day.
 
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Blacktop

Senior Member
You're right ........this was my first day out with the new lens.

You'll get better. I'm sure that once you watch the video that @Wolfeye is working on as we speak, ( I believe it's called, "How to get super sharp images hand holding a D800 attached to a Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 lens, while standing on a rockin' boat out in the middle of the ocean while seagulls are trying to land on your head"} you will also be able to post glorious shots day out and day in.:rolleyes:
 

TedG954

Senior Member
I can't wait for the premier!

Of course, since it's opening in Paris, I'll have to hunt for some good air fares.

I feel fortunate to be on the same forum with such a photographic sage.
 
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