Nikon 500mm, When Available?

[Mitchell B]

Hi,

I live in Northeast US, coastal Maine. This is my first post. I've just started viewing this forum. Looks very useful, and some really beautiful shots of birds!

Does anyone know when more of the 500mm lenses will be available?

I'm especially interested in shooting birds in flight and it seems like the new VR makes a real difference for this.

Best,

Mitchell

[rioja]

For birds in flight I would consider the 300f2.8 VR before the 500mm VR. Very, very fast focus, hand holdable with ease and less expensive than the 500mm too

[Machiel]

Hi,

I live in Northeast US, coastal Maine. This is my first post. I've just started viewing this forum. Looks very useful, and some really beautiful shots of birds!

Does anyone know when more of the 500mm lenses will be available?

I'm especially interested in shooting birds in flight and it seems like the new VR makes a real difference for this.

Best,

Mitchell

Hello Mitchell,

I use a 400mm 2.8 VR from Nikon together with a 1.4 and 1.7 converter and am really happy about it. Superb autofocus and very suitable to shoot flight images with. I mostly use a monopod or a Feisol tripod with U-mount, depending on light situations, to give it the extra stability. :t:

Kind regards,

Machiel

[ikw101]

Hello Mitchell,

I use a 400mm 2.8 VR from Nikon together with a 1.4 and 1.7 converter and am really happy about it. Superb autofocus and very suitable to shoot flight images with. I mostly use a monopod or a Feisol tripod with U-mount, depending on light situations, to give it the extra stability. :t:

Kind regards,

Machiel

An interesting choice of lens.

Have you had the opportunity to compare the 400mm 2.8VR plus 1.4 TC with the 500mm f/4G VR ?

Regards

Ian

[Machiel]

An interesting choice of lens.

Have you had the opportunity to compare the 400mm 2.8VR plus 1.4 TC with the 500mm f/4G VR ?

Regards

Ian

I compared the 400, 500 and 600mm with VR and asked several other photographers (including Rene Pop) who where using these lenses about there experiences.

Naturally you have more focal length with a 500mm F/4 or 600mm F/4 but then again combining the 400mm with a 1.4 converter gives you already a 550mm F/4. It stays real fast and I saw no difference in image quality when comparing with the 500mm.

I chose for the 400mm because of another interest besides birds which is butterflies. The 400mm focuses already on 2.8m to 4.0m for both other lenses. I use a monopod for butterflies as the lens is rather heavy, you are holding 6 – 7 kilo’s including my D300.

I attached two pictures: the Rubythroat was shot out of the hand and the butterfly with a monopod.

I have the lens now for over a year and am still extremely happy with my choice.


Cheers Machiel

[ikw101]

I compared the 400, 500 and 600mm with VR and asked several other photographers (including Rene Pop) who where using these lenses about there experiences.

Naturally you have more focal length with a 500mm F/4 or 600mm F/4 but then again combining the 400mm with a 1.4 converter gives you already a 550mm F/4. It stays real fast and I saw no difference in image quality when comparing with the 500mm.

I chose for the 400mm because of another interest besides birds which is butterflies. The 400mm focuses already on 2.8m to 4.0m for both other lenses. I use a monopod for butterflies as the lens is rather heavy, you are holding 6 – 7 kilo’s including my D300.

I attached two pictures: the Rubythroat was shot out of the hand and the butterfly with a monopod.

I have the lens now for over a year and am still extremely happy with my choice.


Cheers Machiel

Thanks for the feedback. Very few of us have the chance to compare these lenses first hand. Looking at the detail on the Butterfly I think you made a great choice.

Ian