AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR

I am very happy with this lense. It is what I was looking for. Easy to use, a little bit heavy but very sharp, excellent zoom. It fits in a backpack and it is very solid. Love to take it with me to photograph birds !

I´ve now owned this lens for about 2 weeks. I´ve only had the chance to use this twice so far. But I must say I am impressed with how well it works. Very smooth across its range of focus. Though I think it´s a bit heavy, it´s still a very good lens to own. I haven´t tried it handheld yet. Tripod only. Very sharp images. I highly recommend having this in your bag.

I recently purchased the Nikkor 200-500mm lens. I mainly shoot fast moving jets aircraft during air shows and recently started shooting wildlife. This lens gives me excellent quality images and for the price, it is a steal. I would highly recommend this lens.

I bought a refurbished copy of this lens directly from Nikon. It arrived promptly and appeared absolutely new with perfect optics, mechanics and immaculate in appearance.

VERDICT: This is a fantastically sharp, fast focusing, quality lens that continues to surprise and delight me! Yes, I had certain expectations after reading dozens of reviews, both from owners and from published sites. I was just not aware of the potential of this lens and it truly is smile upon smiles every time I review images I´ve taken with this lens both on my D800E and my D7200.

For those of you who have never owned a lens with this much reach and quality level, you are going to be quite surprised with your images. You simply can´t ask for a better piece of kit!

Finally, sometimes one needs new doors of photo potential in order to renew enthusiasm in photography. The auto focus speed and image quality of this lens even at F5.6 @ 500mm will inspire you to get back out and fire-up your photo creativity.

I simply can´t come up with enough positive comments. And frankly, how Nikon managed to offer this lens at the stated retail price is a pleasant mystery. Buy this lens!!!!

I´ve only had this lens in hand for a few days but hopefully my early first impressions will fit well with some of the other comments here from those that have had it longer with more time to test and compare.

Immediately, out of the box I was impressed with the build quality for the price. The lens is as robust as any of my other mid-lineup Nikons (with the exception of the ´crinkle-finish´ 1990s lenses like the 135mm f2 DC). Certainly very similar to the 80-400mm AF-S. Handling, it does feel heavy. I´m a pretty active person and an avid climber, I keep my arms busy and fit. But there´s no getting away from the weight of this lens. I can foresee using a monopod a lot more than I´m used to with the 80-400mm (I´ve owned the D and G versions of this lens since their respective releases).

Almost all the reviews I had read prior to purchasing had mentioned the sharpness and while it´s early days for me I´m already thrilled with what I see. I was somewhat disappointed when I upgraded from the 80-400mm D to the AF-S G version that there wasn´t a noticeable improvement in image quality but this lens shows a definite jump in IQ! Only took a $2500 diversion with the 80-400 AF-S to get here!

The VR is also superior to the 80-400mm AF-S and admittedly that is one feature that did improve between the D and G versions of that lens, so now the VR is getting into ´outstanding´ territory. Probably the most noticeable ´feature´ improvement over the 80-400mm AF-S G, though, is the autofocus. With the 80-400mm AF-S, using AF-C engaged with ´back-button-AF´, tracking a moving subject the autofocus mechanism chatters like crazy. I´ve never liked the sound of it and have wondered how this lens´ inability to lock and smoothly track was costing me in keepers. The 200-500mm is entirely different. Engaging AF-C and tracking a moving subject the AF smoothly and quietly follows the subject. It´s not quite as quick as the 80-400mm AF-S to acquire AF but once locked the 200-500 seems to hold focus much smoother with little to no chatter. I can´t wait to put some miles on this lens and see how it performs in situations I´ve been using the 80-400, I anticipate a noticeable improvement.

All in all my only regret is that I ever laid down $2500 for the 80-400mm AF-S. It seems a waste of money in comparison to the 200-500. The only consolation is that I figure I will adjust my wildlife setup to keep the 80-400mm on a FX body (D750) and the 200-500mm on a DX body thus covering 80mm to 750mm (equiv.) with the two and relying less on the long end of the 80-400.

I recently got back from photographing Prairie Chickens and Sharptail Grouse with this lens and got Awesome images. I also used it for the Sandhill Crane migration with awesome results as well.

I´ve had this lens now for about two weeks and have not had the chance to use it for what I intend to use it for,..... Motorsports photography. However I have been able to get the feel of it. Its got some weight yes. I am using it on a D7000 body so there is a crop factor that I like. Shooting handheld works pretty nicely, monopod and tripod use only gets better. I cannot complain about ANYTHING yet. The bokah is quite nice. I compare it with a 200-400 f4 I rented last year. The 400 may does have better glass, but I´m not sure its $4500 better. I can´t wait to put it through its paces on the motorcycle road racing scene.

I was out Eagle-watching in Washington state the last week in December. There was a guy there with the Nikon 600mm lens. I knew I couldn´t afford it, but I was interested in the price. While looking that up I ran across the 200-500mm zoom lens. It looked too good to pass up, so I bought it. I´ve had the Tamron 200-500 for years and have never been real happy with it. I´ve been pleased with my other Nikon lenses, so I was willing to take the chance on this lens. Holy cow! It is awesome. The images are crisp. The autofocus is fast. And best of all is the VR. I was able to shoot at the full 500mm while holding the camera. Not on a tripod, not on a monopod, but hand held. The image quality is incredible. If you want to do wildlife photography on a budget, this is the lens to buy. Images below shot using the D7000.

There is a huge debate on whether the Tamron and Sigma 150-600 mm lenses are better because of the longer focal length and Tamron´s cheaper price. There has been reports of softness in both Tamron and Sigma´s offerings at the far ends of the focal lengths as well, so I see not gain in having 150 more millimeters in it´s total focal length if it produces less than desirable images in those ranges.

Let me say that this lens not only competes with them even though it´s priced right in the middle of these 2 competitors, but it performs better. It´s the best lens in this price range that Nikon has ever produced in my opinion. Definitely the most bang for the buck.

This lens is a real performer. I get instant focus, it has 1 stop of light better than both it´s competitors as it´s f5.6 through it´s entire range. Tamron and Sigma are f6.3.

It´s an excellent wildlife lens. Nikon really outdid themselves with this one. It´s an FX lens, but it behaves quite nicely on my D7100 body. In fact, it really woke that camera up.

If you´re a serious wildlife photographer, it´s a must for your arsenal.

I got this lens for both me and my wife and neither of us regret the decision.