Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR Lens !!

Limbwalker wrote in post #19369150
Lovely shots.

The 500 PF is most certainly quick, easy and razor sharp, even wide open.

Then why did I just sell mine? Because after a year I missed the versatility of my old 150-600 zoom. So back to a 150-600 I went. With the money I had left over, I bought a used AF-S 600 F4 lens that will be my dedicated wildlife lens for days when I have time to lug around a tripod. Those are the days my wife isn't birding with me. When she's with me, the 150-600 will be slung over my shoulder for general nature, bird ID help, and even the occasional portrait shot.

When I looked back over my Flickr feed, most of my favorite shots over the past 5-6 years were taken with my 150-600 and not my 200-500 or 500 PF Nikons. (frankly I didn't get along with that 200-500 whatsoever).

For what it's designed to do, the 500 PF is an amazing lens. But for me it was too limiting without enough reach.

Thank you! I genuinely appreciate reading people’s thought process when it comes to photography gear selection and how they’re capturing their photos. Timely and relevant for me, as the 800PF is about to make landfall, but also because I’m faced with shooting larger birds here in Florida, and the 500PF is often too much lens. Back home, 9 times out of 10 the reach is just right, but I’m normally just shooting songbirds, so it’s got me thinking about my shorter lens choices.

MatthewK wrote in post #19369158
Thank you! I genuinely appreciate reading people’s thought process when it comes to photography gear selection and how they’re capturing their photos. Timely and relevant for me, as the 800PF is about to make landfall, but also because I’m faced with shooting larger birds here in Florida, and the 500PF is often too much lens. Back home, 9 times out of 10 the reach is just right, but I’m normally just shooting songbirds, so it’s got me thinking about my shorter lens choices.

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I couldn’t back up enough for these Ibis, and was aching for a 100-400, or maybe the 300PF. Problem is, I’ve ran lenses in that range alongside 500 & 600s, and they rarely got used, so I stopped carrying them. The ~750-800mm range ultimately is my preferred FL, this 500PF on the D500 is automatic for me.

So I don’t know, I can see going w/ 300/500/800PF at some point, perhaps just a 200-600, or a 100-400 + 800PF. What I’ll probably end up doing is just keeping the 500PF and just adapt it to the Z9, leverage the 45MP sensor for crops, and employ the 1.4 more often.

I'm kind of going the opposite way 300PF/1.4 X TC D500 - 200-500f5.6 D7200.

P.

I owned the 200-500 5.6 for about six months. It was incredibly sharp for a zoom and for a lens of that price range. However I found it heavy, bulky and not particularly intuitive to operate. Side by side with my (then) Tamron 150-600 G2, under most conditions I couldn't really tell which lens I used to take the photo. I eventually sold both lenses to buy the 500 PF thinking it would be a lens I'd hold on to for many years (like my G1 Tammy 150-600 that I used for nearly 7 years) but as I said, I found it to be too limiting for my needs.

So I recently bought a (relatively) inexpensive Sigma 150-600 Contemporary for my "everyday" nature lens, and will add the AF-S II Nikkor 600 F4 for when I want to do serious bird work.

The Sigma Contemporary has impressed me with it's sharpness and intuitive handling. It reminds me of my G1 Tamron which I got along with extremely well for years, but has a little better IQ. 90% of what I do will be with that lens.

I'm looking forward to my first 600 f4. I may decide the 150-600 does all the practical things I need a wildlife lens to do. But since used 600 f4's hold their value, I am not risking much by buying one and putting it through it's paces.

MatthewK wrote in post #19369158
Thank you! I genuinely appreciate reading people’s thought process when it comes to photography gear selection and how they’re capturing their photos. Timely and relevant for me, as the 800PF is about to make landfall, but also because I’m faced with shooting larger birds here in Florida, and the 500PF is often too much lens. Back home, 9 times out of 10 the reach is just right, but I’m normally just shooting songbirds, so it’s got me thinking about my shorter lens choices.

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I couldn’t back up enough for these Ibis, and was aching for a 100-400, or maybe the 300PF. Problem is, I’ve ran lenses in that range alongside 500 & 600s, and they rarely got used, so I stopped carrying them. The ~750-800mm range ultimately is my preferred FL, this 500PF on the D500 is automatic for me.

So I don’t know, I can see going w/ 300/500/800PF at some point, perhaps just a 200-600, or a 100-400 + 800PF. What I’ll probably end up doing is just keeping the 500PF and just adapt it to the Z9, leverage the 45MP sensor for crops, and employ the 1.4 more often.

Looks like you guys had a great time! It's hard to beat FL in the spring for birding. Wonderful shots, buddy!

One note regarding the 500PF on a Z9. Hard as it is to believe, when I shoot mine with a 1.4x TC, it's faster on the Z9 than the bare 500PF on the D500's. The 500PF w/o TC on the Z9 is even better than that.

On another note, I sold one of my D500's today. I still have one and Theresa has one, but even so it was an empty feeling. Just gotta remember "I'm making room (and $$) for the 800PF".

Here's a couple more from Smith Oaks Rookery.

Z9, 500PF + 1.4x TC

EyeSpyEagle wrote in post #19369249
Here's a couple more from Smith Oaks Rookery.

Z9, 500PF + 1.4x TC

Z9, 500PF

"The Odd Couple"

Awsome shots Phil.

