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

MatthewK wrote in post #18942041
Time to break out the fall sweaters (no, I don’t have 2 500pfs, this is just a crappy PS job)

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I've got a Huga sitting here waiting to be 'installed'. I love his products.

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #18941999
Thanks Phil. Appreciated.
You might not know but I'm shooting the Sony 200600G a lot now. The 500PF is like lifting a feather compared

Of coarse I do.... LOL!!!

"Say Cheeeeze!"

EyeSpyEagle wrote in post #18942105
"Say Cheeeeze!"

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Outstanding macro!

EyeSpyEagle wrote in post #18942105
"Say Cheeeeze!"

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This is really nice, especially the red coloring of the dragonfly.

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #18942099
I've got a Huga sitting here waiting to be 'installed'. I love his products.

I have the Huge as well (the green one shown). I really like it.

KayakPhotos wrote in post #18942334
I have the Huge as well (the green one shown). I really like it.

Glad you like it Daniel. Of course the pricing is nice too compared to LensCover.

How does the PF compare to the 100-400II not in total weight, but in weight balance (assume we're talking 70-80-90d vs d500 body/overall system)?

markesc wrote in post #18942369
How does the PF compare to the 100-400II not in total weight, but in weight balance (assume we're talking 70-80-90d vs d500 body/overall system)?

It's been a bit over a year since I sold my Canon gear, but as I recall the balance of the 100-400Vii was a little better on the heavier 7DII than the 80D. Wasn't it a little front heavy @400mm on the 80? I could be wrong or it could be my perspective.

Also from my perspective, the D500 (w/o battery grip) & 500PF is about as well balanced as a tightrope walker. "To me", it absolutely perfect. On the D850, the body is a tad heavier, but very similar to the D500 combo in balance.

When you add a battery grip & big battery to either body, the camera gets noticeably heavier. That said, I regularly shot both D500 & D850 w/BG & 500PF and have acclimated perfectly. My wife shoots her D500 / 500PF w/o a BG. Hers is noticeably lighter & when I shoot her rig, it may actually have a better balanced feel.

markesc wrote in post #18942369
How does the PF compare to the 100-400II not in total weight, but in weight balance (assume we're talking 70-80-90d vs d500 body/overall system)?

I find both setups really easy to hand hold, and can't really say I prefer one over the other. I'm kind of weird in that I like to use the tripod foot for hand holding (versus rotating it up and out of the way), and in this case the PF is a lot more comfortable due to the larger area of the foot. Replace the stock foot w/ a Hejnar, and it's like a smooth stick of butter in hand. Overall balance is beautiful though, it just has this nice, airy, compact feel to it that I really enjoy using in the field.

Black-throated Green Warbler:

Excellent shot Matthew!Been following your progress with this kit,and with the 90d.I,m a canon shooter,600mm f/4,400mm DO11,5dmk4,1dx,etc....​and been waiting like a lot of people for a replacement to the 7dmk2.Not happening with the 90d,especially for BIF,so I,m thinking of this kit also.Bought d500/500mmpf,for my wife,and she loves it,and I tried it out and was blown away with the quality SOC,and the 3 pounds lighter than the DO/1DMK4/TC,that she was using,and is now my walk around lens.I wouldn,t mind something lighter myself! Already bought the d500,and been waiting for a PF, for me.Will keep the 600/5dmk4,for warblers of course,as we never have enough reach as you well know.I,m in Canada,so close to warbler breeding grounds.When the Nikon 600mmPF comes out,it will be time to completely switch over.Canon has great lenses,but Nikon is blowing them away with their bodies at the moment!
Cheers
Denis
P.S. my stuff.
https://www.flickr.com​/photos/mandokid1/

mandokid1 wrote in post #18942955
Excellent shot Matthew!Been following your progress with this kit,and with the 90d.I,m a canon shooter,600mm f/4,400mm DO11,5dmk4,1dx,etc....​and been waiting like a lot of people for a replacement to the 7dmk2.Not happening with the 90d,especially for BIF,so I,m thinking of this kit also.Bought d500/500mmpf,for my wife,and she loves it,and I tried it out and was blown away with the quality SOC,and the 3 pounds lighter than the DO/1DMK4/TC,that she was using,and is now my walk around lens.I wouldn,t mind something lighter myself! Already bought the d500,and been waiting for a PF, for me.Will keep the 600/5dmk4,for warblers of course,as we never have enough reach as you well know.I,m in Canada,so close to warbler breeding grounds.When the Nikon 600mmPF comes out,it will be time to completely switch over.Canon has great lenses,but Nikon is blowing them away with their bodies at the moment!
Cheers
Denis
P.S. my stuff.
https://www.flickr.com​/photos/mandokid1/

Like myself and the other converts here will tell you, once you actually get the 500PF in hand and feel just how diminutive it is, and then see the shots that come out of this "little" lens, it's a photography "life changing event"

You Canadians are so lucky to have the Warblers over the summer, when they're in their finest garb. They must be common as pennies, right? "ahhh, nothing special, just another Gold-winged Warbler"...

This morning I got up before the sun again (easy when it doesn't rise until 7:30AM), and had to decide which rig to take out: D500PF vs. 90D600III. Chose the Nikon, as it seems to be my lucky charm. Saw a TON of birds, probably the most I've seen at one time, so many that it started to get a little overwhelming. Yet, I didn't come away with too many decent shots, and while I saw a few different species of Warblers, didn't get anything I'm stoked about. The light was just a little too low, and this is where you want one of those behemoth f/4 lenses.

There was one shot though, that made me first pump when I saw it in post. Carolina Wren are one of the most common birds here, but I'll take good portrait of one when the opportunity presents itself:

Love the Carolina wren,perfectly in the focal plane,and a nice lichen perch!Yes we have tons of warblers,but you still have to work to get decent shots of them,and some of the more northern species require a trip to get to their breeding grounds,as I,m in southern Ontario.
I,ve been using Topaz AI clear since it came out,and it,s the best noiseware program I,ve ever used.Now we don't have to worry about pushing the ISO up above previous comfort zone!
I have used my wife,s d500/500PF combo,and that,s why I want one! Blows away anything I,ve ever used.Great walk around tool!
Yesterday we were faced with an ISO 4000/200sec/f/5.6 situation,while shooting a winter wren,and my wife got several sharp keepers with her Nikon combo,and I got nothing!My 1dx/400mmDO/X1.4TC,jus​t simply hunted and would not lock in fast enough to get a decent shot! These little guys are like kinglets,and don't sit for too long!

Right on, DeNoise AI is a revolution, shots I'd previously write off as a loss are now easily saved. It's freed me from the shackles of FF sensors

Here's some Yellow-rumps from this mornings amazing outing. I went out again this afternoon, and it paled in comparison to the morning session.