With the 200-500mm f/5.6, there’s no need to cry too much that you don’t have, say, a 500mm f/5.6 prime lens attached. I’m not denying that the fixed glass is sharper – it is, especially in the corners. But keep in mind what camera I’ve been talking about this whole time! The D500 is a crop-sensor camera, so you’re cropping out the “corner” performance of the lens anyway, and only using the sharper center. (Even on a full-frame camera, the corners of most wildlife photos are out-of-focus or unimportant anyway, so a bit of sharpness loss is hardly a big deal.) NIKON D500 + Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR @ 500mm, ISO 2000, 1/250, f/6.3 The Nikon D500’s 153-point focusing module (99 of which are cross-type) is shared with the focusing system of the much more expensive Nikon D5. It’s essentially the pinnacle of autofocus technology – or, at least it was in 2016. And the capabilities still hold up well today; they beat the AF system found on most other DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, even much newer ones. It's always super sharp at all settings 200mm and middle zoom settings, but can get a little softer at the sides of full-frame wide-open at 500mm. Of course it will soften from diffraction at f/16 and smaller.

The 80-400 is an entirely different lens. More compact in both size and weight, it covers a much more extended and versatile range, especially if you are shooting some animalscape or telephoto landscape shots. In addition, it is easier to carry and maneuver, (making it easier for you, the photographer, to be mobile) but loses out in absolute reach. It is a great one lens solution for a long hike, or other excursion/trip where photography is not the primary objective, but if an opportunity presents itself you still want to have top quality gear. DSLR Lenses Canon Fit Lenses Nikon Fit Lenses Lens Accessories Lens Caps Lens Hoods Lens cloths and cleaning kits Lens Attachments It's difficult to get things in focus both in the center and at the sides at 500mm, but if you do, it's sharp even wide-open from edge-to-edge —and there's no falloff. Full Frame Cameras Canon EOS-R Full Frame Cameras Nikon Z Full Frame Cameras Full Frame L Mount Cameras Sony Full Frame Cameras Canon EOS DSLR Full Frame Cameras Nikon DSLR Full Frame Cameras Vlogging Cameras Despite its size, the 200-500mm is still relatively easy to use, whether handheld or with a camera support

Using the Lens for Sports Photography

As much as I like the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 lens’s optics, one feature brings its quality down a bit. What is that? The autofocus speed. The motor can’t focus as fast as on some telephoto lenses – not on the Nikon D500, nor even the D5. But aside from that, the combo has worked without a single issue. My D500 has 140,599 shutter actuations at this point, which is still less mileage than that of my Toyota. According to Nikon’s specs, the shutter should be somewhere around three-quarters of its life. (I know how that feels!) The Nikon 200-500 can easily double as a semi-macro lens. The ability to focus closer enables you to capture more of your subject in the frame and reveal intricate details that other lenses may overlook. An example is my photo above of an American toad in a forest. Vibration reduction Leave it ON unless you're on a very sturdy tripod, or if you're making exposures longer than a second on any kind of tripod.

While you're here, notice how the spider webs are exceptionally sharp are in the center where they are in focus. The sides are out of focus; this isn't shot straight-on. On my D1 (1999), D2Hs (2005), D70 (2004) and D200 (2005) and D40 (2006), everything works great, except that it only shoots at f/5.6.If you want to shot at other than f/5.6, the "E" electronic diaphragm only works on cameras introduced since 2007. These cameras are the D4, D4s, D3, D3s, D3P, D3x, Df, D810, D800/e, D750, D700, D610, D600, D300, D300s, D7000, D7100, D7200, D5500, D5300, D5200, D5100, D5000, D3300, D3200, D3100 and newer.

Stone, 29 October 2015. Nikon D810, Nikon 200-500mm VR at 320mm, f8 at 1/250 hand-held at Auto ISO 100. bigger or camera-original 36MP file to explore on your computer (most portable devices can't show all the pixels in the full resolution file). I shoot the 200-500mm as I shoot a rifle; you need to know how to hold it steady and pull the trigger slowly and smoothly for the best results. This lens is for long-distance use; it doesn't focus very close (7.2' or 2.2m minimum) and it is slow (only f/5.6 at every aperture) and it doesn't zoom wide (200mm minimum), and with these limitations allows it to be sold at a very low price. You can pay the same price for junk-brand lenses like the Tamron 150-600mm. On my F3 (1980), focus is of course manual, and VR doesn't work on manual cameras either. Metering and exposure work perfectly.

In depth

And of course, APS-C cameras do have more issues in low light. As I said before, it’s not a big problem if you use good noise reduction techniques in post-processing. But overall, full-frame beats APS-C by about 1.3 stops of light. So if I’m able to get usable results at ISO 10,000 on the D500, that implies I could get usable results at ISO 25,600 on a full-frame camera. Lenses Shot full-frame on D810 at f/5.6 at 1/250 at 200mm. Camera-original file to explore on your computer. Memory Cards & Storage SD Cards Micro SD cards CFexpress cards Compact Flash and CFast cards Card Readers SSD and USB Drives Scanners

The all-metal Canon 100-400 focuses closer than any pro 70-200mm lens (just 2¾' or 0.84m), so it replaces all 70-200mm lenses as well. My approach to wildlife photography often involves getting very muddy and wet (and uncomfortable) to get close to my subjects. Not all lenses are made for this task, but the Nikon 200-500mm holds up very well. It has proven to be a trusty companion, boasting weather sealing that impressed me for its relatively low price. Lens sharpness is a crucial aspect of wildlife photography, often becoming the subject of passionate debates. My experience with the Nikon 200-500mm has been positive, especially considering its price.Used Cameras Used DSLR Cameras Used Mirrorless Cameras Used Compact Cameras Used Film Cameras Used Action Cameras and Video Used Lenses For DSLR Cameras Used Lenses for Canon EOS Used Lenses for Nikon AF Other Used Lenses This difference won’t usually be a problem, but if you want to photograph hummingbirds orsmall songbirds, these values are important. Even more so if you photograph bugs or other small creatures like lizards. Mount the200-500mm f/5.6 lens on the Nikon D500, and you can fill the frame with something that’s about 11 centimeters / 4.3 inches wide. Even the world’s smallest hummingbird will take up a comfortable portion of the frame at that magnification. NIKON D500 + Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR @ 500mm, ISO 1600, 1/160, f/5.6 Dimensions Faster autofocus: The Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S has faster, snappier autofocus than the Nikon 200-500mm. It was then that I had the chance to assess the image quality of the photos I had taken, and I have to say I was impressed. Sharpness was very good throughout the range, even when shooting wide open at f/5.6, although you may want to step it down a stop or two for optimum results, especially at the longer end of the focal range. That said, I was more than happy with my results at 500mm and f/5.6.