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

I finally got my new 500mm and am thrilled with what it allows me to do. The weight let´s me carry it and take shots without a tripod or monopod. Fast, crisp and clear. I shoot wildlife and Rugby, and this lens is great for both!

This lens is as sharp or sharper than any prime lens Nikon or anyone else currently makes. It maintains the highest image quality with all three tele-converters, the TC14III being the most useful. Although the maximum aperture is only F8 with this tele-converter attached, do not let that discourage you from trying it out. I will let you in a a little secret. If you use the 500mmf5.6.4TC on the new Nikon Z7 mirror-less camera, you can get high quality images from 700 to 1500mm equivalent focal length (if one accepts that 10mp is often enough pixels for a great image). The Z7 has several features that make this possible. First is the amazing EVF which is always bright no matter the maximum aperture of the attached lens system. No Optical viewfinder can even come close. Secondly, the ability to use the Electronic Front Curtain shutter (and still have a viewable image in the viewfinder) removes any possibility of shutter shock. Unlike the D850, this feature is easy to implement on the Z7. Thirdly, the advanced Z7 sensor VR system adds important stability that such a powerful telephoto lens requires. Turn of the VR system for a few seconds and you will get the importance of having it on all the time! Fourth, the focus system is not limited to just a few central points. You can go right to the edge and still get reliable focus as long as there is decent light. There is no worrying about accuracy of focus, nor any reason to have to fine tune this lens to this camera. If you focused on that bird´s eye, it will be in perfect focus. With 45.4 mp of sensor resolution, you can extensively crop (say to 10mp) and still have an amazing image. The weight of the camera and lens combination is just 5.7 pounds making it easy to handhold. Forget the tripod. All the above features make this system a breeze to just point and shoot. If you love to photograph birds of all types you will really love what this system brings to the table. Sure, this is not the best system for fast moving objects or for very low light situations, but you will be quite pleasantly surprised at the quality images that are possible and how many more times you actually find wildlife worth photographing. Unlike the big, heavy primes, you will actually have this lens with you most of the time.

Because I already owned Nikon´s 300mm f/4 Phase Fresnel (PF) lens, I couldn´t wait for the Nikon 500mm f/5.6 Phase Fresnel (PF) Lens to be released. This new 500mm PF lens does not disappoint. I have walked around protected wetlands photographing birds for five hours at a time with no discomfort or fatigue--the lens´s small size and light weight are truly an industry breakthrough. In addition to the benefits of size and weight, auto focus is lightening fast, contrast is excellent, sharpness is unequaled, and the Vibration Reduction (VR) is amazing. When coupled with my Nikon D500 camera body, I am shooting at a 35mm focal length equivalent of 750mm without the burden of a tripod or monopod--an optimal situation for wildlife and large stadium sports.

Pin sharp it is. Easily hand held and f/5.6 isn´t the negative I imagined with the ability of Expeed4 and 5 to handle higher ISO´s. A great companion to the 300 f/4 with the Fresnel glass. The same soft background. Gotta love this new design inovation..

My 600 f/4 and 400 f/2,8 will still be readily available but, they´ll sit more often than not unless seriously required.. Of course, then they´ll be back in the vehicle or at the house. Isn´t that always the way? I´m 72 and not as strong as I was. The loss of weight is a great selling point if you want a ´´long´´ piece of glass without the struggle..

The price puts a long lens within reach of thousands of shooters wanting sharpness and a quality ´´pro´´ build for under $4,000.00 USD.

For what it is worth, I shoot D5´s and a D850. So you might, if shooting older models, consider an upgrade so as to have Expeed 4 or 5 processing your shots.. I say this because, in my opinion, Expeed is what puts Nikon in a separate class with regard to data handling.

Just got back from my first shoot of a Great Blue Heron in morning light atop a snag about 40 feet off the ground. Shot at 1/1000 F8 ISO 720 about 10 minutes after sunrise. Focused on the eye; so it´s tack sharp. but was pleasantly surprised to find the entire bird (head, breast, wings, and feet) was just as sharp as the eye. This will replace my 200-500mm since I mostly shot it at 500mm anyway. It´s a joy to hold!