P.

EyeSpyEagle wrote in post #19369243
Looks like you guys had a great time! It's hard to beat FL in the spring for birding. Wonderful shots, buddy!

One note regarding the 500PF on a Z9. Hard as it is to believe, when I shoot mine with a 1.4x TC, it's faster on the Z9 than the bare 500PF on the D500's. The 500PF w/o TC on the Z9 is even better than that.

On another note, I sold one of my D500's today. I still have one and Theresa has one, but even so it was an empty feeling. Just gotta remember "I'm making room (and $$) for the 800PF".

That’s heartening to hear about the AF on the Z9 w/ the TC! I avoid using the TC w/ the 500PF, it’s just awful.

We’re actually still in FL, I just finished an afternoon of birding back at Ft. Zack, and what day it was: warblers everywhere, just like I had expected FL to be like in my imagination! Best day of birding I’ve had in 1.5 years, no kidding. Regrettably, didn’t see any Painted Buntings

Species I saw today:

Prairie Warbler (m&f)
Palm Warbler (m&f)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (just male)
Cape May Warbler (m&f)
Black & White Warbler (m&f)
American Redstart (m&f)
Ovenbird
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
White-crowned Pigeon

Prairie and Palm:

The Black & White Warbler… I’ve never been able to nail what I would consider the perfect shot of this species. As far as I’m concerned, they’re easily the toughest bird to photograph, as they never sit still, they love thick/brushy areas (meaning shots are always blocked by obstacles), and they constantly change orientation, so most times you end up with a shot that just looks bad.

MatthewK wrote in post #19369292
The Black & White Warbler… I’ve never been able to nail what I would consider the perfect shot of this species. As far as I’m concerned, they’re easily the toughest bird to photograph, as they never sit still, they love thick/brushy areas (meaning shots are always blocked by obstacles), and they constantly change orientation, so most times you end up with a shot that just looks bad.

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(Undecided if I should clone out the twig in the 2nd shot… wife says it looks fine bc it balances out the photo)

These were almost shot at MFD, and I really could have used that aforementioned zoom lens to great effect, but the 500PF pulls through again. Not sure how the 800PF would fare in these conditions w/ the more distant MFD and tighter FOV, but more importantly: how will the added length and weight impact maneuverability.

That's AWESOME, congrats! Glad it's working out well for you.

We were supposed to spend a week in FL, two weeks ago. Our flight out got cancelled due to storms and it was at the end of the day that SW Airlines had that "server crash" causing hundreds of flight cancellations. As a result, we could not get rebooked for a couple days and that jacked our whole planned vacation. We cancelled the trip & went to the TX coast - hence the images I've been posting this week.

Your B&W warbler shot is super. I'd vote to remove the twig on the left.

One thing to keep in mind as you ponder the lens / FL thing, my 500PF + 1.4xTC on the Z9 still has a 50mm shorter effective FL than the D500+500PF. The Z9 + 800PF is only "effectively" 50mm longer than what you're used to.

Yeah, they’ve been having some gnarly weather the past few weeks; we had some friends that got caught up in the same fiasco you almost did, and they ended up just renting a car and driving back to Wisconsin!

Good point on the focal length as well, the FOV would almost be the same. I’d end up in the same place as now: good enough for most everything I regularly shoot, but occasionally need something in the 100-500 range for up-close or bigger subjects.

One more for the night, a female Cape May Warbler. I also got the male who was looking dapper in breeding plumage, but had some twig interference that messes up the shot…

Those really are magnificent warbler shots.

I waited and waited for a 1.4 III TC and finally gave up. Tried a 1.4 II but it didn't look great so I returned it.

Limbwalker wrote in post #19369338
Those really are magnificent warbler shots.

I waited and waited for a 1.4 III TC and finally gave up. Tried a 1.4 II but it didn't look great so I returned it.

Hmm, they’re out of stock everywhere! Are they not making them anymore?

BTW, I think we’ve interacted here in the past, as I distinctly remember commenting on your Yellow-breasted Chat profile pic

MatthewK wrote in post #19369344
Hmm, they’re out of stock everywhere! Are they not making them anymore?

BTW, I think we’ve interacted here in the past, as I distinctly remember commenting on your Yellow-breasted Chat profile pic

I put the 1.4 TC III on wait lists for several vendors. That was back in the fall. I finally gave up and figured I'd try the 150-600 + used 600 f4 combo for a while and see if that didn't suit my needs better.

I can see how someone who shoots birds in flight handheld would want the 500 PF. I found little else it was great at compared to other options.

I was walking @ lunch today at a park adjacent to a wooded creek. As I was about to head back to the car, I noticed a big beak through an opening in the brush.

It was really pretty dark and the opening was small. I propped myself against a tree & figured I'd see what I could get. I was pleasantly surprised, given the conditions & SS....

Z9, 500PF

EyeSpyEagle wrote in post #19371111
I was walking @ lunch today at a park adjacent to a wooded creek. As I was about to head back to the car, I noticed a big beak through an opening in the brush.

It was really pretty dark and the opening was small. I propped myself against a tree & figured I'd see what I could get. I was pleasantly surprised, given the conditions & SS....

Z9, 500PF

Stroke of luck catching that fine fella, you did so well under the conditions.

P.